What Planting Zones Are in South Carolina?
South Carolina spans USDA hardiness zones 8a to 9b, where the average coldest winter night ranges from 10 °F to 30 °F (−12.2 °C to −1.1 °C). Zone 8b covers the most ZIP codes, 50%, and zones 8a to 9a together cover 99% of the state.
Bars show each zone's share of the 526 South Carolina ZIP codes in the official 2023 USDA ZIP code table; select a zone for its temperatures and hardy plants.
What Hardiness Zone Are South Carolina Cities In?
Charleston is in zone 9a, Columbia is in zone 8b, North Charleston is in zone 9a and Mount Pleasant is in zone 9a. The table lists the zone, winter low and average frost dates for 18 South Carolina cities, using the ZIP code nearest each city center.
| City | ZIP | Zone | Winter low | Last frost | First frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | 29405 | 9a | 20 °F to 25 °F | Mar 7 | Nov 27 |
| Columbia | 29206 | 8b | 15 °F to 20 °F | Mar 16 | Nov 16 |
| North Charleston | 29404 | 9a | 20 °F to 25 °F | Mar 7 | Nov 27 |
| Mount Pleasant | 29464 | 9a | 20 °F to 25 °F | Mar 13 | Nov 30 |
| Rock Hill | 29733 | 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | Mar 27 | Nov 5 |
| Greenville | 29601 | 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | Mar 28 | Nov 7 |
| Summerville | 29483 | 8b | 15 °F to 20 °F | Mar 22 | Nov 12 |
| Goose Creek | 29445 | 8b | 15 °F to 20 °F | Mar 7 | Nov 27 |
| Greer | 29650 | 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | Mar 28 | Nov 7 |
| Sumter | 29152 | 8b | 15 °F to 20 °F | Mar 21 | Nov 13 |
| Florence | 29501 | 8b | 15 °F to 20 °F | Mar 19 | Nov 13 |
| Myrtle Beach | 29577 | 8b | 15 °F to 20 °F | Mar 21 | Nov 13 |
| Spartanburg | 29333 | 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | Apr 8 | Nov 1 |
| Hilton Head Island | 29928 | 9b | 25 °F to 30 °F | Mar 3 | Dec 9 |
| Aiken | 29801 | 8b | 15 °F to 20 °F | Mar 19 | Nov 14 |
| Anderson | 29621 | 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | Mar 23 | Nov 11 |
| Lexington | 29072 | 8b | 15 °F to 20 °F | Mar 25 | Nov 7 |
| Greenwood | 29649 | 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | Apr 1 | Nov 2 |
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 South 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 South Carolina Are in Each Zone?
Zone 8a, the coldest South Carolina zone, covers 39% of ZIP codes around Rock Hill, Greenville and Greer. Zone 9b, the warmest, covers <1% around Hilton Head Island. The table lists the largest places in every zone.
| Zone | Avg. coldest night | Share of ZIPs | Largest places in this zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | 39% (205) | Rock Hill, Greenville, Greer, Spartanburg |
| Zone 8b | 15 °F to 20 °F | 50% (261) | Columbia, Summerville, Goose Creek, Sumter |
| Zone 9a | 20 °F to 25 °F | 11% (56) | Charleston, North Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Bluffton |
| Zone 9b | 25 °F to 30 °F | <1% (4) | Hilton Head Island |
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 South Carolina Gardeners?
A South Carolina gardener in zone 9b sees winter lows about 15 °F milder than one in zone 8a, 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 South Carolina, a plant labelled “zones 8–9” survives winter in at least 99% 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 South Carolina towns in the same zone can have last frosts weeks apart.
What Plants Grow Well Across South Carolina?
184 plants in PlantoScan's catalogue are hardy in every zone from 8a to 9a, the zones that cover 99% of South Carolina ZIP codes. Popular examples include hydrangea, chrysanthemum and poppy.
Hydrangea
Hydrangea macrophylla
Zone 5 – 9
AI generated
Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemum morifolium
Zone 5a – 9b
PlantoscanAI generated
Poppy
Papaver somniferum
Zone 3a – 9b
AI generated
- DahliaDahlia pinnataPlantoScan
Dahlia
Dahlia pinnata
Zone 8a – 11b
Carnation
Dianthus caryophyllus
Zone 5a – 9b
AI generated
Azalea
Azalea indica
Zone 6a – 9b
AI generated
Arugula
Eruca sativa
Zone 5a – 10b
AI generated
Alfalfa
Medicago sativa
Zone 3a – 10a
AI generated
Calla Lily
Zantedeschia aethiopica
Zone 8a – 10b
AI generated
Hardiness ranges come from PlantoScan's plant database; gardeners in South Carolina's colder or warmer edge zones should check each plant's full range.
When Is the Last Frost in South Carolina?
Across most South Carolina ZIP codes, the average last spring frost falls between March 7 and April 8, from March 3 in Hilton Head Island to April 8 in Spartanburg. Tender vegetables such as tomatoes go out 1 to 2 weeks after the local date.
The last and first frost dates for South 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 South Carolina?
- South Carolina spans USDA hardiness zones 8a to 9b on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zone 8b is the most common, covering 50% of the state's 526 ZIP codes, and zones 8a to 9a together cover 99%.
- What hardiness zone is Charleston, South Carolina?
- Charleston is in USDA hardiness zone 9a (ZIP 29405), where the average coldest winter night reaches 20 °F to 25 °F. Its average last spring frost is March 7 and its first fall frost November 27.
- What hardiness zone is Columbia, South Carolina?
- Columbia is in USDA hardiness zone 8b (ZIP 29206), where the average coldest winter night reaches 15 °F to 20 °F. Its average last spring frost is March 16 and its first fall frost November 16.
- What hardiness zone is North Charleston, South Carolina?
- North Charleston is in USDA hardiness zone 9a (ZIP 29404), where the average coldest winter night reaches 20 °F to 25 °F. Its average last spring frost is March 7 and its first fall frost November 27.
- What is the coldest hardiness zone in South Carolina?
- Zone 8a (10 °F to 15 °F) is the coldest zone in South Carolina, found in 205 ZIP codes around Rock Hill and Greenville. The warmest is zone 9b (25 °F to 30 °F), around Hilton Head Island.
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.