8 Planting Zones in Maine with Map

The 8 USDA planting zones in Maine are Zone 3b, Zone 4a, Zone 4b, Zone 5a, Zone 5b, Zone 6a, Zone 6b, and Zone 7a, according to latest USDA data. The 8 USDA planting zones in Maine are listed below.

1. Zone 3b: Zone 3b is Maine’s coldest planting zone (-35°F and -30°F / -37.2°C to -34.4°C) and is limited to a small area in the northwestern part of the state, around Clayton Lake.
2. Zone 4a: Zone 4a (-30°F to -25°F / -34.4°C to -31.7°C) covers northern and some central interior regions and have cities like Caribou, Presque Isle, and Fort Fairfield.
3. Zone 4b: Zone 4b (-25°F and -20°F / -31.7°C to -28.9°C) includes broader areas of northern and north-central Maine and covers cities like Houlton, Fort Kent, and Jackman fall.
4. Zone 5a: Zone 5a (-20°F to -15°F / -28.9°C to -26.1°C) covers most of central and western Maine and include Bangor, Millinocket, and Farmington.
5. Zone 5b: Zone 5b (-15°F to -10°F / -26.1°C to -23.3°C) stretches across central Maine and down the coast and includes cities like Augusta, Lewiston, and Belfast.
6. Zone 6a: Zone 6a (-10°F and -5°F / -23.3°C to -20.6°C) covers southern coastal regions and islands in Maine and have areas like Portland, Bar Harbor, and Rockland in this zone.
7. Zone 6b: Zone 6b (-5°F and 0°F / -20.6°C to -17.8°C) is limited to small coastal areas and islands in southern Maine and have locations like Monhegan, Islesford, and Vinalhaven.
8. Zone 7a: Zone 7a (0°F to 5°F / -17.8°C to -15°C) exists only in a tiny area on the southern coast of Maine in and around Matinicus, featuring Maine’s mildest growing conditions.

You can find your Maine planting zone by using our ZIP code tool or the Maine city planting zone map. Both tools, available below in the post, will show your exact USDA growing zone.

Search Maine Planting Zones by ZipCode

Planting Zones Maine Map

Select your Maine city from the selection box below. Change your map view by selecting layers from top right corner button in map.

What are the 8 planting zones in Maine?

Zone 3b, the coldest, is found in a small area of northwestern Maine, while zones 4a and 4b covers most of the northern and central interior regions. Zones 5a and 5b covers central Maine and parts of the coast. The southern coastal areas and islands fall into zones 6a and 6b, with a tiny pocket of zone 7a representing the mildest conditions in the state.

1. Zone 3b

Zone 3b, shown in purple shade on our map, is the coldest planting zone in Maine. With average annual minimum temperatures ranging from -35°F to -30°F (-37.2°C to -34.4°C), this zone is found in a small area in the northwestern part of the state. This zone is found around the Clayton Lake, indicating its limited geographical extent.

2. Zone 4a

Blue color areas on our map, Zone 4a covers the northern and some central interior regions of Maine. This zone experiences average annual minimum temperatures between -30°F and -25°F (-34.4°C to -31.7°C). Some cities of this zone include Caribou, Presque Isle, and Fort Fairfield, representing the heart of Aroostook County and Maine’s potato country.

3. Zone 4b

Zone 4b, shown in deep teal color on our map above, include a broader area of northern and north-central Maine. With temperatures ranging from -25°F to -20°F (-31.7°C to -28.9°C), this zone have cities like Houlton, Fort Kent, and Jackman. This zone represents a transition between the colder northern regions and the milder central parts of the state.

4. Zone 5a

Appearing as a light teal color areas on the map, Zone 5a covers most of central and western Maine. This zone experiences average annual minimum temperatures from -20°F to -15°F (-28.9°C to -26.1°C). Some notable cities within this zone are Bangor, Millinocket, and Farmington, representing a mix of urban centers and rural communities.

5. Zone 5b

Zone 5b, depicted in dark green color on our map, stretches across central Maine and down the coast. With temperatures ranging from -15°F to -10°F (-26.1°C to -23.3°C), this zone includes cities like Augusta, Lewiston, and Belfast. It represents a balance between inland and coastal influences on Maine’s climate.

6. Zone 6a

Shown in light green color on the map, Zone 6a covers the southern coastal regions and islands of Maine. This zone experiences average annual minimum temperatures between -10°F and -5°F (-23.3°C to -20.6°C). Some cities of this zone are Portland, Bar Harbor, and Rockland, covering many of Maine’s famous coastal communities and tourist destinations.

