What Planting Zones Are in North Carolina?
North Carolina spans USDA hardiness zones 6b to 9a, where the average coldest winter night ranges from −5 °F to 25 °F (−20.6 °C to −3.9 °C). Zone 8a covers the most ZIP codes, 60%, and zones 7b to 8b together cover 91% of the state.
- Zone 6b<1% · 9 ZIPs
- Zone 7a6% · 67 ZIPs
- Zone 7b16% · 174 ZIPs
- Zone 8a60% · 640 ZIPs
- Zone 8b15% · 162 ZIPs
- Zone 9a2% · 20 ZIPs
Bars show each zone's share of the 1,072 North Carolina ZIP codes in the official 2023 USDA ZIP code table; select a zone for its temperatures and hardy plants.
What Hardiness Zone Are North Carolina Cities In?
Charlotte is in zone 8a, Raleigh is in zone 8a, Greensboro is in zone 8a and Durham is in zone 8a. The table lists the zone, winter low and average frost dates for 19 North Carolina cities, using the ZIP code nearest each city center.
| City | ZIP | Zone | Winter low | Last frost | First frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | 28204 | 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | Mar 30 | Nov 3 |
| Raleigh | 27609 | 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | Mar 28 | Nov 8 |
| Greensboro | 27408 | 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | Apr 1 | Nov 4 |
| Durham | 27701 | 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | Apr 2 | Nov 4 |
| Winston-Salem | 27110 | 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | Mar 26 | Nov 9 |
| Fayetteville | 28303 | 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | Mar 30 | Nov 10 |
| Cary | 27513 | 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | Mar 27 | Nov 8 |
| Wilmington | 28403 | 8b | 15 °F to 20 °F | Mar 19 | Nov 20 |
| High Point | 27268 | 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | Mar 30 | Nov 5 |
| Concord | 28027 | 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | Apr 1 | Nov 2 |
| Greenville | 27834 | 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | Mar 27 | Nov 8 |
| Asheville | 28801 | 7b | 5 °F to 10 °F | Apr 6 | Oct 31 |
| Gastonia | 28054 | 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | Mar 27 | Nov 9 |
| Jacksonville | 28543 | 8b | 15 °F to 20 °F | Mar 23 | Nov 16 |
| Burlington | 27201 | 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | Apr 1 | Nov 2 |
| Rocky Mount | 27804 | 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | Apr 1 | Nov 5 |
| Mooresville | 28115 | 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | Apr 9 | Oct 28 |
| Wilson | 27893 | 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | Mar 22 | Nov 12 |
| Boone | 28607 | 7a | 0 °F to 5 °F | May 2 | Oct 13 |
Zone: 2023 USDA ZIP code table for the ZIP code nearest each city's Census center point. Frost dates: 50% (median) dates from the nearest NOAA station, 1991–2020 normals. Cities: the largest North Carolina places by 2024 Census population estimates, spread across the state, plus the largest place in each common zone. Large cities can span two half zones.
Which Parts of North Carolina Are in Each Zone?
Zone 6b, the coldest North Carolina zone, covers <1% of ZIP codes around Blowing Rock and Banner Elk. Zone 9a, the warmest, covers 2% around Kill Devil Hills, Beaufort and Kitty Hawk. The table lists the largest places in every zone.
| Zone | Avg. coldest night | Share of ZIPs | Largest places in this zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | <1% (9) | Blowing Rock, Banner Elk |
| Zone 7a | 0 °F to 5 °F | 6% (67) | Boone, Waynesville, Black Mountain, Brevard |
| Zone 7b | 5 °F to 10 °F | 16% (174) | Asheville, Clemmons, Lexington, Morganton |
| Zone 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | 60% (640) | Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, Durham |
| Zone 8b | 15 °F to 20 °F | 15% (162) | Wilmington, Jacksonville, Goldsboro, Leland |
| Zone 9a | 20 °F to 25 °F | 2% (20) | Kill Devil Hills, Beaufort, Kitty Hawk, Southern Shores |
Places: incorporated places with 1,000+ residents, assigned the zone of the ZIP code nearest their Census center point.
