What Planting Zones Are in Virginia?
Virginia spans USDA hardiness zones 6a to 8b, where the average coldest winter night ranges from −10 °F to 20 °F (−23.3 °C to −6.7 °C). Zone 7b covers the most ZIP codes, 43%, and zones 7a to 8a together cover 92% of the state.
- Zone 6a<1% · 4 ZIPs
- Zone 6b3% · 33 ZIPs
- Zone 7a32% · 386 ZIPs
- Zone 7b43% · 515 ZIPs
- Zone 8a16% · 195 ZIPs
- Zone 8b5% · 63 ZIPs
Bars show each zone's share of the 1,196 Virginia ZIP codes in the official 2023 USDA ZIP code table; select a zone for its temperatures and hardy plants.
What Hardiness Zone Are Virginia Cities In?
Virginia Beach is in zone 8b, Chesapeake is in zone 8a, Richmond is in zone 7b and Norfolk is in zone 8b. The table lists the zone, winter low and average frost dates for 18 Virginia cities, using the ZIP code nearest each city center.
| City | ZIP | Zone | Winter low | Last frost | First frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach | 23453 | 8b | 15 °F to 20 °F | Mar 29 | Nov 12 |
| Chesapeake | 23322 | 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | Mar 23 | Nov 18 |
| Richmond | 23220 | 7b | 5 °F to 10 °F | Apr 3 | Nov 4 |
| Norfolk | 23518 | 8b | 15 °F to 20 °F | Mar 17 | Nov 23 |
| Newport News | 23606 | 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | Apr 1 | Nov 9 |
| Alexandria | 22302 | 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | Mar 24 | Nov 18 |
| Hampton | 23664 | 8b | 15 °F to 20 °F | Mar 24 | Nov 15 |
| Suffolk | 23434 | 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | Mar 27 | Nov 15 |
| Roanoke | 24016 | 7b | 5 °F to 10 °F | Apr 3 | Nov 1 |
| Portsmouth | 23707 | 8b | 15 °F to 20 °F | Mar 23 | Nov 16 |
| Lynchburg | 24502 | 7b | 5 °F to 10 °F | Apr 17 | Oct 25 |
| Harrisonburg | 22807 | 7a | 0 °F to 5 °F | Apr 21 | Oct 23 |
| Leesburg | 20175 | 7b | 5 °F to 10 °F | Apr 16 | Oct 25 |
| Blacksburg | 24061 | 7a | 0 °F to 5 °F | Apr 24 | Oct 19 |
| Charlottesville | 22908 | 7b | 5 °F to 10 °F | Apr 2 | Nov 10 |
| Manassas | 20110 | 7a | 0 °F to 5 °F | Apr 12 | Oct 27 |
| Danville | 24540 | 7b | 5 °F to 10 °F | Apr 8 | Nov 1 |
| Petersburg | 23801 | 7b | 5 °F to 10 °F | Apr 3 | Nov 3 |
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 Virginia 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 Virginia Are in Each Zone?
Zone 6b, the coldest Virginia zone with towns, covers 3% of ZIP codes around Bluefield, Tazewell and Clintwood. Zone 8b, the warmest, covers 5% around Virginia Beach, Norfolk and Hampton. 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 | <1% (4) | Rural ZIP codes only |
| Zone 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | 3% (33) | Bluefield, Tazewell, Clintwood |
| Zone 7a | 0 °F to 5 °F | 32% (386) | Harrisonburg, Blacksburg, Manassas, Winchester |
| Zone 7b | 5 °F to 10 °F | 43% (515) | Richmond, Roanoke, Lynchburg, Leesburg |
| Zone 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | 16% (195) | Chesapeake, Newport News, Alexandria, Suffolk |
| Zone 8b | 15 °F to 20 °F | 5% (63) | Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Hampton, Portsmouth |
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 Virginia Gardeners?
A Virginia gardener in zone 8b sees winter lows about 25 °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 Virginia, a plant labelled “zones 7–8” 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 Virginia towns in the same zone can have last frosts weeks apart.
What Plants Grow Well Across Virginia?
230 plants in PlantoScan's catalogue are hardy in every zone from 7a to 8a, the zones that cover 92% of Virginia 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 Virginia's colder or warmer edge zones should check each plant's full range.
When Is the Last Frost in Virginia?
Across most Virginia ZIP codes, the average last spring frost falls between March 30 and April 26, from March 17 in Norfolk to April 24 in Blacksburg. Tender vegetables such as tomatoes go out 1 to 2 weeks after the local date.
The last and first frost dates for Virginia 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 Virginia?
- Virginia spans USDA hardiness zones 6a to 8b on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zone 7b is the most common, covering 43% of the state's 1,196 ZIP codes, and zones 7a to 8a together cover 92%.
- What hardiness zone is Virginia Beach, Virginia?
- Virginia Beach is in USDA hardiness zone 8b (ZIP 23453), where the average coldest winter night reaches 15 °F to 20 °F. Its average last spring frost is March 29 and its first fall frost November 12.
- What hardiness zone is Chesapeake, Virginia?
- Chesapeake is in USDA hardiness zone 8a (ZIP 23322), where the average coldest winter night reaches 10 °F to 15 °F. Its average last spring frost is March 23 and its first fall frost November 18.
- What hardiness zone is Richmond, Virginia?
- Richmond is in USDA hardiness zone 7b (ZIP 23220), where the average coldest winter night reaches 5 °F to 10 °F. Its average last spring frost is April 3 and its first fall frost November 4.
- What is the coldest hardiness zone in Virginia?
- Zone 6a (−10 °F to −5 °F) is the coldest zone in Virginia, found in 4 ZIP codes. The warmest is zone 8b (15 °F to 20 °F), around Virginia Beach and Norfolk.
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.