What Growing Zone Is West Virginia In?
USDA hardiness zones
6a to 7a
2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
West Virginia 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.
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).
West Virginia's USDA Hardiness Zones
Here's how the zone shifts across West Virginia'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 West Virginia
Frost dates track zone, so they shift across West Virginia the same way the zone number does:
- Highlands (Elkins) (zone 6): average last frost Mar 29 - Apr 12, average first frost Oct 18 - Nov 1.
- Kanawha Valley (Charleston) (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 West Virginia's frost dates, see the West Virginia Planting Calendar.
West Virginia has the highest average elevation of any state east of the Mississippi, and NOAA's State Climate Summary notes winter lows ranging from the low 20s (F) in the mountains to around 30F in the southern lowlands.
What Grows Well in West Virginia's Zones
A few real, zone-appropriate picks recommended by WVU Extension Service for West Virginia landscapes: not an exhaustive list, but a genuine starting point.
- Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea)
- Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida)
- American plum (Prunus americana)
- American fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus)
- Carolina silverbell (Halesia carolina)
- Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis)
Ready to find your exact zone? Use the Hardiness Zone Finder: enter your ZIP code for a precise match against the 2023 USDA map.
West Virginia Growing Zone FAQ
What growing zone is West Virginia in?
West Virginia spans USDA hardiness zones 6a to 7a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Elkins is zone 6a and Morgantown is zone 6b; enter your ZIP code in the Hardiness Zone Finder for your exact zone.
What growing zone is Elkins, WV?
Elkins 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 Morgantown, WV?
Morgantown 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 Charleston, WV?
Charleston 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 Petersburg, WV?
Petersburg 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.
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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 WVU Extension Service. Climate note sourced from NOAA State Climate Summaries. 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
- Ohio growing zones
- Virginia growing zones
- Maryland growing zones
- Kentucky growing zones
Or browse all 51 state growing-zone guides.