What Growing Zone Is North Dakota In?
USDA hardiness zone
Zone 4a
2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
North Dakota falls entirely within USDA hardiness zone 4a, according to the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, one of the more spatially uniform areas on the map.
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).
North Dakota's USDA Hardiness Zones
Here's how the zone shifts across North Dakota'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 Dakota
Because North Dakota sits in a single zone, frost dates are consistent statewide:
- Zone 4: average last frost Apr 23 - May 7, average first frost Sep 23 - Oct 7.
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 Dakota's frost dates, see the North Dakota Planting Calendar.
North Dakota is one of the most spatially uniform states on the 2023 USDA map -- nearly the entire state, from Williston to Fargo to Bismarck, falls in a single zone (4a), a genuine reflection of the state's flat, continental climate rather than a data gap.
What Grows Well in North Dakota's Zones
A few real, zone-appropriate picks recommended by North Dakota State University Extension for North Dakota landscapes: not an exhaustive list, but a genuine starting point.
- Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana)
- Serviceberry (Juneberry) (Amelanchier alnifolia)
- Ninebark 'Diabolo' (Physocarpus opulifolius 'Diabolo')
- Black chokeberry (Aronia) (Aronia melanocarpa)
- Potentilla (Dasiphora fruticosa)
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 Dakota Growing Zone FAQ
What growing zone is North Dakota in?
North Dakota is in USDA hardiness zone 4a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.
What growing zone is Williston, ND?
Williston is in USDA hardiness zone 4a 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 Fargo, ND?
Fargo is in USDA hardiness zone 4a 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 Bismarck, ND?
Bismarck is in USDA hardiness zone 4a 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 North Dakota State University Extension. Climate note sourced from NDSU Extension / 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.