Georgia has 6 USDA planting zones, from 7a to 9b, based on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.
- Zone 7a: Zone 7a has average annual minimum temperatures of 0°F to 5°F (-17.8°C to -15°C) covering Georgia’s coldest region in mountain areas like Blairsville.
- Zone 7b: Zone 7b with average annual minimum temperatures of 5°F to 10°F (-15°C to -12.2°C) spans northern mountainous regions, including Blue Ridge and Clayton.
- Zone 8a: Zone 8a has average annual minimum temperatures of 10°F to 15°F (-12.2°C to -9.4°C) and covers northern Georgia’s urban and suburban areas like Atlanta and Rome.
- Zone 8b: Zone 8b features average annual minimum temperatures of 15°F to 20°F (-9.4°C to -6.7°C) and runs centrally across Georgia, including cities like Macon and Augusta.
- Zone 9a: Zone 9a sees average annual minimum temperatures of 20°F to 25°F (-6.7°C to -3.9°C) and spans southern Georgia’s coastal and inland regions, such as Savannah and Valdosta.
- Zone 9b: Zone 9b has average annual minimum temperatures of 25°F to 30°F (-3.9°C to -1.1°C) and includes Georgia’s warmest southeastern coastal areas like Tybee Island.
You can find your Georgia growing zone by using our ZIP code tool, the Georgia city planting zone map, or the planting zone table below. Average yearly winter lows range from 0–5°F in zone 7a to 25–30°F in zone 9b.
Planting Zones Georgia Map
Select your Georgia city in the selection box below, to find its USDA Growing zone.
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USDA Planting Zone
This zone’s data comes from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), with the most recent zone updates released in 2023
Planting Zones
Planting Zones
Search Georgia Planting Zones by ZipCode
Enter 5 digit Georgia zipcode to find its USDA Planting zone.
What are the 6 planting zones in Georgia?
1. Zone 7a
This zone covers small patches of the highest Blue Ridge ground in North Georgia, mostly in Union, Fannin, Towns, and Rabun counties. With average annual minimum temperatures ranging from 0°F to 5°F (-17.8°C to -15°C), it is the coldest zone in Georgia. The main city in this zone is Blairsville, situated in the heart of the North Georgia mountains.
2. Zone 7b
Zone 7b covers most of the North Georgia mountains, from Gilmer, Fannin, and Union counties east to Rabun County, plus the high ridges of the northwest corner, such as Lookout Mountain. Average annual minimum temperatures in this zone range from 5°F to 10°F (-15°C to -12.2°C). Some of the towns in this zone include Blue Ridge, Clayton, Cleveland, Young Harris, and most of Hiawassee.
3. Zone 8a
Zone 8a covers about a quarter of Georgia: the metro Atlanta area and most of northern Georgia below the mountains, from the northwest to the northeast. This zone experiences average annual minimum temperatures between 10°F and 15°F (-12.2°C to -9.4°C). Some cities in this zone include Atlanta, Marietta, Lawrenceville, Rome, Dalton, Gainesville, and Carrollton.
4. Zone 8b
Zone 8b covers a wide band across Middle Georgia, about 40% of the state’s area, more than any other zone. With average annual minimum temperatures ranging from 15°F to 20°F (-9.4°C to -6.7°C), this zone represents a transition between the cooler north and warmer south. Some of the cities in this zone include Macon, Augusta, Columbus, Warner Robins, Milledgeville, Dublin, and Americus.
5. Zone 9a
Zone 9a covers most of South Georgia and the coast, about a third of the state. This warmer zone experiences average annual minimum temperatures between 20°F and 25°F (-6.7°C to -3.9°C). Cities in this zone include Savannah, Richmond Hill, and Brunswick on the coast, and Hinesville, Valdosta, Tifton, Thomasville, Waycross, and Moultrie inland.
6. Zone 9b
The warmest zone in Georgia, 9b, covers only thin strips of the coast and barrier islands in Chatham, Camden, and Glynn counties, about 0.2% of the state. With average annual minimum temperatures ranging from 25°F to 30°F (-3.9°C to -1.1°C), this zone represents the mildest winter conditions in the state. It includes most of Tybee Island and small parts of St. Simons Island and St. Marys. No Georgia ZIP code is zone 9b in the 2023 USDA ZIP list, so the ZIP code search shows these places as zone 9a.
