What Growing Zone Is Missouri In?
USDA hardiness zones
6a to 7a
2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
Missouri spans USDA hardiness zone 6a to 7a 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.
Hardiness zone for ZIP 63103 (St. Louis)
Your USDA hardiness zone
Zone 7a
Avg. annual minimum (°F)
0°F to 5°F
Avg. annual minimum (°C)
-18°C to -15°C
Nearest reference point: St. Louis, MO
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).
Missouri's USDA Hardiness Zones
Here's how the zone shifts across Missouri'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 Missouri
Frost dates track zone, so they shift across Missouri the same way the zone number does:
- Northwestern Missouri (St. Joseph) (zone 6): average last frost Mar 29 - Apr 12, average first frost Oct 18 - Nov 1.
- Ozarks and St. Louis area (Branson, St. Louis) (zone 7): average last frost Mar 18 - Apr 1, average first frost Oct 29 - Nov 12.
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 Missouri's frost dates, see the Missouri Planting Calendar.
Missouri generally warms north to south, but the Ozark Plateau's elevation interrupts that pattern, keeping the Branson/Ozarks region cooler than its latitude alone would suggest -- a pattern the Missouri Climate Center has flagged following the 2023 map update.
What Grows Well in Missouri's Zones
A few real, zone-appropriate picks recommended by University of Missouri Extension for Missouri landscapes: not an exhaustive list, but a genuine starting point.
- Katsuratree (Cercidiphyllum japonicum)
- White fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus)
- Red buckeye (Aesculus pavia)
- Paperbark maple (Acer griseum)
- Blackhaw viburnum (Viburnum prunifolium)
Ready to find your exact zone? Use the Hardiness Zone Finder: enter your ZIP code for a precise match against the 2023 USDA map.
Missouri Growing Zone FAQ
What growing zone is Missouri in?
Missouri spans USDA hardiness zones 6a to 7a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. St. Joseph is zone 6a and Kansas City is zone 6b; enter your ZIP code in the Hardiness Zone Finder for your exact zone.
What growing zone is St. Louis, MO?
St. Louis 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 Springfield, MO?
Springfield is in USDA hardiness zone 6b 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 St. Joseph, MO?
St. Joseph is in USDA hardiness zone 6a 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 Kansas City, MO?
Kansas City is in USDA hardiness zone 6b 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 Missouri Extension. Climate note sourced from University of Missouri Climate Center. 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:
- Illinois growing zones
- Tennessee growing zones
- Kentucky growing zones
- Oklahoma growing zones
- Iowa growing zones
- Arkansas growing zones
Or browse all 51 state growing-zone guides.