What Growing Zone Is Mississippi In?
USDA hardiness zones
7b to 9a
2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
Mississippi spans USDA hardiness zone 7b to 9a 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).
Mississippi's USDA Hardiness Zones
Here's how the zone shifts across Mississippi'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 Mississippi
Frost dates track zone, so they shift across Mississippi the same way the zone number does:
- Northern Mississippi (Oxford) (zone 7): average last frost Mar 18 - Apr 1, average first frost Oct 29 - Nov 12.
- Gulf Coast (Gulfport) (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 Mississippi's frost dates, see the Mississippi Planting Calendar.
Mississippi warms from north to south the way most Gulf-adjacent states do -- Oxford in the north sits at 7b while Gulfport on the coast reaches 9a, per Mississippi State University Extension's coverage of the updated map.
What Grows Well in Mississippi's Zones
A few real, zone-appropriate picks recommended by Mississippi State University Extension for Mississippi landscapes: not an exhaustive list, but a genuine starting point.
- Witch alder (Fothergilla major)
- Fringe tree (Chionanthus virginicus)
- Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia)
- American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)
- Sweetshrub (Calycanthus floridus)
- Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica)
Ready to find your exact zone? Use the Hardiness Zone Finder: enter your ZIP code for a precise match against the 2023 USDA map.
Mississippi Growing Zone FAQ
What growing zone is Mississippi in?
Mississippi spans USDA hardiness zones 7b to 9a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Oxford is zone 7b and Tupelo is zone 8a; enter your ZIP code in the Hardiness Zone Finder for your exact zone.
What growing zone is Oxford, MS?
Oxford 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 Tupelo, MS?
Tupelo 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 Jackson, MS?
Jackson 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 Gulfport, MS?
Gulfport 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.
Free book · 23 pages, PDF
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 Mississippi State University Extension. Climate note sourced from Mississippi State University Extension. 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.