North Carolina have 7 planting zones ranging from zone 6a to zone 9a, as per USDA.
Planting zone, also known as a hardiness zone, is a geographically defined area where specific categories of plants are capable of growing, as defined by their ability to withstand the minimum temperatures of that zone.
You can find your North Carolina planting zone by using our ZIP code tool or the North Carolina cities planting zone map. Both tools, provided below in the post, will help you determine your exact USDA growing zone.
Search North Carolina Planting Zones by ZipCode
Planting Zones North Carolina Map
Select your North Carolina city from the selection box below. Use top right corner button in mapview to Toggle map layers on/off.
Planting Zones
Planting Zones
What are the 7 planting zones in North Carolina?
North Carolina have 7 Planting zone range from 6a to 9a, according to the USDA latest released information.
1. Zone 6a
This zone, represented by the darkest blue color on the map, is the coldest in North Carolina. With average annual minimum temperatures ranging from -10°F to -5°F (-23.3°C to -20.6°C), it’s limited to the highest elevations in the western part of the state. Some of the cities in this zone include Beech Mountain, and parts of Avery County.
2. Zone 6b
Shown in a slightly lighter blue color on our map, Zone 6b covers more of the western mountains of North Carolina. It experiences average annual minimum temperatures from -5°F to 0°F (-20.6°C to -17.8°C). This zone includes cities like Banner Elk, Blowing Rock, and Newland. It’s ideal for cold-hardy plants and trees that can withstand chilly mountain winters.
3. Zone 7a
Moving into teal color on the map, Zone 7a cover much of the western third of North Carolina, including the lower elevations of the Appalachian Mountains. With temperatures ranging from 0°F to 5°F (-17.8°C to -15°C), this zone includes cities such as Black Mountain, and Hazelwood. This zone offers a climate suitable for many temperate plants.
4. Zone 7b
Covering a significant portion of the North Carolina state in a lighter Teal color on our map, Zone 7b spans from the foothills to the central piedmont. Its average annual minimum temperatures range from 5°F to 10°F (-15°C to -12.2°C). Main cities in this zone are Dobson and Westfield. This zone allows for a wide variety of plant choices, including some that tolerate milder winters.
5. Zone 8a
Represented by the light green on the map, Zone 8a covers much of eastern North Carolina. With temperatures ranging from 10°F to 15°F (-12.2°C to -9.4°C), it includes cities like Raleigh, Wade and Maxton. This zone is suitable for many warm-season ornamental plants that can’t tolerate harsh winters.
6. Zone 8b
Shown in a lightest green color on our map, Zone 8b is found along the southeastern coast of North Carolina. Average annual minimum temperatures here range from 15°F to 20°F (-9.4°C to -6.7°C). This zone have coastal cities such as Morehead City, New Bern and parts of the Outer Banks. It’s ideal for growing a variety of subtropical plants.
7. Zone 9a
The warmest zone in North Carolina, 9a, is depicted in a brighter yellow color on our above given map and is limited to the southeasternmost tip of the state and parts of the Outer Banks. With temperatures ranging from 20°F to 25°F (-6.7°C to -3.9°C), it includes locations like Point Harbor and Ocracoke. This zone allows for the cultivation of some tropical and subtropical species that can’t survive in cooler parts of the state.
Planting Zones in North Carolina with Cities
Below list contains hardiness zones data of most cities, towns and counties in North carolina. Data is directly sourced from official USDA data.
| Planting Zones in North Carolina | Temp Range (°F) | Cities |
|---|---|---|
