What Planting Zones Are in South Dakota?
South Dakota spans USDA hardiness zones 4a to 5b, where the average coldest winter night ranges from −30 °F to −10 °F (−34.4 °C to −23.3 °C). Zone 4b covers the most ZIP codes, 48%, and zones 4b to 5a together cover 92% of the state.
Bars show each zone's share of the 382 South Dakota ZIP codes in the official 2023 USDA ZIP code table; select a zone for its temperatures and hardy plants.
What Hardiness Zone Are South Dakota Cities In?
Sioux Falls is in zone 5a, Rapid City is in zone 5b, Aberdeen is in zone 4a and Brookings is in zone 4b. The table lists the zone, winter low and average frost dates for 18 South Dakota cities, using the ZIP code nearest each city center.
| City | ZIP | Zone | Winter low | Last frost | First frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls | 57117 | 5a | −20 °F to −15 °F | Apr 26 | Oct 13 |
| Rapid City | 57701 | 5b | −15 °F to −10 °F | May 3 | Oct 8 |
| Aberdeen | 57401 | 4a | −30 °F to −25 °F | May 8 | Sep 29 |
| Brookings | 57006 | 4b | −25 °F to −20 °F | May 6 | Oct 1 |
| Watertown | 57201 | 4b | −25 °F to −20 °F | May 7 | Sep 30 |
| Yankton | 57078 | 5a | −20 °F to −15 °F | Apr 27 | Oct 11 |
| Mitchell | 57301 | 5a | −20 °F to −15 °F | May 2 | Oct 6 |
| Huron | 57350 | 4b | −25 °F to −20 °F | May 6 | Oct 2 |
| Box Elder | 57706 | 5b | −15 °F to −10 °F | May 3 | Oct 8 |
| Spearfish | 57783 | 5b | −15 °F to −10 °F | May 12 | Oct 2 |
| Pierre | 57501 | 4b | −25 °F to −20 °F | May 6 | Oct 5 |
| Vermillion | 57069 | 5a | −20 °F to −15 °F | May 3 | Oct 3 |
| Sturgis | 57793 | 5a | −20 °F to −15 °F | May 8 | Oct 3 |
| Madison | 57042 | 4b | −25 °F to −20 °F | May 5 | Sep 30 |
| Dell Rapids | 57022 | 4b | −25 °F to −20 °F | May 1 | Oct 4 |
| Hot Springs | 57747 | 5a | −20 °F to −15 °F | May 16 | Sep 27 |
| Milbank | 57252 | 4b | −25 °F to −20 °F | May 5 | Oct 2 |
| Mobridge | 57631 | 4b | −25 °F to −20 °F | May 5 | Oct 4 |
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 Dakota 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 Dakota Are in Each Zone?
Zone 4a, the coldest South Dakota zone, covers 6% of ZIP codes around Aberdeen, Groton and Britton. Zone 5b, the warmest, covers 2% around Rapid City, Box Elder and Spearfish. The table lists the largest places in every zone.
| Zone | Avg. coldest night | Share of ZIPs | Largest places in this zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 4a | −30 °F to −25 °F | 6% (24) | Aberdeen, Groton, Britton |
| Zone 4b | −25 °F to −20 °F | 48% (183) | Brookings, Watertown, Huron, Pierre |
| Zone 5a | −20 °F to −15 °F | 44% (168) | Sioux Falls, Yankton, Mitchell, Vermillion |
| Zone 5b | −15 °F to −10 °F | 2% (7) | Rapid City, Box Elder, Spearfish, Belle Fourche |
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 Dakota Gardeners?
A South Dakota gardener in zone 5b sees winter lows about 15 °F milder than one in zone 4a, 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 Dakota, a plant labelled “zones 4–5” survives winter in at least 92% 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 Dakota towns in the same zone can have last frosts weeks apart.
What Plants Grow Well Across South Dakota?
154 plants in PlantoScan's catalogue are hardy in every zone from 4b to 5a, the zones that cover 92% of South Dakota ZIP codes. Popular examples include peony, daisy and poppy.
Peony
Paeonia lactiflora
Zone 3 – 8
AI generated
- DaisyBellis perennisPlantoScan
Daisy
Bellis perennis
Zone 4a – 8b
Poppy
Papaver somniferum
Zone 3a – 9b
AI generated
Daffodil
Narcissus poeticus
Zone 3 – 8
AI generated
Alfalfa
Medicago sativa
Zone 3a – 10a
AI generated
Hyacinth
Hyacinthus orientalis
Zone 4 – 8
AI generated
Tiger Lily
Lilium lancifolium
Zone 3 – 8
AI generated
Forget Me Not
Myosotis sylvatica
Zone 3 – 8
AI generated
Lemon Balm
Melissa officinalis
Zone 4a – 9b
Image: PlantoScan
Hardiness ranges come from PlantoScan's plant database; gardeners in South Dakota's colder or warmer edge zones should check each plant's full range.
When Is the Last Frost in South Dakota?
Across most South Dakota ZIP codes, the average last spring frost falls between May 1 and May 14, from April 26 in Sioux Falls to May 16 in Hot Springs. Tender vegetables such as tomatoes go out 1 to 2 weeks after the local date.
The last and first frost dates for South Dakota 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 Dakota?
- South Dakota spans USDA hardiness zones 4a to 5b on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zone 4b is the most common, covering 48% of the state's 382 ZIP codes, and zones 4b to 5a together cover 92%.
- What hardiness zone is Sioux Falls, South Dakota?
- Sioux Falls is in USDA hardiness zone 5a (ZIP 57117), where the average coldest winter night reaches −20 °F to −15 °F. Its average last spring frost is April 26 and its first fall frost October 13.
- What hardiness zone is Rapid City, South Dakota?
- Rapid City is in USDA hardiness zone 5b (ZIP 57701), where the average coldest winter night reaches −15 °F to −10 °F. Its average last spring frost is May 3 and its first fall frost October 8.
- What hardiness zone is Aberdeen, South Dakota?
- Aberdeen is in USDA hardiness zone 4a (ZIP 57401), where the average coldest winter night reaches −30 °F to −25 °F. Its average last spring frost is May 8 and its first fall frost September 29.
- What is the coldest hardiness zone in South Dakota?
- Zone 4a (−30 °F to −25 °F) is the coldest zone in South Dakota, found in 24 ZIP codes around Aberdeen and Groton. The warmest is zone 5b (−15 °F to −10 °F), around Rapid City and Box Elder.
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.