What Zone is South Carolina? Planting Zones 7b to 9b with Map

South Carolina (SC) has 5 USDA planting zones, from 7b to 9b, based on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Greenville and Spartanburg in the Upstate are in zone 8a (10°F to 15°F). Columbia, Myrtle Beach, and the Midlands fall in zone 8b. Charleston and Hilton Head Island along the coast are in zones 9a–9b, with minimum temperatures of 20°F to 30°F. Zone 7b covers a small area at the highest elevations in the northwest.

You can find your South Carolina growing zone by using our ZIP code tool or the South Carolina city planting zone map. SC’s USDA hardiness zones — also called gardening zones or plant zones — range from 5°F minimum (zone 7b) to 30°F minimum (zone 9b). Each zone for planting determines which plants survive winter in that climate zone.

Search South Carolina Planting Zones by Zip Code

Planting Zones South Carolina Map

Select your South Carolina city from the selection box below. Use the top-right corner button in the map view to toggle map layers.

5 planting zones in South Carolina

1. Zone 7b

Zone 7b, the coolest zone in South Carolina, is shown in dark purple on our map, covering small areas in the northwesternmost part of the state, particularly at higher elevations. This zone has average annual minimum temperatures from 5°F to 10°F (-15°C to -12.2°C).

2. Zone 8a

Zone 8a, shown in dark teal on our map, covers a large area of northern and northwestern South Carolina. This zone has average annual minimum temperatures from 10°F to 15°F (-12.2°C to -9.4°C). It covers most of the Upstate and Piedmont regions. Cities in this zone include Greenville, Spartanburg, Rock Hill, and Anderson.

3. Zone 8b

Zone 8b, shown in dark green on the map, covers the largest area of South Carolina, from the central part of the state to areas of the coast. With average annual minimum temperatures ranging from 15°F to 20°F (-9.4°C to -6.7°C), this zone covers the Midlands and extends into parts of the Pee Dee and Lowcountry regions. Major cities include Columbia (the state capital), Florence, Sumter, and Myrtle Beach.

4. Zone 9a

Zone 9a, shown in light green on our map, covers the southern and southeastern coastal areas of South Carolina. This zone has average annual minimum temperatures from 20°F to 25°F (-6.7°C to -3.9°C). It includes most of the state’s coastal areas and islands. Cities in this zone include Charleston, Beaufort, and Hilton Head Island. The zone’s coastal plains, marshes, and barrier islands create a subtropical climate.

5. Zone 9b

Zone 9b, the warmest zone in South Carolina, is shown in yellow on our map and covers a small area at the southernmost tip of the state. With average annual minimum temperatures ranging from 25°F to 30°F (-3.9°C to -1.1°C), this zone has the mildest winters in South Carolina. It includes parts of Hilton Head Island and Saint Helena Island. This zone supports tropical and subtropical plants that require mild winters.

Planting Zones in South Carolina with Cities

USDA hardiness zones for South Carolina Cities, Towns and Counties. Data sourced from the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

