What Planting Zones Are in West Virginia?
West Virginia spans USDA hardiness zones 5b to 7a, where the average coldest winter night ranges from −15 °F to 5 °F (−26.1 °C to −15 °C). Zone 7a covers the most ZIP codes, 49%, and zones 6b to 7a together cover 93% of the state.
Bars show each zone's share of the 843 West Virginia ZIP codes in the official 2023 USDA ZIP code table; select a zone for its temperatures and hardy plants.
What Hardiness Zone Are West Virginia Cities In?
Charleston is in zone 7a, Huntington is in zone 7a, Morgantown is in zone 7a and Parkersburg is in zone 6b. The table lists the zone, winter low and average frost dates for 18 West Virginia cities, using the ZIP code nearest each city center.
| City | ZIP | Zone | Winter low | Last frost | First frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | 25301 | 7a | 0 °F to 5 °F | Apr 16 | Oct 26 |
| Huntington | 25755 | 7a | 0 °F to 5 °F | Apr 12 | Oct 30 |
| Morgantown | 26505 | 7a | 0 °F to 5 °F | Apr 23 | Oct 24 |
| Parkersburg | 26101 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | Apr 14 | Oct 30 |
| Wheeling | 26003 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | Apr 20 | Oct 29 |
| Martinsburg | 25401 | 7a | 0 °F to 5 °F | Apr 17 | Oct 23 |
| Weirton | 26062 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | Apr 29 | Oct 20 |
| Fairmont | 26554 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | Apr 18 | Oct 28 |
| Beckley | 25911 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | May 6 | Oct 10 |
| Clarksburg | 26301 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | Apr 22 | Oct 23 |
| Bluefield | 24701 | 7a | 0 °F to 5 °F | Apr 21 | Oct 22 |
| Hurricane | 25526 | 7a | 0 °F to 5 °F | Apr 18 | Oct 26 |
| Elkins | 26241 | 6a | −10 °F to −5 °F | May 5 | Oct 12 |
| Buckhannon | 26201 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | Apr 29 | Oct 20 |
| New Martinsville | 26159 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | Apr 26 | Oct 26 |
| Keyser | 26726 | 7a | 0 °F to 5 °F | Apr 30 | Oct 15 |
| Point Pleasant | 25550 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | Apr 18 | Oct 28 |
| Ravenswood | 25262 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | Apr 23 | Oct 21 |
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 West 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 West Virginia Are in Each Zone?
Zone 6a, the coldest West Virginia zone with towns, covers 7% of ZIP codes around Elkins, Belington and Terra Alta. Zone 7a, the warmest, covers 49% around Charleston, Huntington and Morgantown. The table lists the largest places in every zone.
| Zone | Avg. coldest night | Share of ZIPs | Largest places in this zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 5b | −15 °F to −10 °F | <1% (6) | Rural ZIP codes only |
| Zone 6a | −10 °F to −5 °F | 7% (57) | Elkins, Belington, Terra Alta, Parsons |
| Zone 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | 43% (364) | Parkersburg, Wheeling, Weirton, Fairmont |
| Zone 7a | 0 °F to 5 °F | 49% (416) | Charleston, Huntington, Morgantown, Martinsburg |
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 West Virginia Gardeners?
A West Virginia gardener in zone 7a sees winter lows about 15 °F milder than one in zone 5b, 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 West Virginia, a plant labelled “zones 6–7” survives winter in at least 93% 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 West Virginia towns in the same zone can have last frosts weeks apart.
What Plants Grow Well Across West Virginia?
221 plants in PlantoScan's catalogue are hardy in every zone from 6b to 7a, the zones that cover 93% of West 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 West Virginia's colder or warmer edge zones should check each plant's full range.
When Is the Last Frost in West Virginia?
Across most West Virginia ZIP codes, the average last spring frost falls between April 8 and May 5, from April 12 in Huntington to May 6 in Beckley. Tender vegetables such as tomatoes go out 1 to 2 weeks after the local date.
The last and first frost dates for West 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 West Virginia?
- West Virginia spans USDA hardiness zones 5b to 7a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zone 7a is the most common, covering 49% of the state's 843 ZIP codes, and zones 6b to 7a together cover 93%.
- What hardiness zone is Charleston, West Virginia?
- Charleston is in USDA hardiness zone 7a (ZIP 25301), where the average coldest winter night reaches 0 °F to 5 °F. Its average last spring frost is April 16 and its first fall frost October 26.
- What hardiness zone is Huntington, West Virginia?
- Huntington is in USDA hardiness zone 7a (ZIP 25755), where the average coldest winter night reaches 0 °F to 5 °F. Its average last spring frost is April 12 and its first fall frost October 30.
- What hardiness zone is Morgantown, West Virginia?
- Morgantown is in USDA hardiness zone 7a (ZIP 26505), where the average coldest winter night reaches 0 °F to 5 °F. Its average last spring frost is April 23 and its first fall frost October 24.
- What is the coldest hardiness zone in West Virginia?
- Zone 5b (−15 °F to −10 °F) is the coldest zone in West Virginia, found in 6 ZIP codes. The warmest is zone 7a (0 °F to 5 °F), around Charleston and Huntington.
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.