Planting Zones in Georgia with Cities
The list below gives the hardiness zones of Georgia cities, towns, and counties. The data source is the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
| Planting Zones in Georgia | Temp Range (°F) | Cities |
|---|---|---|
| 8a | 10 to 15 | Acworth, Adairsville, Alpharetta, Alto, Aragon, Armuchee, Arnoldsville, Athens, Atlanta, Auburn, Austell, Avondale Estates, Baldwin, Ball Ground, Bethlehem, Bishop, Bogart, Bostwick, Bowdon, Bowdon Junction, Bowman, Braselton, Bremen, Brooks, Buchanan, Buckhead, Buford, Calhoun, Canton, Carlton, Carnesville, Carrollton, Cartersville, Cassville, Cave Spring, Cedartown, Chatsworth, Chestnut Mountain, Chickamauga, Clarkdale, Clarkesville, Clarkston, Clermont, Cohutta, Colbert, Comer, Commerce, Conley, Conyers, Coosa, Cornelia, Covington, Crandall, Crawford, Cumming, Dacula, Dahlonega, Dallas, Dalton, Danielsville, Dawsonville, Decatur, Demorest, Dewy Rose, Douglasville, Duluth, Elberton, Ellenwood, Emerson, Esom Hill, Eton, Fairburn, Fairmount, Farmington, Fayetteville, Felton, Flintstone, Flovilla, Flowery Branch, Fort Oglethorpe, Franklin, Franklin Springs, Gainesville, Gay, Gillsville, Good Hope, Grantville, Grayson, Graysville, Greenville, Griffin, Hampton, Haralson, Hartwell, High Shoals, Hiram, Hogansville, Holly Springs, Homer, Ila, Jackson, Jasper, Jenkinsburg, Jonesboro, Juliette, Kennesaw, Kingston, La Fayette, Lagrange, Lakemont, Lavonia, Lawrenceville, Lebanon, Lexington, Lilburn, Lindale, Lithia Springs, Lithonia, Locust Grove, Loganville, Lula, Luthersville, Lyerly, Mableton, Madison, Manchester, Mansfield, Marble Hill, Marietta, Maysville, Mcdonough, Monroe, Moreland, Mount Airy, Mount Berry, Mount Zion, Murrayville, Nelson, Newborn, Newnan, Norcross, Oakman, Oakwood, Palmetto, Peachtree City, Pendergrass, Pine Mountain, Pine Mountain Valley, Plainville, Powder Springs, Ranger, Redan, Resaca, Rex, Ringgold, Rock Spring, Rockmart, Rocky Face, Rome, Roopville, Rossville, Roswell, Royston, Rutledge, Rydal, Sargent, Scottdale, Senoia, Shady Dale, Shannon, Sharpsburg, Shiloh, Silver Creek, Smyrna, Snellville, Stockbridge, Stone Mountain, Sugar Valley, Summerville, Suwanee, Talking Rock, Tallapoosa, Tallulah Falls, Talmo, Tate, Taylorsville, Temple, Tennga, Trion, Tucker, Tunnel Hill, Turin, Turnerville, Tyrone, Union City, Varnell, Villa Rica, Waco, Waleska, Warm Springs, Watkinsville, White, Whitesburg, Wildwood, Wiley, Williamson, Winston, Winterville, Woodstock |
| 8b | 15 to 20 | Abbeville, Adrian, Alamo, Albany, Allentown, Americus, Andersonville, Appling, Arlington, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Avera, Barnesville, Bartow, Blackshear, Bluffton, Blythe, Bolingbroke, Bonaire, Boneville, Bowersville, Box Springs, Bronwood, Buena Vista, Butler, Byromville, Byron, Cadwell, Camak, Canon, Cataula, Centerville, Chauncey, Chester, Clinchfield, Clyo, Cobb, Cochran, Coleman, Columbus, Concord, Conyers, Cordele, Covington, Crawfordville, Culloden, Cusseta, Cuthbert, Danville, Davisboro, Dawson, De Soto, Dearing, Dexter, Dover, Dry Branch, Dublin, Dudley, Eastanollee, Eastman, Eatonton, Edison, Elko, Ellaville, Ellerslie, Evans, Experiment, Forest Park, Forsyth, Fort Benning, Fort Gaines, Fort Valley, Fortson, Garfield, Geneva, Georgetown, Gibson, Girard, Glenwood, Gordon, Gough, Gracewood, Gray, Greensboro, Griffin, Grovetown, Haddock, Hamilton, Hardwick, Harlem, Harrison, Hawkinsville, Helena, Hephzibah, Hillsboro, Hoschton, Howard, Hull, Ideal, Irwinton, Jacksonville, Jefferson, Jeffersonville, Jersey, Jewell, Jonesboro, Junction