7. Zone 6b

Zone 6b, represented by a brighter green color on our map, is limited to a few small coastal areas and islands in southern Maine. With temperatures ranging from -5°F to 0°F (-20.6°C to -17.8°C), this zone have locations like Monhegan, Islesford, and Vinalhaven. This zone have some of the mildest winter conditions in the state, influenced heavily by the moderating effect of the Atlantic Ocean.

8. Zone 7a

The warmest zone in Maine, 7a, is shown in yellow color on our map above, and is found only in a tiny area on the southern coast. Experiencing average annual minimum temperatures from 0°F to 5°F (-17.8°C to -15°C), this zone is represented solely by areas in and around Matinicus, benefiting from maximum oceanic influence.

Planting Zones in Maine with Cities

USDA hardiness zones for Maine Cities, Towns and Counties. Latest data from USDA -2023

Planting Zones in Maine	Temp Range (°F)	Cities
6a	-10 to -5	Addison, Bailey Island, Bar Harbor, Bass Harbor, Bath, Beals, Bernard, Berwick, Birch Harbor, Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, Bremen, Bristol, Brooklin, Cape Elizabeth, Cape Neddick, Cape Porpoise, Chamberlain, Chebeague Island, Cliff Island, Corea, Cumberland Foreside, Cushing, Cutler, Damariscotta, Deer Isle, East Boothbay, Eastport, Eliot, Falmouth, Freeport, Friendship, Georgetown, Gouldsboro, Harborside, Harpswell, Harrington, Hulls Cove, Islesboro, Jonesport, Kennebunkport, Kittery, Little Deer Isle, Long Island, Lubec, Machiasport, Milbridge, Moody, Mount Desert, New Harbor, North Haven, North Yarmouth, Northeast Harbor, Ocean Park, Ogunquit, Old Orchard Beach, Orrs Island, Owls Head, Peaks Island, Pemaquid, Perry, Phippsburg, Portland, Prospect Harbor, Rockland, Rockport, Round Pond, Salsbury Cove, Sargentville, Scarborough, Seal Cove, Seal Harbor, Sebasco Estates, Sorrento, South Berwick, South Bristol, South Freeport, South Portland, South Thomaston, Southport, Southwest Harbor, Spruce Head, Squirrel Island, Steuben, Stonington, Sunset, Thomaston, Trevett, Waldoboro, Walpole, Wells, West Boothbay Harbor, Winter Harbor, Yarmouth, York, York Beach, York Harbor
6b	-5 to 0	Cranberry Isles, Frenchboro, Isle Au Haut, Islesford, Kittery Point, Monhegan, Port Clyde, Swans Island, Tenants Harbor, Vinalhaven
5b	-15 to -10	Acton, Alfred, Alna, Auburn, Augusta, Baileyville, Bar Mills, Belfast, Belgrade, Biddeford, Blue Hill, Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, Brooksville, Brunswick, Buckfield, Calais, Camden, Casco, Castine, Cherryfield, China, Columbia Falls, Cumberland Center, Danville, Dennysville, Dresden, Durham, East Blue Hill, East Livermore, East Machias, East Orland, East Poland, East Vassalboro, East Waterboro, East Winthrop, Edgecomb, Ellsworth, Farmingdale, Franklin, Gardiner, Gorham, Grand Lake Stream, Gray, Greene, Hallowell, Hancock, Hebron, Hollis Center, Hope, Jefferson, Jonesboro, Kennebunk, Kents Hill, Lebanon, Leeds, Lewiston, Liberty, Lincolnville, Lincolnville Center, Lisbon, Lisbon Falls, Litchfield, Livermore, Livermore Falls, Machias, Manchester, Mechanic Falls, Meddybemps, Minot, Monmouth, Morrill, Mount Vernon, New Gloucester, Newcastle, Newfield, Nobleboro, North Berwick, North Monmouth, North Turner, North Vassalboro, Orland, Oxford, Palermo, Parsonsfield, Pembroke, Penobscot, Poland, Pownal, Princeton, Randolph, Raymond, Readfield, Richmond, Robbinston, Sabattus, Saco, Sandy Point, Sanford, Searsmont, Searsport, Sedgwick, Shapleigh, Shawmut, South Casco, South China, South Gardiner, South Paris, South Windham, Springvale, Standish, Stockton Springs, Sullivan, Surry, Topsham, Turner, Union, Vassalboro, Warren, Washington, Waterboro, Waterville, Wayne, Wesley, West Buxton, West Kennebunk, West Minot, West Newfield, West Poland, West Rockport, Westbrook, Whitefield, Whiting, Windham, Windsor, Winthrop, Wiscasset, Woolwich