Planting Zones in South Carolina	Temp Range (°F)	Cities
8b	15 to 20	Aiken, Alcolu, Allendale, Anderson, Andrews, Aynor, Ballentine, Bamberg, Barnwell, Bath, Beech Island, Bishopville, Blackville, Blenheim, Bonneau, Bowman, Branchville, Brunson, Cades, Cameron, Canadys, Cayce, Centenary, Chapin, Clarks Hill, Clearwater, Clemson, Clio, Columbia, Conway, Coosawatchie, Cope, Cordesville, Cordova, Cottageville, Coward, Crocketville, Cross, Dalzell, Darlington, Davis Station, Denmark, Dillon, Dorchester, Early Branch, Eastover, Effingham, Ehrhardt, Elgin, Elko, Elliott, Elloree, Estill, Eutawville, Fairfax, Florence, Fork, Furman, Gable, Gadsden, Galivants Ferry, Garnett, Gaston, Georgetown, Gifford, Gilbert, Gloverville, Goose Creek, Graniteville, Greeleyville, Green Sea, Greenville, Greer, Gresham, Grover, Hamer, Hampton, Harleyville, Hartsville, Hemingway, Hilda, Holly Hill, Hopkins, Horatio, Huger, Irmo, Islandton, Jackson, Jamestown, Johnsonville, Kingstree, Ladson, Lake City, Lake View, Lamar, Lane, Langley, Latta, Lexington, Little River, Little Rock, Lodge, Longs, Loris, Luray, Lydia, Lynchburg, Manning, Marion, Martin, Mayesville, Mc Cormick, Miley, Modoc, Moncks Corner, Montmorenci, Mount Carmel, Mullins, Murrells Inlet, Myrtle Beach, Neeses, Nesmith, New Ellenton, New Zion, Newry, Nichols, North, North Augusta, North Myrtle Beach, Norway, Olanta, Olar, Orangeburg, Pamplico, Parksville, Pawleys Island, Pineland, Pineville, Pinewood, Pinopolis, Plum Branch, Rains, Reevesville, Rembert, Ridgeville, Round O, Rowesville, Ruffin, Russellville, Saint George, Saint Matthews, Saint Stephen, Salley, Salters, Santee, Sardinia, Scotia, Scranton, Sellers, Seneca, Shaw A F B, Smoaks, Society Hill, Springfield, State Park, Summerton, Summerville, Sumter, Swansea, Sycamore, Timmonsville, Townville, Turbeville, Ulmer, Vance, Varnville, Vaucluse, Wagener, Walterboro, Warrenville, Wedgefield, West Columbia, White Rock, Williams, Williston, Windsor, Yemassee
8a	10 to 15	Abbeville, Anderson, Arcadia, Batesburg, Belton, Bennettsville, Bethune, Blacksburg, Blackstock, Blair, Blythewood, Bowling Green, Bradley, Buffalo, Calhoun Falls, Camden, Campobello, Carlisle, Cassatt, Catawba, Central, Chappells, Cheraw, Chesnee, Chester, Chesterfield, Clemson, Cleveland, Clifton, Clinton, Clover, Conestee, Converse, Cowpens, Cross Anchor, Cross Hill, Donalds, Drayton, Due West, Duncan, Easley, Edgefield, Edgemoor, Enoree, Fair Play, Fairforest, Fingerville, Fort Lawn, Fort Mill, Fountain Inn, Gaffney, Gramling, Gray Court, Great Falls, Greenville, Greenwood, Greer, Heath Springs, Hickory Grove, Hodges, Honea Path, Inman, Iva, Jefferson, Jenkinsville, Joanna, Johnston, Jonesville, Kershaw, Kinards, La France, Lancaster, Lando, Landrum, Laurens, Leesville, Liberty, Liberty Hill, Little Mountain, Lockhart, Long Creek, Lowndesville, Lugoff, Lyman, Marietta, Mauldin, Mc Bee, Mc Coll, Mc Connells, Mc Cormick, Monetta, Moore, Mount Croghan, Mountain Rest, Mountville, Newberry, Ninety Six, Norris, Pacolet, Pacolet Mills, Pageland, Patrick, Pauline, Peak, Pelion, Pelzer, Pendleton, Pickens, Piedmont, Pomaria, Prosperity, Reidville, Richburg, Richland, Ridge Spring, Ridgeway, Rion, Rock Hill, Roebuck, Ruby, Salem, Saluda, Sandy Springs, Seneca, Sharon, Silverstreet, Simpsonville, Six Mile, Slater, Smyrna, Spartanburg, Starr, Startex, Sunset, Tamassee, Tatum, Taylors, Travelers Rest, Trenton, Troy, Una, Union, Van Wyck, Walhalla, Wallace, Ward, Ware Shoals, Waterloo, Wellford, West Union, Westminster, Westville, White Stone, Whitmire, Williamston, Winnsboro, Woodruff, York
9a	20 to 25	Adams Run, Awendaw, Beaufort, Bluffton, Charleston, Charleston Afb, Dale, Daufuskie Island, Edisto Island, Folly Beach, Green Pond, Hardeeville, Hilton Head Island, Hollywood, Isle Of Palms, Jacksonboro, Johns Island, Ladys Island, Lobeco, Mc Clellanville, Mount Pleasant, North Charleston, Okatie, Port Royal, Ravenel, Ridgeland, Seabrook, Sheldon, Sullivans Island, Tillman, Wadmalaw Island
9b	25 to 30	Hilton Head Island, Saint Helena Island

Best plants for South Carolina?

South Carolina’s climate supports a variety of plants across its five USDA growing zones (7b to 9b). Based on research and the “Manual of the Vascular Flora of the Carolinas,” which details over 3,200 plant species in the region, recommended plants for each zone include:

1. Zone 7b: Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia)
2. Zone 8a: Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica)
3. Zone 8b: Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)
4. Zone 9a: Palmetto Palm (Sabal palmetto)
5. Zone 9b: Oleander (Nerium oleander)