City, Kathleen, Keysville, Kite, Knoxville, Leary, Leesburg, Leslie, Lilly, Lincolnton, Lizella, Louisville, Louvale, Lovejoy, Lumber City, Lumpkin, Macon, Marshallville, Martin, Matthews, Mauk, Maxeys, Mc Intyre, Mc Rae, Meansville, Mesena, Metter, Midland, Midville, Milan, Milledgeville, Millen, Milner, Mitchell, Molena, Monroe, Montezuma, Monticello, Montrose, Morgan, Morris, Morrow, Mount Vernon, Musella, Newington, Newton, Nicholson, Norristown, Norwood, Nunez, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Omaha, Orchard Hill, Oxford, Parrott, Perkins, Perry, Pinehurst, Pineview, Pitts, Plains, Portal, Porterdale, Preston, Pulaski, Rayle, Rentz, Reynolds, Rhine, Richland, Riverdale, Roberta, Rockledge, Rocky Ford, Rupert, Sandersville, Sardis, Sasser, Scotland, Sharon, Shellman, Siloam, Smarr, Smithville, Social Circle, Soperton, Sparta, Stapleton, Statesboro, Statham, Stephens, Stillmore, Sunny Side, Surrency, Swainsboro, Sylvania, Talbotton, Tarrytown, Tennille, The Rock, Thomaston, Thomson, Tignall, Toccoa, Toccoa Falls, Toomsboro, Twin City, Unadilla, Union Point, Upatoi, Uvalda, Vienna, Wadley, Warner Robins, Warrenton, Warthen, Washington, Waverly Hall, Waynesboro, West Point, Weston, White Plains, Winder, Woodbury, Woodland, Wrens, Wrightsville, Yatesville, Zebulon |
| 9a | 20 to 25 | Adel, Ailey, Alapaha, Albany, Allenhurst, Alma, Alston, Ambrose, Arabi, Argyle, Ashburn, Attapulgus, Axson, Baconton, Bainbridge, Barney, Barwick, Baxley, Bellville, Berlin, Blakely, Bloomingdale, Boston, Brinson, Bristol, Brookfield, Brooklet, Broxton, Brunswick, Cairo, Calvary, Camilla, Cecil, Cedar Springs, Chula, Claxton, Climax, Cobbtown, Collins, Colquitt, Coolidge, Cotton, Daisy, Damascus, Darien, Denton, Dixie, Doerun, Donalsonville, Douglas, Du Pont, Eden, Ellabell, Ellenton, Enigma, Fargo, Fitzgerald, Fleming, Folkston, Fort Stewart, Fowlstown, Glennville, Guyton, Hagan, Hahira, Hartsfield, Hazlehurst, Hinesville, Hoboken, Homerville, Hortense, Iron City, Jakin, Jekyll Island, Jesup, Kings Bay, Kingsland, Lake Park, Lakeland, Lenox, Ludowici, Lyons, Manor, Meigs, Meldrim, Meridian, Mershon, Midway, Millwood, Morven, Moultrie, Mystic, Nahunta, Nashville, Naylor, Nicholls, Norman Park, Oakfield, Ochlocknee, Ocilla, Odum, Offerman, Oliver, Omega, Patterson, Pavo, Pearson, Pelham, Pembroke, Pooler, Poulan, Putney, Quitman, Ray City, Rebecca, Register, Reidsville, Riceboro, Richmond Hill, Rincon, Rochelle, Saint George, Saint Marys, Saint Simons Island, Sale City, Sapelo Island, Savannah, Screven, Sea Island, Seville, Sparks, Springfield, Statenville, Stockton, Sumner, Sycamore, Sylvester, Thomasville, Tifton, Townsend, Ty Ty, Tybee Island, Valdosta, Vidalia, Walthourville, Waresboro, Warwick, Waverly, Waycross, Waynesville, West Green, Whigham, White Oak, Willacoochee, Woodbine, Wray |
| 7b | 5 to 10 | Blairsville, Blue Ridge, Cherrylog, Cisco, Clayton, Cleveland, Dillard, East Ellijay, Ellijay, Epworth, Helen, Hiawassee, Lookout Mountain, Mc Caysville, Menlo, Mineral Bluff, Morganton, Mountain City, Rabun Gap, Rising Fawn, Sautee Nacoochee, Suches, Tiger, Trenton, Young Harris |
| 7a | 0 to 5 | Blairsville |
Best plants for Georgia?
For Georgia’s planting zones, ranging from 7a to 9b, here are the best plants suited for each zone, based on analysis of the recommendations from the planting zones USA:
- Zone 7a: Aster (Aster amellus) – Ideal for its hardiness and vibrant blooms.
