What Growing Zone Is Maryland In?

Last updated September 6, 2026

USDA hardiness zones

7a to 8a

2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

Maryland spans USDA hardiness zone 7a to 8a 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 by ZIP code

Hardiness zone for ZIP 21202 (Baltimore)

US ZIP code

Your USDA hardiness zone

Zone 8a

Avg. annual minimum (°F)

10°F to 15°F

Avg. annual minimum (°C)

-12°C to -9°C

Nearest reference point: Baltimore, MD

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).

Maryland's USDA Hardiness Zones

Here's how the zone shifts across Maryland's major cities:

City	USDA Zone
Cumberland	7a
Hagerstown	7a
Rockville	7b
Baltimore	8a
Ocean City	8a

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 Maryland

Frost dates track zone, so they shift across Maryland the same way the zone number does:

Western Maryland (Cumberland, Hagerstown) (zone 7): average last frost Mar 18 - Apr 1, average first frost Oct 29 - Nov 12.
Chesapeake Bay/Atlantic coast (zone 8): average last frost Mar 8 - Mar 22, average first frost Nov 8 - Nov 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 Maryland's frost dates, see the Maryland Planting Calendar.

Maryland's western highlands around Cumberland and Hagerstown run a half to full zone colder than the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic coast near Ocean City, where Bay and ocean influence keep winters milder -- the reason the state spans 7a to 8a on the 2023 USDA map despite its small size.

What Grows Well in Maryland's Zones

A few real, zone-appropriate picks recommended by University of Maryland Extension for Maryland landscapes: not an exhaustive list, but a genuine starting point.

White oak (Quercus alba)
Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.)
Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida)
Smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens)
Summersweet (sweet pepperbush) (Clethra alnifolia)
Winterberry holly (Ilex verticillata)

Ready to find your exact zone? Use the Hardiness Zone Finder: enter your ZIP code for a precise match against the 2023 USDA map.

Maryland Growing Zone FAQ

What growing zone is Maryland in?

Maryland spans USDA hardiness zones 7a to 8a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Cumberland is zone 7a and Hagerstown is zone 7a; enter your ZIP code in the Hardiness Zone Finder for your exact zone.

What growing zone is Baltimore, MD?

Baltimore is in USDA hardiness zone 8a 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 Frederick, MD?

Frederick is in USDA hardiness zone 7b 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 Cumberland, MD?

Cumberland is in USDA hardiness zone 7a 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 Hagerstown, MD?

Hagerstown is in USDA hardiness zone 7a on the 2023 USDA map. Zones within a city can differ by half a zone, so check your ZIP code for an exact match.

A home yard in the Maryland Piedmont, with tulip poplars, oaks and a brick colonial house, planted with white oak, serviceberry and flowering dogwood — Plants that suit Maryland: white oak, serviceberry and flowering dogwood. AI-generated image.

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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 Maryland Extension. Climate note sourced from USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. 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.