What Planting Zones Are in Vermont?
Vermont spans USDA hardiness zones 4a to 6a, where the average coldest winter night ranges from −30 °F to −5 °F (−34.4 °C to −20.6 °C). Zone 5a covers the most ZIP codes, 58%, and zones 4b to 5b together cover 96% of the state.
Bars show each zone's share of the 305 Vermont ZIP codes in the official 2023 USDA ZIP code table; select a zone for its temperatures and hardy plants.
What Hardiness Zone Are Vermont Cities In?
Burlington is in zone 5b, South Burlington is in zone 5a, Rutland is in zone 5a and Essex Junction is in zone 5a. The table lists the zone, winter low and average frost dates for 18 Vermont cities, using the ZIP code nearest each city center.
| City | ZIP | Zone | Winter low | Last frost | First frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington | 05401 | 5b | −15 °F to −10 °F | Apr 29 | Oct 15 |
| South Burlington | 05403 | 5a | −20 °F to −15 °F | Apr 29 | Oct 15 |
| Rutland | 05736 | 5a | −20 °F to −15 °F | May 15 | Sep 27 |
| Essex Junction | 05439 | 5a | −20 °F to −15 °F | Apr 29 | Oct 15 |
| Winooski | 05404 | 5a | −20 °F to −15 °F | Apr 29 | Oct 15 |
| Barre | 05641 | 5a | −20 °F to −15 °F | May 16 | Sep 29 |
| Montpelier | 05602 | 5a | −20 °F to −15 °F | May 5 | Oct 9 |
| St. Albans | 05478 | 5a | −20 °F to −15 °F | May 1 | Oct 12 |
| Newport | 05855 | 4b | −25 °F to −20 °F | May 14 | Sep 30 |
| Bellows Falls | 05158 | 5b | −15 °F to −10 °F | May 8 | Oct 3 |
| Vergennes | 05456 | 5a | −20 °F to −15 °F | Apr 30 | Oct 17 |
| Morrisville | 05661 | 4b | −25 °F to −20 °F | May 20 | Sep 28 |
| North Bennington | 05257 | 5b | −15 °F to −10 °F | May 11 | Oct 2 |
| Woodstock | 05091 | 5a | −20 °F to −15 °F | May 13 | Oct 1 |
| Ludlow | 05149 | 5b | −15 °F to −10 °F | May 16 | Sep 29 |
| Manchester | 05254 | 5b | −15 °F to −10 °F | May 13 | Sep 29 |
| Alburgh | 05440 | 5a | −20 °F to −15 °F | Apr 30 | Oct 12 |
| Newbury | 05051 | 5a | −20 °F to −15 °F | May 15 | Sep 28 |
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 Vermont 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 Vermont Are in Each Zone?
Zone 4b, the coldest Vermont zone with towns, covers 23% of ZIP codes around Newport, Morrisville and Enosburg Falls. Zone 5b, the warmest with towns, covers 15% around Burlington, Bellows Falls and North Bennington. 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 | 4% (11) | Rural ZIP codes only |
| Zone 4b | −25 °F to −20 °F | 23% (70) | Newport, Morrisville, Enosburg Falls |
| Zone 5a | −20 °F to −15 °F | 58% (176) | South Burlington, Rutland, Essex Junction, Winooski |
| Zone 5b | −15 °F to −10 °F | 15% (46) | Burlington, Bellows Falls, North Bennington |
| Zone 6a | −10 °F to −5 °F | <1% (2) | Rural ZIP codes only |
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 Vermont Gardeners?
A Vermont gardener in zone 6a sees winter lows about 20 °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 Vermont, a plant labelled “zones 4–5” survives winter in at least 96% 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 Vermont towns in the same zone can have last frosts weeks apart.
What Plants Grow Well Across Vermont?
154 plants in PlantoScan's catalogue are hardy in every zone from 4b to 5b, the zones that cover 96% of Vermont 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 Vermont's colder or warmer edge zones should check each plant's full range.
When Is the Last Frost in Vermont?
Across most Vermont ZIP codes, the average last spring frost falls between May 1 and May 21, from April 29 in Burlington to May 20 in Morrisville. Tender vegetables such as tomatoes go out 1 to 2 weeks after the local date.
The last and first frost dates for Vermont 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 Vermont?
- Vermont spans USDA hardiness zones 4a to 6a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zone 5a is the most common, covering 58% of the state's 305 ZIP codes, and zones 4b to 5b together cover 96%.
- What hardiness zone is Burlington, Vermont?
- Burlington is in USDA hardiness zone 5b (ZIP 05401), where the average coldest winter night reaches −15 °F to −10 °F. Its average last spring frost is April 29 and its first fall frost October 15.
- What hardiness zone is South Burlington, Vermont?
- South Burlington is in USDA hardiness zone 5a (ZIP 05403), where the average coldest winter night reaches −20 °F to −15 °F. Its average last spring frost is April 29 and its first fall frost October 15.
- What hardiness zone is Rutland, Vermont?
- Rutland is in USDA hardiness zone 5a (ZIP 05736), where the average coldest winter night reaches −20 °F to −15 °F. Its average last spring frost is May 15 and its first fall frost September 27.
- What is the coldest hardiness zone in Vermont?
- Zone 4a (−30 °F to −25 °F) is the coldest zone in Vermont, found in 11 ZIP codes. The warmest is zone 6a (−10 °F to −5 °F).
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.