- Zone 7b: Bee Balm (Monarda didyma) – Known for attracting pollinators and thriving in full sun.
- Zone 8a: Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) – A resilient perennial with striking flowers.
- Zone 8b: Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) – Perfect for supporting local butterfly populations.
- Zone 9a: Gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides) – Appreciated for its fragrant white flowers.
- Zone 9b: Yellow Jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens) – An evergreen vine with beautiful yellow blooms.
Georgia Frost Dates
In Georgia, the typical last spring frost comes on March 31 and the first fall frost on November 4, from NOAA 1991–2020 weather-station records for 937 Georgia ZIP codes. The mountains and South Georgia are 3 to 5 weeks apart at each end of the season: the last spring frost comes on March 17 in South Georgia (Zone 9a) but not until April 20 in the North Georgia mountains (Zone 7b), so the south gets 58 more frost-free days a year. The table gives the median date for each Georgia subzone and, where a subzone has at least 10 ZIP codes, the range that covers 8 of 10 of them; in 7 of 10 years, the frost comes before the spring date and after the fall date. The growing season is the number of days between the two dates. Zone 9b has no ZIP code of its own in Georgia, so it has no row. Frost dates for one garden come from its ZIP code: frost dates by ZIP code; town by town: Georgia frost dates.
| Subzone | Last spring frost | First fall frost | Growing season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 7a (1 ZIP code) | May 2 | Oct 14 | 165 days |
| Zone 7b (26 ZIP codes) | Apr 20 (Apr 7–May 2) | Oct 22 (Oct 14–Nov 1) | 185 days |
| Zone 8a (381 ZIP codes) | Apr 2 (Mar 31–Apr 10) | Nov 1 (Oct 29–Nov 6) | 213 days |
| Zone 8b (318 ZIP codes) | Mar 29 (Mar 16–Apr 4) | Nov 6 (Nov 1–Nov 14) | 222 days |
| Zone 9a (211 ZIP codes) | Mar 17 (Mar 11–Mar 22) | Nov 15 (Nov 9–Nov 21) | 243 days |
When to Plant in Georgia?
Across most of Georgia, plant garlic from mid-October to the end of November. In the North Georgia mountains, the window closes earlier: plant garlic from October 5 to November 10 around Blairsville and Blue Ridge, and from October 15 to November 20 around Clayton. Tulip bulbs go in from October 5–15 to late November in the mountains, from late October to early December across North and Middle Georgia, from Rome, Atlanta, and Gainesville to Athens, Augusta, Macon, and Dublin, and from November 1 to mid-December in Columbus, Statesboro, Tifton, Waycross, and Thomasville. In Albany, Valdosta, Savannah, and Brunswick, tulips go in from mid-December to mid-January, after 12–14 weeks in the refrigerator. Augusta’s two airport weather stations disagree: Bush Field records 99 nights a year below 40°F and Daniel Field, 8 miles away in town, 63, so the ZIP code search gives the mid-December window to the ZIP codes nearest Daniel Field, such as 30904 and 30909, and the late-October window to the rest of the city. Daffodils go in earlier than tulips: from September 25 around Blairsville and Blue Ridge, from October 5 to 15 elsewhere in North Georgia, and from October 15 in Middle and South Georgia, until November 5–25 in North Georgia, November 25 to December 5 in Middle Georgia, and November 30 to December 15 in the south.
Tulips need a long, cold winter, and much of southern and coastal Georgia does not get enough of it. Where the table says chill first, keep tulip bulbs in the refrigerator for 6–10 weeks before planting (12–14 weeks where the table says so), in a paper bag away from fruit, and garlic cloves for 6–8 weeks. Where the table says chill first, tulips bloom one spring; plant fresh bulbs each year. Daffodils need far less cold: where the table says southern types, plant them without chilling and choose jonquilla, tazetta, or other southern types such as ‘Carlton’ and ‘Ice Follies’, which come back each spring. The table gives the dates the site computes for 26 Georgia cities, each from its nearest NOAA weather station.
