What Planting Zones Are in Tennessee?
Tennessee spans USDA hardiness zones 6b to 8a, where the average coldest winter night ranges from −5 °F to 15 °F (−20.6 °C to −9.4 °C). Zone 7b covers the most ZIP codes, 70%, and zones 7a to 8a together cover 100% of the state.
Bars show each zone's share of the 774 Tennessee ZIP codes in the official 2023 USDA ZIP code table; select a zone for its temperatures and hardy plants.
What Hardiness Zone Are Tennessee Cities In?
Nashville is in zone 7b, Memphis is in zone 8a, Knoxville is in zone 7b and Chattanooga is in zone 8a. The table lists the zone, winter low and average frost dates for 18 Tennessee cities, using the ZIP code nearest each city center.
| City | ZIP | Zone | Winter low | Last frost | First frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville | 37219 | 7b | 5 °F to 10 °F | Apr 1 | Oct 31 |
| Memphis | 38114 | 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | Mar 16 | Nov 16 |
| Knoxville | 37916 | 7b | 5 °F to 10 °F | Apr 11 | Oct 28 |
| Chattanooga | 37406 | 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | Mar 24 | Nov 9 |
| Clarksville | 37040 | 7b | 5 °F to 10 °F | Apr 10 | Oct 30 |
| Murfreesboro | 37132 | 7b | 5 °F to 10 °F | Apr 9 | Oct 27 |
| Franklin | 37067 | 7b | 5 °F to 10 °F | Apr 15 | Oct 26 |
| Johnson City | 37614 | 7b | 5 °F to 10 °F | Apr 19 | Oct 24 |
| Jackson | 38301 | 7b | 5 °F to 10 °F | Apr 2 | Oct 29 |
| Hendersonville | 37075 | 7b | 5 °F to 10 °F | Apr 11 | Oct 29 |
| Collierville | 38017 | 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | Mar 29 | Nov 3 |
| Lebanon | 37087 | 7b | 5 °F to 10 °F | Apr 10 | Oct 30 |
| Cleveland | 37312 | 7b | 5 °F to 10 °F | Apr 6 | Oct 30 |
| Columbia | 38401 | 7b | 5 °F to 10 °F | Apr 10 | Oct 27 |
| Cookeville | 38503 | 7a | 0 °F to 5 °F | Apr 14 | Oct 25 |
| Oak Ridge | 37830 | 7b | 5 °F to 10 °F | Apr 5 | Nov 1 |
| Morristown | 37814 | 7b | 5 °F to 10 °F | Apr 10 | Oct 28 |
| Bristol | 37618 | 7b | 5 °F to 10 °F | Apr 19 | Oct 24 |
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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee Are in Each Zone?
Zone 7a, the coldest Tennessee zone with towns, covers 13% of ZIP codes around Cookeville, Springfield and White House. Zone 8a, the warmest, covers 16% around Memphis, Chattanooga and Bartlett. 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% (1) | Rural ZIP codes only |
| Zone 7a | 0 °F to 5 °F | 13% (104) | Cookeville, Springfield, White House, Greeneville |
| Zone 7b | 5 °F to 10 °F | 70% (544) | Nashville, Knoxville, Clarksville, Murfreesboro |
| Zone 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | 16% (125) | Memphis, Chattanooga, Bartlett, Collierville |
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 Tennessee Gardeners?
A Tennessee gardener in zone 8a sees winter lows about 15 °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 Tennessee, a plant labelled “zones 7–8” survives winter in at least 100% 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 Tennessee towns in the same zone can have last frosts weeks apart.
What Plants Grow Well Across Tennessee?
230 plants in PlantoScan's catalogue are hardy in every zone from 7a to 8a, the zones that cover 100% of Tennessee 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 Tennessee's colder or warmer edge zones should check each plant's full range.
When Is the Last Frost in Tennessee?
Across most Tennessee ZIP codes, the average last spring frost falls between March 29 and April 20, from March 16 in Memphis to April 19 in Bristol. Tender vegetables such as tomatoes go out 1 to 2 weeks after the local date.
The last and first frost dates for Tennessee 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 Tennessee?
- Tennessee spans USDA hardiness zones 6b to 8a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zone 7b is the most common, covering 70% of the state's 774 ZIP codes, and zones 7a to 8a together cover 100%.
- What hardiness zone is Nashville, Tennessee?
- Nashville is in USDA hardiness zone 7b (ZIP 37219), where the average coldest winter night reaches 5 °F to 10 °F. Its average last spring frost is April 1 and its first fall frost October 31.
- What hardiness zone is Memphis, Tennessee?
- Memphis is in USDA hardiness zone 8a (ZIP 38114), where the average coldest winter night reaches 10 °F to 15 °F. Its average last spring frost is March 16 and its first fall frost November 16.
- What hardiness zone is Knoxville, Tennessee?
- Knoxville is in USDA hardiness zone 7b (ZIP 37916), where the average coldest winter night reaches 5 °F to 10 °F. Its average last spring frost is April 11 and its first fall frost October 28.
- What is the coldest hardiness zone in Tennessee?
- Zone 6b (−5 °F to 0 °F) is the coldest zone in Tennessee, found in 1 ZIP code. The warmest is zone 8a (10 °F to 15 °F), around Memphis and Chattanooga.
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.