| 7b | 5 to 10 | Advance, Alexander, Ararat, Arden, Asheville, Barium Springs, Bat Cave, Bethania, Blanch, Boomer, Boonville, Bostic, Brasstown, Brevard, Bryson City, Bullock, Cedar Mountain, Chimney Rock, China Grove, Clemmons, Cleveland, Collettsville, Cooleemee, Culberson, Dana, Danbury, Deep Gap, Dillsboro, Dobson, Drexel, East Bend, East Flat Rock, Eden, Edneyville, Elkin, Enka, Etowah, Faith, Ferguson, Flat Rock, Fletcher, Fontana Dam, Franklin, Germanton, Glen Alpine, Glenwood, Granite Quarry, Gulf, Hamptonville, Harmony, Hayesville, Hays, Henderson, Hendersonville, Hurdle Mills, Jonesville, King, Kittrell, Lake Toxaway, Landis, Lawsonville, Leasburg, Lenoir, Lewisville, Lexington, Lowgap, Madison, Manson, Marble, Marion, Mayodan, Mc Grady, Middleburg, Millers Creek, Mills River, Milton, Mocksville, Moravian Falls, Morganton, Mount Airy, Mount Ulla, Mountain Home, Murphy, Naples, Nebo, Norlina, North Wilkesboro, Old Fort, Olin, Otto, Oxford, Patterson, Pelham, Penrose, Pfafftown, Pilot Mountain, Pine Hall, Pinnacle, Prospect Hill, Providence, Purlear, Ridgeway, Roaring River, Rockwell, Ronda, Rosman, Rougemont, Roxboro, Ruffin, Rural Hall, Salisbury, Saluda, Sandy Ridge, Sapphire, Semora, Siloam, Skyland, State Road, Statesville, Stoneville, Stovall, Sylva, Thurmond, Timberlake, Toast, Tobaccoville, Townsville, Traphill, Turnersburg, Tuxedo, Union Grove, Union Mills, Valdese, Vaughan, Walnut Cove, Warne, Weaverville, Webster, Wentworth, Westfield, White Plains, Wilkesboro, Winston Salem, Wise, Woodleaf, Yadkinville, Yanceyville, Zirconia |
| 8a | 10 to 15 | Aberdeen, Ahoskie, Alamance, Albemarle, Albertson, Alexis, Altamahaw, Angier, Ansonville, Apex, Asheboro, Aulander, Badin, Bahama, Bailey, Battleboro, Bear Creek, Belews Creek, Bellarthur, Belmont, Belvidere, Bennett, Benson, Bessemer City, Bethel, Beulaville, Biscoe, Black Creek, Boiling Springs, Bonlee, Broadway, Browns Summit, Buies Creek, Bunn, Bunnlevel, Burgaw, Burlington, Butner, Bynum, Calypso, Camden, Cameron, Candor, Caroleen, Carrboro, Carthage, Cary, Casar, Castalia, Catawba, Cedar Falls, Cedar Grove, Chapel Hill, Charlotte, Cherryville, Chinquapin, Claremont, Clayton, Cliffside, Climax, Coats, Cofield, Colerain, Colfax, Columbus, Comfort, Como, Concord, Conetoe, Connellys Springs, Conover, Conway, Corapeake, Cordova, Cornelius, Cramerton, Creedmoor, Creswell, Crouse, Cumberland, Cumnock, Dallas, Davidson, Deep Run, Denton, Denver, Dudley, Dunn, Durham, Eagle Rock, Eagle Springs, Earl, East Spencer, Edenton, Efland, Elizabeth City, Ellenboro, Ellerbe, Elm City, Elon College, Enfield, Erwin, Ether, Eure, Everetts, Faison, Falcon, Falkland, Fallston, Farmville, Fayetteville, Forest City, Fort Bragg, Fountain, Four Oaks, Franklinton, Franklinville, Fremont, Fuquay Varina, Garner, Garysburg, Gaston, Gastonia, Gates, Gatesville, Gibson, Gibsonville, Godwin, Gold Hill, Goldsboro, Goldston, Graham, Granite Falls, Greensboro, Greenville, Grover, Halifax, Hamilton, Hamlet, Harrells, Harrellsville, Harris, Harrisburg, Hassell, Haw River, Henrico, Henrietta, Hertford, Hickory, Hiddenite, High Point, High Shoals, Highfalls, Hildebran, Hillsborough, Hobbsville, Hobgood, Hoffman, Hollister, Holly Springs, Hudson, Huntersville, Icard, Indian Trail, Iron Station, Ivanhoe, Jackson, Jackson Springs, Jacksonville, Jamestown, Jamesville, Julian, Kannapolis, Kelford, Kenansville, Kenly, Kernersville, Kings Mountain, Kinston, Kipling, Knightdale, La Grange, Lake Lure, Lakeview, Lattimore, Laurel Hill, Laurinburg, Lawndale, Lemon Springs, Lewiston Woodville, Lexington, Liberty, Lilesville, Lillington, Lincolnton, Linden, Linwood, Littleton, Locust, Louisburg, Lowell, Lucama, Lumber Bridge, Lynn, Macclesfield, Macon, Magnolia, Maiden, Mamers, Maple Hill, Margarettsville, Marshville, Marston, Matthews, Maury, Maxton, Mc Adenville, Mc Farlan, Mc Leansville, Mebane, Merry Hill, Micro, Middlesex, Midland, Mill Spring, Mineral Springs, Misenheimer, Moncure, Monroe, Mooresboro, Mooresville, Morrisville, Morven, Mount Gilead, Mount Holly, Mount Mourne, Mount Olive, Mount Pleasant, Moyock, Murfreesboro, Nashville, New Hill, New London, Newell, Newton, Newton Grove, Norman, Norwood, Oak City, Oak Ridge, Oakboro, Olivia, Pantego, Parmele, Paw Creek, Peachland, Pendleton, Pikeville, Pine Level, Pinebluff, Pinehurst, Pinetops, Pinetown, Pineville, Pink Hill, Pittsboro, Pleasant Garden, Pleasant Hill, Plymouth, Polkton, Polkville, Pope A F B, Potecasi, Powellsville, Princeton, Raeford, Raleigh, Ramseur, Randleman, Red Oak, Red Springs, Reidsville, Rhodhiss, Rich Square, Richfield, Richlands, Roanoke Rapids, Robbins, Robersonville, Rockingham, Rocky