5a	-20 to -15	Abbot, Albion, Anson, Athens, Aurora, Bangor, Belgrade Lakes, Benedicta, Bethel, Bingham, Bradford, Bradley, Brewer, Bridgton, Brooks, Brookton, Brownfield, Brownville, Brownville Junction, Bryant Pond, Bucksport, Burlington, Burnham, Cambridge, Canaan, Canton, Caratunk, Cardville, Carmel, Center Lovell, Charleston, Clinton, Corinth, Cornish, Denmark, Detroit, Dexter, Dixfield, Dixmont, Dover Foxcroft, East Andover, East Baldwin, East Dixfield, East Millinocket, East Newport, East Parsonfield, East Wilton, Eddington, Etna, Exeter, Fairfield, Farmington, Farmington Falls, Frankfort, Freedom, Fryeburg, Garland, Guilford, Hampden, Hanover, Harmony, Harrison, Hartland, Hinckley, Hiram, Holden, Howland, Hudson, Jay, Kenduskeag, Kingfield, Kingman, Lagrange, Lambert Lake, Lee, Levant, Limerick, Limington, Lincoln, Locke Mills, Lovell, Madison, Mattawamkeag, Medway, Mexico, Milford, Millinocket, Milo, Monroe, Monson, Naples, New Portland, New Sharon, New Vineyard, Newry, Norridgewock, North Anson, North Bridgton, North Jay, North Waterboro, North Waterford, Norway, Oakland, Old Town, Orono, Orrington, Palmyra, Passadumkeag, Peru, Pittsfield, Plymouth, Porter, Roxbury, Rumford, Saint Albans, Sangerville, Sebago, Sebec, Sherman Mills, Sherman Station, Shirley Mills, Skowhegan, Smithfield, Solon, Springfield, Steep Falls, Stetson, Stillwater, Stoneham, Strong, Sumner, Temple, Thorndike, Topsfield, Troy, Unity, Vanceboro, Vienna, Waite, Waterford, Weld, West Baldwin, West Bethel, West Enfield, West Farmington, West Paris, Wilton, Winn, Winterport
4b	-25 to -20	Andover, Bridgewater, Corinna, Danforth, Dryden, Eustis, Fort Kent, Frenchville, Greenville Junction, Houlton, Island Falls, Jackman, Madawaska, New Limerick, Newport, North New Portland, Oakfield, Oquossoc, Orient, Oxbow, Patten, Phillips, Rangeley, Rockwood, Saint David, Saint Francis, Smyrna Mills, Stratton, West Forks, Wytopitlock
4a	-30 to -25	Ashland, Blaine, Caribou, Crouseville, Eagle Lake, Easton, Fort Fairfield, Fort Kent Mills, Grand Isle, Greenville, Limestone, Mapleton, Mars Hill, Monticello, New Sweden, Perham, Portage, Presque Isle, Saint Agatha, Sheridan, Sinclair, Soldier Pond, Stockholm, Van Buren, Washburn, Westfield
3b	-35 to -30	Clayton Lake
7a	0 to 5	Matinicus

Best plants for Maine?

The US planting map of Maine as shown above divides state into 8 distinct zones, each suitable for different plants based on their cold hardiness. Some best suggestions of plants are:

1. Zone 3b (-35°F to -30°F): Siberian Larch – This cold-hardy conifer thrives in the extreme conditions of northwestern Maine.
2. Zone 4a (-30°F to -25°F): Sugar Maple – Iconic in northern Maine, including areas around Caribou and Presque Isle.
3. Zone 4b (-25°F to -20°F): White Spruce – Well-adapted to the cooler regions, including Houlton and Fort Kent.
4. Zone 5a (-20°F to -15°F): Red Oak – Suitable for central Maine, including areas around Bangor and Millinocket.
5. Zone 5b (-15°F to -10°F): Eastern White Pine – Maine’s state tree, thriving in central regions and along parts of the coast.
6. Zone 6a (-10°F to -5°F): American Beech – Well-suited to southern coastal areas, including Portland and Bar Harbor.
7. Zone 6b (-5°F to 0°F): Northern Bayberry – Adapted to milder coastal areas and islands like Vinalhaven.
8. Zone 7a (0°F to 5°F): Beach Plum – Thrives in the warmest areas of Maine’s coast, such as Matinicus Island.