What Growing Zone Is North Carolina In?
USDA hardiness zones
6b to 9a
2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
North Carolina spans USDA hardiness zone 6b 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.
Hardiness zone for ZIP 28202 (Charlotte)
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: Charlotte, NC
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).
North Carolina's USDA Hardiness Zones
Here's how the zone shifts across North Carolina'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 North Carolina
Frost dates track zone, so they shift across North Carolina the same way the zone number does:
- Northwestern mountains (zone 6): average last frost Mar 29 - Apr 12, average first frost Oct 18 - Nov 1.
- Outer Banks (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 North Carolina's frost dates, see the North Carolina Planting Calendar.
North Carolina's coldest pockets (zone 6a-6b on the 2023 USDA map) sit in the northwestern mountains, mostly above about 4,500 ft in counties like Yancey, Mitchell, and Avery, while the coast and Outer Banks reach 8b-9a -- a spread driven by elevation as much as latitude.
What Grows Well in North Carolina's Zones
A few real, zone-appropriate picks recommended by NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox for North Carolina landscapes: not an exhaustive list, but a genuine starting point.
- Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica)
- Southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)
- Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis)
- American holly (Ilex opaca)
- Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida)
Ready to find your exact zone? Use the Hardiness Zone Finder: enter your ZIP code for a precise match against the 2023 USDA map.
North Carolina Growing Zone FAQ
What growing zone is North Carolina in?
North Carolina spans USDA hardiness zones 6b to 9a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Mount Airy is zone 7b and Greensboro is zone 8a; enter your ZIP code in the Hardiness Zone Finder for your exact zone.
What growing zone is Charlotte, NC?
Charlotte 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 Raleigh, NC?
Raleigh 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 Asheville, NC?
Asheville 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 Greensboro, NC?
Greensboro 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 NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. 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.