What Do the Hardiness Zones Mean for North Carolina Gardeners?
A North Carolina gardener in zone 9a sees winter lows about 25 °F milder than one in zone 6b, so a shrub or perennial that thrives in one part of the state can die in another. Choose plants rated to your own ZIP code's zone or colder.
Hardiness zones follow latitude, elevation and large bodies of water rather than state lines. Higher ground and inland valleys that trap cold air usually sit in colder half zones, while cities, coasts and large lakes moderate winter lows. Within North Carolina, a plant labelled “zones 7–8” survives winter in at least 91% of ZIP codes, but plants at the edge of their range benefit from mulch and a sheltered spot. Enter a ZIP code in the USDA hardiness zone finder by ZIP code to check your exact half zone before buying perennials.
A zone describes winter cold only. Summer heat, humidity, rainfall and soil decide whether a cold-hardy plant thrives, and planting dates for vegetables follow frost dates, not zones: two North Carolina towns in the same zone can have last frosts weeks apart.
What Plants Grow Well Across North Carolina?
232 plants in PlantoScan's catalogue are hardy in every zone from 7b to 8b, the zones that cover 91% of North Carolina ZIP codes. Popular examples include hydrangea, peony and daisy.
Hydrangea
Hydrangea macrophylla
Zone 5 – 9
AI generated
Peony
Paeonia lactiflora
Zone 3 – 8
AI generated
- DaisyBellis perennisPlantoScan
Daisy
Bellis perennis
Zone 4a – 8b
Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemum morifolium
Zone 5a – 9b
PlantoscanAI generated
Poppy
Papaver somniferum
Zone 3a – 9b
AI generated
Carnation
Dianthus caryophyllus
Zone 5a – 9b
AI generated
Daffodil
Narcissus poeticus
Zone 3 – 8
AI generated
Azalea
Azalea indica
Zone 6a – 9b
AI generated
Arugula
Eruca sativa
Zone 5a – 10b
AI generated
Hardiness ranges come from PlantoScan's plant database; gardeners in North Carolina's colder or warmer edge zones should check each plant's full range.
When Is the Last Frost in North Carolina?
Across most North Carolina ZIP codes, the average last spring frost falls between March 22 and April 19, from March 19 in Wilmington to May 2 in Boone. Tender vegetables such as tomatoes go out 1 to 2 weeks after the local date.
The last and first frost dates for North Carolina cities include the safer 90% planting date, the fall frost date, growing season length and a tomato planting table for each city.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What planting zone is North Carolina?
- North Carolina spans USDA hardiness zones 6b to 9a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zone 8a is the most common, covering 60% of the state's 1,072 ZIP codes, and zones 7b to 8b together cover 91%.
- What hardiness zone is Charlotte, North Carolina?
- Charlotte is in USDA hardiness zone 8a (ZIP 28204), where the average coldest winter night reaches 10 °F to 15 °F. Its average last spring frost is March 30 and its first fall frost November 3.
- What hardiness zone is Raleigh, North Carolina?
- Raleigh is in USDA hardiness zone 8a (ZIP 27609), where the average coldest winter night reaches 10 °F to 15 °F. Its average last spring frost is March 28 and its first fall frost November 8.
- What hardiness zone is Greensboro, North Carolina?
- Greensboro is in USDA hardiness zone 8a (ZIP 27408), where the average coldest winter night reaches 10 °F to 15 °F. Its average last spring frost is April 1 and its first fall frost November 4.
- What is the coldest hardiness zone in North Carolina?
- Zone 6b (−5 °F to 0 °F) is the coldest zone in North Carolina, found in 9 ZIP codes around Blowing Rock and Banner Elk. The warmest is zone 9a (20 °F to 25 °F), around Kill Devil Hills and Beaufort.
Zones: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP code table, USDA Agricultural Research Service and the PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University, used without changes. Frost dates: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals. City locations and populations: U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer files and Vintage 2024 population estimates. PlantoScan is not affiliated with or endorsed by these agencies.