5 planting zones in Vermont with Map

Vermont have 5 planting zones, ranging from 4a to 6a, according to the USDA.

Zone 4a, the coldest, is found in the northeastern corner of the state, zones 4b and 5a cover most of northern and central Vermont. Zone 5b is found in southern Vermont and along the Connecticut River Valley. Zone 6a, the warmest, appears in small pockets in the southernmost regions, particularly around Brattleboro.

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

Search Vermont Planting Zones by ZipCode

Planting Zones Vermont Map

Select ot type your Vermont city name in the selection box below. You can change mapview from top right corner button in mapview.

What are the 5 planting zones in Vermont?

1. Zone 4a

This zone, shown in dark purple color on our map above, covers the northeasternmost part of Vermont. With average annual minimum temperatures ranging from -30°F to -25°F (-34.4°C to -31.7°C), it represents the coldest areas in the state. Zone 4a is primarily found in parts of Essex County, including towns like Canaan, Norton, and Island Pond.

2. Zone 4b

Shown in navy blue color on our map above, Zone 4b covers a larger area of northern Vermont, including most of the Northeast Kingdom. Average annual minimum temperatures in this zone range from -25°F to -20°F (-31.7°C to -28.9°C). Some of cities and towns in this zone include St. Johnsbury, Newport, and Montpelier, as well as smaller communities like Hardwick, Lyndonville, and Troy.

3. Zone 5a

Zone 5a, the teal colored area on our map, covers large areas of central Vermont. With average annual minimum temperatures between -20°F and -15°F (-28.9°C to -26.1°C), this zone includes a wide area of the state as clearly visible on the map. Major cities and towns in this zone are Burlington, Rutland, Middlebury, and Barre. Other notable locations include Stowe, Waterbury, and Brandon.

4. Zone 5b

The light green colored areas on our map, Zone 5b is found mostly in the southern part of Vermont and along the Connecticut River Valley. This zone experiences average annual minimum temperatures from -15°F to -10°F (-26.1°C to -23.3°C). Cities and towns in this zone are Brattleboro, Bennington, Springfield, and Windsor. Some other locations in this zone are Manchester, Ludlow, and Bellows Falls.

5. Zone 6a

The warmest zone in Vermont, 6a, is shown in bright yellow color on our map and appears in small pockets in the southernmost part of the state. With average annual minimum temperatures ranging from -10°F to -5°F (-23.3°C to -20.6°C), this zone represents the mildest winter conditions in Vermont. While the zone is limited in area, it includes parts of Brattleboro and some surrounding areas in Windham County.

Planting Zones in Vermont with Cities

USDA hardiness zones for Vermont Cities, Towns and Counties. Source: USDA (2023)

Planting Zones in Vermont	Temp Range (°F)	Cities
5a	-20 to -15	Adamant, Alburg, Arlington, Barnard, Barre, Belmont, Belvidere Center, Benson, Bethel, Bomoseen, Bondville, Bradford, Brandon, Bridgewater, Bridgewater Corners, Bridport, Bristol, Brookfield, Brownsville, Burlington, Calais, Cambridge, Castleton, Center Rutland, Charlotte, Chelsea, Chittenden, Colchester, Corinth, Danby, Dorset, East Arlington, East Barre, East Corinth, East Dorset, East Fairfield, East Middlebury, East Poultney, East Randolph, East Thetford, East Wallingford, Eden, Essex, Essex Junction, Fair Haven, Fairfax, Fairfield, Fairlee, Ferrisburg, Florence, Forest Dale, Franklin, Gaysville, Grafton, Grand Isle, Graniteville, Granville, Hancock, Hartford, Hartland, Hartland Four Corners, Highgate Center, Highgate Springs, Hinesburg, Huntington, Hydeville, Isle La Motte, Jamaica, Jeffersonville, Jericho, Johnson, Jonesville, Killington, Londonderry, Manchester Center, Middlebury, Middletown Springs, Milton, Monkton, Montgomery Center, Montpelier, Moretown, New Haven, Newbury, North Clarendon, North Ferrisburg, North Hartland, North Hero, North Pomfret, North Thetford, Northfield, Northfield Falls, Norwich, Orwell, Pawlet, Peru, Pittsfield, Pittsford, Plainfield, Post Mills, Poultney, Proctor, Quechee, Randolph, Randolph Center, Richmond, Ripton, Rochester, Roxbury, Rupert, Rutland, Saint Albans, Saint Albans Bay, Salisbury, Shaftsbury, Sharon, Sheldon, Sheldon Springs, Shoreham, South Burlington, South Londonderry, South Pomfret, South Royalton, South Strafford, Starksboro, Stockbridge, Stowe, Strafford, Swanton, Thetford, Thetford Center, Tunbridge, Underhill, Underhill Center, Vergennes, Vershire, Waitsfield, Wallingford, Warren, Washington, Waterbury, Waterbury Center, Waterville, Websterville, Wells, Wells River, West Dover, West Fairlee, West Hartford, West Pawlet, West Rupert, West Rutland, West Topsham, West Townshend, West Wardsboro, Westfield, Westford, Weston, White River Junction, Whiting, Wilder, Williamstown, Williston, Wilmington, Winooski, Woodstock, Worcester
5b	-15 to -10	Ascutney, Bellows Falls, Bennington, Brattleboro, Burlington, Cambridgeport, Cavendish, Chester, Colchester, Cuttingsville, East Dover, Jacksonville, Ludlow, Manchester, Marlboro, Mount Holly, Newfane, North Bennington, North Pownal, North Springfield, Perkinsville, Plymouth, Pownal, Proctorsville, Putney, Reading, Readsboro, Saxtons River, Shelburne, South Hero, South Newfane, South Woodstock, Springfield, Townshend, Vernon, Wardsboro, West Dummerston, West Halifax, Westminster, Westminster Station, Whitingham, Williamsville, Windsor
4b	-25 to -20	Albany, Bakersfield, Barnet, Barton, Beebe Plain, Cabot, Concord, Coventry, Craftsbury, Craftsbury Common, Danville, East Berkshire, East Burke, East Calais, East Hardwick, East Haven, East Montpelier, East Ryegate, East Saint Johnsbury, Eden Mills, Enosburg Falls, Gilman, Glover, Granby, Greensboro, Greensboro Bend, Groton, Hardwick, Hyde Park, Irasburg, Lake Elmore, Lowell, Lower Waterford, Lunenburg, Lyndon, Lyndon Center, Lyndonville, Marshfield, Mc Indoe Falls, Montgomery, Montpelier, Morrisville, Moscow, Newport, Newport Center, North Concord, North Hyde Park, North Montpelier, North Troy, Orleans, Passumpsic, Peacham, Richford, Saint Johnsbury, Saint Johnsbury Center, Sheffield, South Ryegate, Sutton, Troy, West Burke, West Danville, West Glover, West Newbury, Wolcott, Woodbury
6a	-10 to -5	Brattleboro
4a	-30 to -25	Averill, Beecher Falls, Canaan, Derby, Derby Line, East Charleston, Guildhall, Island Pond, Morgan, Norton, West Charleston

5 best plants for Vermont ?

The 5 best plants for Vermont’s planting zones, in alignment with USDA hardiness zones, are:

1. Zone 4a: Serviceberry
2. Zone 4b: Northern Highbush Blueberry
3. Zone 5a: Red Maple
4. Zone 5b: Sugar Maple
5. Zone 6a: Eastern Red Cedar