5 planting zones in Mississippi on Map

Mississippi has five USDA plant hardiness zones, ranging from 7b to 9b, based on the latest USDA official data.

Zone 7b, the coolest, occupies a small region in the northeastern corner, while zones 8a and 8b cover most of the northern and central regions. The southern part of the state falls within zones 9a and 9b, with 9b limited to a narrow coastal strip.

Mississippi’s planting zones exhibit a north-to-south gradient, influenced by its latitude and proximity to the Gulf of Mexico.

You can find your Mississippi planting zone by using our ZIP code tool or the Mississippi city planting zone map. Both tools, which are provided below in the post, will help you determine your exact USDA growing zone.

Search Mississippi Planting Zones by ZipCode

Planting Zones Mississippi Map

Select your Mississippi city from the selection box below. Kindly change and select map layers from top-right corner button in mapview.

5 Planting zones in Mississippi

1. Zone 7b

Zone 7b, the dark purple colored areas on our map above, in the northeastern corner of Mississippi, experiences average annual minimum temperatures ranging from 5°F to 10°F (-15°C to -12.2°C). This zone covers a small region of the state, mostly in the hilly regions bordering Tennessee and Alabama. Some cities in this zone are Corinth, Holly Springs, and Iuka.

2. Zone 8a

Shown in navy blue color on the map above, Zone 8a covers a large area of northern Mississippi, with average annual minimum temperatures between 10°F and 15°F (-12.2°C to -9.4°C). This zone extends from the Tennessee border southward, including much of the state’s northeastern quadrant. Some cities in this zone are Oxford, Tupelo, and Starkville, home to Mississippi State University.

3. Zone 8b

Zone 8b, shown in teal color on the map above, is the most extensive planting zone in Mississippi. It covers the central and western parts of the state, with average annual minimum temperatures ranging from 15°F to 20°F (-9.4°C to -6.7°C). This zone includes the capital city of Jackson, as well as other major urban areas like Hattiesburg, Meridian, and Vicksburg. It also includes most of the Mississippi Delta region.

4. Zone 9a

The light green colored areas on our map, Zone 9a covers the southern portion of Mississippi, including the Gulf Coast region. This zone has average annual minimum temperatures between 20°F and 25°F (-6.7°C to -3.9°C). Cities in this warmer zone are Gulfport, Biloxi, and Pascagoula along the coast, as well as some inland areas like Picayune and Poplarville.

5. Zone 9b

The warmest planting zone in Mississippi, 9b, is shown in yellow color on our map above and cover only a tiny part of the southernmost coastal area. With average annual minimum temperatures ranging from 25°F to 30°F (-3.9°C to -1.1°C), this zone includes only the immediate coastline and barrier islands. It include parts of coastal communities like Bay St. Louis or Pass Christian.

Planting Zones in Mississippi with Cities

USDA hardiness zones for Mississippi Cities, Towns and Counties, As per USDA (2023) latest release:

Planting Zones in Mississippi	Temp Range (°F)	Cities
8a	10 to 15	Abbeville, Aberdeen, Ackerman, Algoma, Amory, Arkabutla, Artesia, Baldwyn, Banner, Batesville, Becker, Belden, Belen, Bellefontaine, Big Creek, Blue Mountain, Blue Springs, Booneville, Bruce, Byhalia, Caledonia, Calhoun City, Carrollton, Cascilla, Cedarbluff, Charleston, Coahoma, Coffeeville, Coila, Coldwater, Como, Corinth, Courtland, Crenshaw, Crowder, Darling, Dennis, Duck Hill, Dundee, Durant, Ecru, Elliott, Enid, Ethel, Etta, Eupora, Falcon, French Camp, Friars Point, Fulton, Gattman, Glen, Golden, Gore Springs, Greenwood Springs, Grenada, Guntown, Hamilton, Hernando, Holcomb, Horn Lake, Houlka, Houston, Independence, Jonestown, Kilmichael, Kosciusko, Lake Cormorant, Lambert, Lexington, Louisville, Lula, Lyon, Maben, Mantachie, Mantee, Marietta, Marks, Mathiston, Mayhew, Mc Carley, Mc Cool, Mississippi State, Montpelier, Mooreville, Myrtle, Nesbit, Nettleton, New Albany, New Site, North Carrollton, Oakland, Okolona, Olive Branch, Oxford, Paris, Pheba, Pittsboro, Plantersville, Pontotoc, Pope, Potts Camp, Prairie, Randolph, Rienzi, Robinsonville, Sallis, Saltillo, Sarah, Sardis, Scobey, Senatobia, Shannon, Sherman, Slate Spring, Sledge, Smithville, Southaven, Starkville, Steens, Stewart, Sturgis, Taylor, Thaxton, Tie Plant, Tillatoba, Toccopola, Trebloc, Tremont, Tunica, Tupelo, Vaiden, Van Vleet, Vardaman, Walls, Walthall, Water Valley, Waterford, Weir, West, West Point, Wheeler, Winona, Woodland
7b	5 to 10	Ashland, Belmont, Burnsville, Corinth, Dumas, Falkner, Hickory Flat, Holly Springs, Iuka, Lamar, Michigan City, Mount Pleasant, Red Banks, Ripley, Tiplersville, Tishomingo, Tula, University, Victoria, Walnut
8b	15 to 20	Alligator, Anguilla, Arcola, Avon, Bailey, Bassfield, Bay Springs, Beaumont, Belzoni, Benoit, Benton, Bentonia, Beulah, Bogue Chitto, Bolton, Boyle, Brandon, Braxton, Brookhaven, Brooklyn, Brooksville, Buckatunna, Bude, Camden, Canton, Carson, Carthage, Cary, Chatawa, Chatham, Chunky, Clara, Clarksdale, Cleveland, Clinton, Collins, Collinsville, Columbia, Columbus, Conehatta, Crawford, Cruger, Crystal Springs, D Lo, Daleville, De Kalb, Decatur, Delta City, Doddsville, Drew, Dublin, Duncan, Eastabuchie, Edwards, Ellisville, Enterprise, Farrell, Fayette, Fernwood, Flora, Florence, Forest, Foxworth, Gallman, Georgetown, Glen Allan, Glendora, Gloster, Goodman, Grace, Greenville, Greenwood, Gunnison, Harperville, Harriston, Harrisville, Hattiesburg, Hazlehurst, Heidelberg, Hermanville, Hickory, Hillsboro, Hollandale, Holly Bluff, Holly Ridge, Indianola, Inverness, Isola, Itta Bena, Jackson, Jayess, Kokomo, Lake, Lauderdale, Laurel, Lawrence, Leakesville, Leland, Lena, Liberty, Little Rock, Lorman, Louin, Louise, Lucedale, Ludlow, Lumberton, Macon, Madden, Madison, Magee, Magnolia, Marion, Mayersville, Mc Adams, Mc Call Creek, Mc Lain, Mccomb, Meadville, Mendenhall, Meridian, Merigold, Metcalfe, Midnight, Minter City, Mize, Money, Monticello, Moorhead, Morgan City, Morton, Moselle, Moss, Mound Bayou, Mount Olive, Natchez, Neely, New Augusta, Newhebron, Newton, Noxapater, Oak Vale, Osyka, Ovett, Pace, Pachuta, Panther Burn, Parchman, Pattison, Paulding, Pearl, Pelahatchie, Petal, Philadelphia, Philipp, Pickens, Piney Woods, Pinola, Port Gibson, Porterville, Prentiss, Preston, Puckett, Pulaski, Purvis, Quitman, Raleigh, Raymond, Redwood, Rena Lara, Richton, Ridgeland, Rolling Fork, Rome, Rose Hill, Rosedale, Roxie, Ruleville, Ruth, Sandersville, Sandhill, Satartia, Schlater, Scooba, Scott, Sebastopol, Seminary, Sharon, Shaw, Shelby, Sherard, Shubuta, Shuqualak, Sibley, Sidon, Silver City, Silver Creek, Smithdale, Sontag, Soso, Star, State Line, Stoneville, Stonewall, Stringer, Summit, Sumner, Sumrall, Sunflower, Swan Lake, Swiftown, Taylorsville, Tchula, Terry, Thomastown, Tinsley, Tippo, Toomsuba, Tougaloo, Tutwiler, Tylertown, Union, Union Church, Utica, Valley Park, Vance, Vaughan, Vicksburg, Vossburg, Walnut Grove, Washington, Waynesboro, Webb, Wesson, Whitfield, Wiggins, Winstonville, Winterville, Yazoo City
9a	20 to 25	Bay Saint Louis, Biloxi, Carriere, Centreville, Crosby, Diamondhead, Diberville, Escatawpa, Gautier, Gulfport, Hurley, Kiln, Lakeshore, Long Beach, Mc Henry, Mc Neill, Moss Point, Nicholson, Ocean Springs, Pascagoula, Pass Christian, Pearlington, Perkinston, Picayune, Poplarville, Sandy Hook, Saucier, Stennis Space Center, Waveland, Woodville

Best plants for Mississippi?

Temprature plays a crucial role in plants survival for instance, a study by Pettigrew (2008) found that higher temperatures in Mississippi Delta cotton plants reduced lint yield by 10%, mainly due to smaller boll masses and fewer seeds per boll. Here are example of five best plants well-suited to Mississippi’s growing zone map:

1. Zone 7b: Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) – Native shrub thriving in partial shade with large, cone-shaped flower clusters.
2. Zone 8a: Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) – Iconic evergreen tree with fragrant white flowers, adaptable to various soil types.
3. Zone 8b: Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) – Popular flowering tree resistant to heat and drought, known for summer blooms and attractive bark.
4. Zone 9a: Camellia (Camellia japonica) – Evergreen shrub with showy winter/spring flowers, thriving in partial shade and acidic soil.
5. Zone 9b: Sabal Palm (Sabal palmetto) – Salt-tolerant hardy palm suitable for coastal areas, providing a tropical aesthetic.