What Growing Zone Is Hawaii In?
USDA hardiness zones
10a to 12b
2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
Hawaii spans USDA hardiness zone 10a to 12b across its major population centers, according to the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. That's a real range, not a single number: where you fall in it depends on where in the state you actually are.
Find your exact zone
Your USDA hardiness zone
Zone 6b
Avg. annual minimum (°F)
-5°F to 0°F
Avg. annual minimum (°C)
-21°C to -18°C
Nearest reference point: Chicago, IL
This is a regional estimate based on the nearest of 826 reference points, each matched to the official 2023 USDA zone map. It’s accurate to within about a half-zone across most of the country, but elevation shifts zones over short distances, so if you’re in mountainous terrain, check the official USDA map for your exact address (see Sources below).
Hawaii's USDA Hardiness Zones
Here's how the zone shifts across Hawaii's major cities:
For your exact zone by ZIP code, use the Hardiness Zone Finder, and for what a zone number actually measures (and doesn't), see how zones actually work.
Frost Dates in Hawaii
Frost dates track zone, so they shift across Hawaii the same way the zone number does:
- Upcountry Maui (Kula) (zone 10): average last frost Effectively frost-free, average first frost Effectively frost-free.
- Honolulu lowlands (zone 12): average last frost Effectively frost-free, average first frost Effectively frost-free.
These are averages, not guarantees. For your specific frost window, use the Frost Date Calculator. For a full vegetable-by-vegetable planting calendar already calculated from Hawaii's frost dates, see the Hawaii Planting Calendar.
Hawaii's zone range is driven almost entirely by elevation: at elevations below 1,000 feet, winter temperatures rarely fall below 50F, while lows can drop below 20F near the summits of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, per NOAA's State Climate Summary.
What Grows Well in Hawaii's Zones
A few real, zone-appropriate picks recommended by University of Hawaii CTAHR for Hawaii landscapes: not an exhaustive list, but a genuine starting point.
- Koa (Acacia koa)
- Naio (Myoporum sandwicense)
- 'Ohi'a lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha)
- 'A'ali'i (Dodonaea viscosa)
- 'Ulei (Osteomeles anthyllidifolia)
- Kou (Cordia subcordata)
Ready to find your exact zone? Use the Hardiness Zone Finder: enter your ZIP code for a precise match against the 2023 USDA map.
Hawaii Growing Zone FAQ
What growing zone is Hawaii in?
Hawaii spans USDA hardiness zones 10a to 12b on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Kula is zone 10a and Hilo is zone 10b; enter your ZIP code in the Hardiness Zone Finder for your exact zone.
What growing zone is Kula, HI?
Kula is in USDA hardiness zone 10a on the 2023 USDA map. Zones within a city can differ by half a zone, so check your ZIP code for an exact match.
What growing zone is Hilo, HI?
Hilo is in USDA hardiness zone 10b on the 2023 USDA map. Zones within a city can differ by half a zone, so check your ZIP code for an exact match.
What growing zone is Volcano, HI?
Volcano is in USDA hardiness zone 11a on the 2023 USDA map. Zones within a city can differ by half a zone, so check your ZIP code for an exact match.
What growing zone is Lihue, HI?
Lihue is in USDA hardiness zone 12a on the 2023 USDA map. Zones within a city can differ by half a zone, so check your ZIP code for an exact match.
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The Spacing & Planting Cheat Sheet
When to start, when to plant, how far apart.
Sources & further reading
Zone and city data checked against the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Plant recommendations sourced from University of Hawaii CTAHR. Climate note sourced from NOAA State Climate Summaries. For more on how we build and verify reference data across this site, see our methodology page.
Growing zones in comparable climates
Hawaii doesn't border another state, so these are the closest comparisons by climate:
- California growing zones
- Florida growing zones
- Texas growing zones
- Louisiana growing zones
- Arizona growing zones
Or browse all 51 state growing-zone guides.