What Planting Zones Are in Ohio?
Ohio spans USDA hardiness zones 6a to 7a, where the average coldest winter night ranges from −10 °F to 5 °F (−23.3 °C to −15 °C). Zone 6b covers the most ZIP codes, 56%, and zones 6a to 6b together cover 95% of the state.
Bars show each zone's share of the 1,391 Ohio ZIP codes in the official 2023 USDA ZIP code table; select a zone for its temperatures and hardy plants.
What Hardiness Zone Are Ohio Cities In?
Columbus is in zone 6b, Cleveland is in zone 7a, Cincinnati is in zone 6b and Toledo is in zone 6b. The table lists the zone, winter low and average frost dates for 18 Ohio cities, using the ZIP code nearest each city center.
| City | ZIP | Zone | Winter low | Last frost | First frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus | 43201 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | Apr 20 | Oct 24 |
| Cleveland | 44101 | 7a | 0 °F to 5 °F | Apr 8 | Nov 12 |
| Cincinnati | 45267 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | Apr 16 | Oct 25 |
| Toledo | 43620 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | Apr 20 | Oct 27 |
| Akron | 44308 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | Apr 24 | Oct 28 |
| Dayton | 45405 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | Apr 18 | Oct 25 |
| Parma | 44129 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | Apr 20 | Nov 3 |
| Canton | 44702 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | Apr 24 | Oct 26 |
| Lorain | 44052 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | Apr 24 | Oct 24 |
| Hamilton | 45015 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | Apr 22 | Oct 18 |
| Youngstown | 44503 | 6a | −10 °F to −5 °F | May 1 | Oct 17 |
| Springfield | 45501 | 6a | −10 °F to −5 °F | Apr 25 | Oct 19 |
| Newark | 43055 | 6a | −10 °F to −5 °F | Apr 29 | Oct 16 |
| Mansfield | 44903 | 6a | −10 °F to −5 °F | Apr 26 | Oct 22 |
| Mentor | 44060 | 7a | 0 °F to 5 °F | Apr 26 | Oct 31 |
| Delaware | 43015 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | Apr 19 | Oct 26 |
| Lancaster | 43130 | 6a | −10 °F to −5 °F | Apr 22 | Oct 24 |
| Findlay | 45840 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | Apr 19 | Oct 23 |
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 Ohio 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 Ohio Are in Each Zone?
Zone 6a, the coldest Ohio zone, covers 39% of ZIP codes around Youngstown, Springfield and Newark. Zone 7a, the warmest, covers 5% around Cleveland, Lakewood and Euclid. The table lists the largest places in every zone.
| Zone | Avg. coldest night | Share of ZIPs | Largest places in this zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 6a | −10 °F to −5 °F | 39% (544) | Youngstown, Springfield, Newark, Mansfield |
| Zone 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | 56% (784) | Columbus, Cincinnati, Toledo, Akron |
| Zone 7a | 0 °F to 5 °F | 5% (63) | Cleveland, Lakewood, Euclid, Mentor |
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 Ohio Gardeners?
A Ohio gardener in zone 7a sees winter lows about 10 °F milder than one in zone 6a, 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 Ohio, a plant labelled “zones 6–7” survives winter in at least 95% 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 Ohio towns in the same zone can have last frosts weeks apart.
What Plants Grow Well Across Ohio?
220 plants in PlantoScan's catalogue are hardy in every zone from 6a to 6b, the zones that cover 95% of Ohio 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 Ohio's colder or warmer edge zones should check each plant's full range.
When Is the Last Frost in Ohio?
Across most Ohio ZIP codes, the average last spring frost falls between April 17 and April 30, from April 8 in Cleveland to May 1 in Youngstown. Tender vegetables such as tomatoes go out 1 to 2 weeks after the local date.
The last and first frost dates for Ohio 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 Ohio?
- Ohio spans USDA hardiness zones 6a to 7a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zone 6b is the most common, covering 56% of the state's 1,391 ZIP codes, and zones 6a to 6b together cover 95%.
- What hardiness zone is Columbus, Ohio?
- Columbus is in USDA hardiness zone 6b (ZIP 43201), where the average coldest winter night reaches −5 °F to 0 °F. Its average last spring frost is April 20 and its first fall frost October 24.
- What hardiness zone is Cleveland, Ohio?
- Cleveland is in USDA hardiness zone 7a (ZIP 44101), where the average coldest winter night reaches 0 °F to 5 °F. Its average last spring frost is April 8 and its first fall frost November 12.
- What hardiness zone is Cincinnati, Ohio?
- Cincinnati is in USDA hardiness zone 6b (ZIP 45267), where the average coldest winter night reaches −5 °F to 0 °F. Its average last spring frost is April 16 and its first fall frost October 25.
- What is the coldest hardiness zone in Ohio?
- Zone 6a (−10 °F to −5 °F) is the coldest zone in Ohio, found in 544 ZIP codes around Youngstown and Springfield. The warmest is zone 7a (0 °F to 5 °F), around Cleveland and Lakewood.
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.