6 planting zones in Wisconsin on Map

There are 6 Planting Zones in Wisconsin ranging from zone 3b to zone 6a, according to the USDA. These are spread from zone 3b in the coldest northern areas to zone 6a in the warmest southeastern regions along Lake Michigan.

These designations are defined by USDA, and is used to guide plant selection and gardening practices across the state, ensuring that chosen plants can withstand the local winter conditions and grow successfully.

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

Search Wisconsin Planting Zones by ZipCode

Planting Zones Wisconsin Map

Select or type your Wisconsin city name in the selection box below. Select different map layers from the top right corner button in the map.

What are the 6 planting zones in Wisconsin?

1. Zone 3b

Zone 3b, represented by the darkest purple color on our above map, is the coldest planting zone in Wisconsin. With average annual minimum temperatures ranging from -35°F to -30°F (-37.2°C to -34.4°C), this zone covers a tiny portion of the state’s northernmost area. The only city listed for this zone is Wascott, making it a very limited growing region with extremely harsh winter conditions.

2. Zone 4a

Shown in a slightly lighter shade of purple on our map, Zone 4a covers much of northern Wisconsin. This zone experiences average annual minimum temperatures between -30°F and -25°F (-34.4°C to -31.7°C). It includes many of the state’s northernmost cities and is characterized by dense forests and numerous lakes. Cities in this zone include Hayward, Minocqua, and Park Falls. The region is known for its short growing seasons and cold-hardy plants.

3. Zone 4b

Zone 4b, shown in dark blue color on our map, covers a significant portion of central and north-central Wisconsin. With average annual minimum temperatures from -25°F to -20°F (-31.7°C to -28.9°C), this zone represents a transition between the colder north and the milder south. Some of the cities in this zone are Eau Claire, Wausau, and Stevens Point. This area supports a wider variety of plants compared to zones 3b and 4a, but still requires cold-tolerant species.

4. Zone 5a

Represented by a dark green color on our map above, Zone 5a covers much of central and southern Wisconsin. This zone experiences average annual minimum temperatures between -20°F and -15°F (-28.9°C to -26.1°C). It includes a mix of rural areas and urban centers, offering more diverse growing conditions. The main cities in this zone are Kingston, La Crosse and Portage. The longer growing season in Zone 5a allows for a broader range of plant species to thrive.

5. Zone 5b

Zone 5b, shown in light green color on map, covers most of southern Wisconsin and extends along the Lake Michigan shoreline. With average annual minimum temperatures from -15°F to -10°F (-26.1°C to -23.3°C), this zone benefits from slightly milder winters. It includes major urban areas and rich agricultural regions. