What Growing Zone Is Wisconsin In?
USDA hardiness zones
4a to 6a
2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
Wisconsin spans USDA hardiness zone 4a to 6a 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 53703 (Madison)
Your USDA hardiness zone
Zone 5a
Avg. annual minimum (°F)
-20°F to -15°F
Avg. annual minimum (°C)
-29°C to -26°C
Nearest reference point: Madison, WI
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).
Wisconsin's USDA Hardiness Zones
Here's how the zone shifts across Wisconsin'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 Wisconsin
Frost dates track zone, so they shift across Wisconsin the same way the zone number does:
- Northern Wisconsin (Rhinelander) (zone 4): average last frost Apr 23 - May 7, average first frost Sep 23 - Oct 7.
- Lake Michigan shoreline (Milwaukee, Kenosha) (zone 6): average last frost Mar 29 - Apr 12, average first frost Oct 18 - Nov 1.
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 Wisconsin's frost dates, see the Wisconsin Planting Calendar.
UW-Madison Extension's own hardiness zone mapping notes Wisconsin zones "vary from Zone 6 along Lake Michigan to scattered pockets of Zone 3 in extreme Northwest Wisconsin," with most of northern Wisconsin in zone 4 and southern Wisconsin in zone 5.
What Grows Well in Wisconsin's Zones
A few real, zone-appropriate picks recommended by UW-Madison Division of Extension, Wisconsin Horticulture for Wisconsin landscapes: not an exhaustive list, but a genuine starting point.
- Kentucky coffeetree (Gymnocladus dioica)
- Swamp white oak (Quercus bicolor)
- Common hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)
- Ironwood (hophornbeam) (Ostrya virginiana)
Ready to find your exact zone? Use the Hardiness Zone Finder: enter your ZIP code for a precise match against the 2023 USDA map.
Wisconsin Growing Zone FAQ
What growing zone is Wisconsin in?
Wisconsin spans USDA hardiness zones 4a to 6a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Rhinelander is zone 4a and Wausau is zone 5a; enter your ZIP code in the Hardiness Zone Finder for your exact zone.
What growing zone is Madison, WI?
Madison is in USDA hardiness zone 5a 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 Milwaukee, WI?
Milwaukee 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 Rhinelander, WI?
Rhinelander 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 Wausau, WI?
Wausau is in USDA hardiness zone 5a 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 UW-Madison Division of Extension, Wisconsin Horticulture. Climate note sourced from UW-Madison Division of Extension, Wisconsin Horticulture. 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.