Mount, Rocky Point, Roduco, Rolesville, Rose Hill, Roxobel, Rutherford College, Rutherfordton, Salisbury, Sanford, Saratoga, Saxapahaw, Scotland Neck, Scotts, Seaboard, Seagrove, Sedalia, Selma, Seven Springs, Severn, Shannon, Sharpsburg, Shelby, Sherrills Ford, Siler City, Simpson, Sims, Smithfield, Snow Camp, Snow Hill, Sophia, South Mills, Southern Pines, Southmont, Speed, Spencer, Spindale, Spring Hope, Spring Lake, Staley, Stanfield, Stanley, Stantonsburg, Star, Statesville, Stedman, Stem, Stokes, Stokesdale, Stony Point, Summerfield, Sunbury, Swepsonville, Tarboro, Taylorsville, Teachey, Terrell, Thomasville, Tillery, Trenton, Trinity, Troutman, Troy, Tryon, Turkey, Tyner, Vale, Vass, Waco, Wade, Wadesboro, Wagram, Wake Forest, Walkertown, Wallace, Wallburg, Walstonburg, Warrenton, Warsaw, Waxhaw, Welcome, Weldon, Wendell, West End, Whitakers, Whitsett, Willard, Williamston, Willow Spring, Wilson, Wilsons Mills, Windsor, Winfall, Wingate, Winston Salem, Winterville, Winton, Woodland, Youngsville, Zebulon |
| 8b | 15 to 20 | Alliance, Arapahoe, Ash, Atkinson, Atlantic, Atlantic Beach, Aurora, Autryville, Ayden, Aydlett, Barco, Barnesville, Bath, Bayboro, Beaufort, Belhaven, Bladenboro, Blounts Creek, Bolivia, Bolton, Bridgeton, Brunswick, Calabash, Camp Lejeune, Carolina Beach, Castle Hayne, Cedar Island, Cerro Gordo, Chadbourn, Cherry Point, Chocowinity, Clarendon, Clarkton, Clinton, Coinjock, Columbia, Corolla, Council, Cove City, Currie, Currituck, Davis, Delco, Dover, Dublin, Durants Neck, Edward, Elizabethtown, Emerald Isle, Engelhard, Ernul, Evergreen, Fair Bluff, Fairfield, Fairmont, Fayetteville, Garland, Goldsboro, Grandy, Grantsboro, Grifton, Grimesland, Hallsboro, Hampstead, Havelock, Hobucken, Holly Ridge, Hookerton, Hope Mills, Hubert, Jacksonville, Kelly, Kinston, Knotts Island, Kure Beach, Lake Waccamaw, Leland, Longwood, Lowland, Lumberton, Manns Harbor, Maple, Marietta, Maysville, Mccutcheon Field, Merritt, Midway Park, Morehead City, Nakina, New Bern, Newport, Oak Island, Ocean Isle Beach, Oriental, Orrum, Parkton, Pembroke, Pollocksville, Poplar Branch, Proctorville, Rex, Riegelwood, Roper, Roseboro, Rowland, Saint Pauls, Salemburg, Scranton, Sealevel, Shallotte, Shawboro, Shiloh, Smyrna, Sneads Ferry, South Brunswick, Southport, Stacy, Stella, Stonewall, Stumpy Point, Sunset Beach, Supply, Swanquarter, Swansboro, Tabor City, Tar Heel, Tarawa Terrace, Vanceboro, Vandemere, Washington, White Oak, Whiteville, Williston, Wilmington, Winnabow, Wrightsville Beach |
| 9a | 20 to 25 | Avon, Buxton, Frisco, Gloucester, Harbinger, Harkers Island, Hatteras, Jarvisburg, Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk, Manteo, Marshallberg, Nags Head, Ocracoke, Point Harbor, Powells Point, Rodanthe, Salvo, Wanchese, Waves |
| 6b | -5 to 0 | Banner Elk, Blowing Rock, Elk Park, Jonas Ridge, Linville, Minneapolis, Montezuma, Newland, Pineola |
| 7a | 0 to 5 | Almond, Andrews, Bakersville, Balsam, Balsam Grove, Barnardsville, Black Mountain, Boone, Burnsville, Candler, Canton, Cashiers, Cherokee, Clyde, Creston, Crossnore, Crumpler, Cullowhee, Ennice, Fairview, Fleetwood, Gerton, Glade Valley, Glendale Springs, Glenville, Grassy Creek, Green Mountain, Hazelwood, Highlands, Horse Shoe, Hot Springs, Jefferson, Lake Junaluska, Lansing, Laurel Springs, Leicester, Linville Falls, Little Switzerland, Maggie Valley, Mars Hill, Marshall, Micaville, Montreat, Penland, Piney Creek, Pisgah Forest, Plumtree, Ridgecrest, Roaring Gap, Robbinsville, Scaly Mountain, Scottville, Sparta, Spruce Pine, Sugar Grove, Swannanoa, Todd, Topton, Tuckasegee, Valle Crucis, Vilas, Warrensville, Waynesville, West Jefferson, Whittier, Zionville |
Any Difference in planting zones in North Carolina from the rest of the USA?
The latest Planting Zones by zipcode data, for North Carolina shows shifts similar to the national trend, with many areas moving up by half a zone due to warmer winter temperatures. North Carolina’s zones now range from 6a to 9a, reflecting its topography and proximity to bodies of water. This update uses data from 13,412 weather stations and the period 1991-2020, offering more precise zone map delineation compared to the previous map.