What Growing Zone Is New Jersey In?
USDA hardiness zones
6b to 8a
2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
New Jersey spans USDA hardiness zone 6b 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
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).
New Jersey's USDA Hardiness Zones
Here's how the zone shifts across New Jersey'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 New Jersey
Frost dates track zone, so they shift across New Jersey the same way the zone number does:
- Northern highlands (Sussex) (zone 6): average last frost Mar 29 - Apr 12, average first frost Oct 18 - Nov 1.
- South shore (Cape May, Atlantic City) (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 New Jersey's frost dates, see the New Jersey Planting Calendar.
The Office of the New Jersey State Climatologist documents average freeze-free days rising from about 163 in the northern highlands to about 217 along the seacoast -- the coastal moderating effect behind the state's 6b-to-8a zone spread.
What Grows Well in New Jersey's Zones
A few real, zone-appropriate picks recommended by Rutgers Cooperative Extension (NJAES Fact Sheet FS1140) for New Jersey landscapes: not an exhaustive list, but a genuine starting point.
- American holly (Ilex opaca)
- Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis)
- Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida)
- Highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum)
- Winterberry (Ilex verticillata)
- Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia)
Ready to find your exact zone? Use the Hardiness Zone Finder: enter your ZIP code for a precise match against the 2023 USDA map.
New Jersey Growing Zone FAQ
What growing zone is New Jersey in?
New Jersey spans USDA hardiness zones 6b to 8a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Sussex is zone 6b and Trenton is zone 7a; enter your ZIP code in the Hardiness Zone Finder for your exact zone.
What growing zone is Sussex, NJ?
Sussex 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 Trenton, NJ?
Trenton 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 Newark, NJ?
Newark 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 Atlantic City, NJ?
Atlantic City 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.
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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 Rutgers Cooperative Extension (NJAES Fact Sheet FS1140). Climate note sourced from Office of the New Jersey State Climatologist, Rutgers. 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.