What Growing Zone Is Louisiana In?
USDA hardiness zones
8b to 9b
2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
Louisiana spans USDA hardiness zone 8b to 9b 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).
Louisiana's USDA Hardiness Zones
Here's how the zone shifts across Louisiana'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 Louisiana
Frost dates track zone, so they shift across Louisiana the same way the zone number does:
- Northern Louisiana (Shreveport) (zone 8): average last frost Mar 8 - Mar 22, average first frost Nov 8 - Nov 22.
- New Orleans area (zone 9): average last frost Feb 8 - Feb 22, average first frost Dec 8 - Dec 22.
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 Louisiana's frost dates, see the Louisiana Planting Calendar.
Louisiana warms steadily from north to south -- Shreveport sits in zone 8b while New Orleans, closer to the Gulf, reaches 9b, per LSU AgCenter's coverage of the 2023 USDA map update.
What Grows Well in Louisiana's Zones
A few real, zone-appropriate picks recommended by LSU AgCenter for Louisiana landscapes: not an exhaustive list, but a genuine starting point.
- American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)
- Yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria)
- Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia)
- Southern wax myrtle (Myrica cerifera)
- Virginia sweetspire 'Henry's Garnet' (Itea virginica 'Henry's Garnet')
Ready to find your exact zone? Use the Hardiness Zone Finder: enter your ZIP code for a precise match against the 2023 USDA map.
Louisiana Growing Zone FAQ
What growing zone is Louisiana in?
Louisiana spans USDA hardiness zones 8b to 9b on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Shreveport is zone 8b and Baton Rouge is zone 9a; enter your ZIP code in the Hardiness Zone Finder for your exact zone.
What growing zone is Shreveport, LA?
Shreveport is in USDA hardiness zone 8b 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 Baton Rouge, LA?
Baton Rouge is in USDA hardiness zone 9a 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 Lafayette, LA?
Lafayette is in USDA hardiness zone 9a 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 New Orleans, LA?
New Orleans is in USDA hardiness zone 9b 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 LSU AgCenter. Climate note sourced from LSU AgCenter. For more on how we build and verify reference data across this site, see our methodology page.
Growing zones in nearby states
Gardening near a state line? Zones don't stop at the border:
Or browse all 51 state growing-zone guides.