| City (ZIP) | Zone | Last spring frost | First fall frost | Plant garlic | Plant tulip bulbs | Plant daffodil bulbs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blairsville (30514) | 7a | May 2 | Oct 14 | Oct 5–Nov 10 | Oct 5–Nov 20 | Sep 25–Nov 5 |
| Blue Ridge (30513) | 7b | May 2 | Oct 14 | Oct 5–Nov 10 | Oct 5–Nov 20 | Sep 25–Nov 5 |
| Clayton (30525) | 7b | Apr 17 | Oct 24 | Oct 15–Nov 20 | Oct 15–Nov 30 | Oct 5–Nov 15 |
| Dalton (30720) | 8a | Apr 9 | Oct 30 | Oct 15–Nov 25 | Oct 25–Dec 5 | Oct 10–Nov 20 |
| Rome (30161) | 8a | Apr 7 | Oct 30 | Oct 15–Nov 25 | Oct 25–Dec 5 | Oct 10–Nov 20 |
| Gainesville (30501) | 8a | Apr 2 | Nov 6 | Oct 15–Nov 30 | Oct 31–Dec 10 | Oct 15–Nov 25 |
| Marietta (30060) | 8a | Apr 3 | Nov 3 | Oct 15–Nov 30 | Oct 25–Dec 10 | Oct 15–Nov 25 |
| Atlanta (30307) | 8a | Apr 1 | Nov 2 | Oct 15–Nov 30 | Oct 25–Dec 5 | Oct 10–Nov 25 |
| Lawrenceville (30046) | 8a | Apr 9 | Nov 2 | Oct 15–Nov 30 | Oct 25–Dec 5 | Oct 10–Nov 25 |
| Carrollton (30117) | 8a | Apr 2 | Oct 31 | Oct 15–Nov 30 | Oct 25–Dec 5 | Oct 10–Nov 20 |
| Athens (30601) | 8b | Mar 31 | Nov 4 | Oct 15–Nov 30 | Oct 31–Dec 10 | Oct 15–Nov 25 |
| Augusta (30901) | 8b | Mar 31 | Nov 4 | Oct 15–Nov 30 | Oct 31–Dec 10chill first | Oct 15–Nov 25southern types |
| Columbus (31901) | 8b | Mar 14 | Nov 16 | Oct 15–Nov 30 | Nov 1–Dec 15chill first | Oct 15–Dec 5southern types |
| Macon (31201) | 8b | Mar 29 | Nov 4 | Oct 15–Nov 30 | Oct 31–Dec 10chill first | Oct 15–Nov 25southern types |
| Milledgeville (31061) | 8b | Mar 31 | Nov 4 | Oct 15–Nov 30 | Oct 31–Dec 10 | Oct 15–Nov 25 |
| Warner Robins (31093) | 8b | Mar 29 | Nov 4 | Oct 15–Nov 30 | Oct 31–Dec 10chill first | Oct 15–Nov 25southern types |
| Dublin (31021) | 8b | Mar 21 | Nov 7 | Oct 15–Nov 30 | Oct 31–Dec 10 | Oct 15–Nov 30 |
| Statesboro (30458) | 8b | Mar 16 | Nov 14 | Oct 15–Nov 30 | Nov 1–Dec 15chill first | Oct 15–Dec 5southern types |
| Americus (31709) | 8b | Mar 27 | Nov 7 | Oct 15–Nov 30 | Oct 31–Dec 10 | Oct 15–Nov 30 |
| Albany (31701) | 9a | Mar 19 | Nov 14 | Oct 15–Nov 30 | Dec 15–Jan 15chill 12–14 weeks first | Oct 15–Dec 5southern types |
| Tifton (31794) | 9a | Mar 18 | Nov 11 | Oct 15–Nov 30 | Nov 1–Dec 15chill first | Oct 15–Dec 1southern types |
| Savannah (31401) | 9a | Mar 12 | Nov 21 | Oct 15–Nov 30 | Dec 15–Jan 15chill 12–14 weeks first | Oct 15–Dec 10southern types |
| Brunswick (31520) | 9a | Feb 22 | Dec 10 | Oct 15–Nov 30chill first | Dec 15–Jan 15chill 12–14 weeks first | Oct 15–Dec 15southern types |
| Waycross (31501) | 9a | Mar 24 | Nov 9 | Oct 15–Nov 30 | Nov 1–Dec 15chill first | Oct 15–Nov 30southern types |
| Valdosta (31601) | 9a | Mar 19 | Nov 14 | Oct 15–Nov 30 | Dec 15–Jan 15chill 12–14 weeks first | Oct 15–Dec 5southern types |
| Thomasville (31792) | 9a | Mar 19 | Nov 14 | Oct 15–Nov 30 | Nov 1–Dec 15chill first | Oct 15–Dec 5southern types |
Dates for one ZIP code: When to Plant Garlic, When to Plant Tulip Bulbs, and When to Plant Daffodil Bulbs. What to Plant in November lists vegetables, flowers, and cover crops by zone. Planting dates for more crops: When to Plant: Planting Dates by ZIP Code.