What Growing Zone Is New York In?
USDA hardiness zones
4a to 7b
2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
New York spans USDA hardiness zone 4a to 7b 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 10007 (New York City)
Your USDA hardiness zone
Zone 7b
Avg. annual minimum (°F)
5°F to 10°F
Avg. annual minimum (°C)
-15°C to -12°C
Nearest reference point: New York City, NY
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 York's USDA Hardiness Zones
Here's how the zone shifts across New York'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 York
Frost dates track zone, so they shift across New York the same way the zone number does:
- Adirondacks/far upstate (zone 4): average last frost Apr 23 - May 7, average first frost Sep 23 - Oct 7.
- New York City/Long Island (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 New York's frost dates, see the New York Planting Calendar.
New York's State Climatologist documents annual average temperatures ranging from about 55F along the coast to about 40F across the Adirondacks, with elevation running from sea level in the southeast to over 5,000 ft at Mount Marcy -- the physical basis for the state's wide 4a-to-7b zone spread.
What Grows Well in New York's Zones
A few real, zone-appropriate picks recommended by Cornell Cooperative Extension, Suffolk County for New York landscapes: not an exhaustive list, but a genuine starting point.
- Rosebay rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum)
- Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida)
- Crabapple (Malus spp.)
- Golden larch (Pseudolarix amabilis)
- Spotted bee balm (Monarda punctata)
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 York Growing Zone FAQ
What growing zone is New York in?
New York spans USDA hardiness zones 4a to 7b on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Albany is zone 6a and Kingston is zone 6a; enter your ZIP code in the Hardiness Zone Finder for your exact zone.
What growing zone is New York City, NY?
New York City 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 Buffalo, NY?
Buffalo 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 Long Island, NY?
Long Island 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 Rochester, NY?
Rochester 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 Cornell Cooperative Extension, Suffolk County. Climate note sourced from New York State Climate Office. 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:
- Pennsylvania growing zones
- New Jersey growing zones
- Massachusetts growing zones
- Connecticut growing zones
- Vermont growing zones
Or browse all 51 state growing-zone guides.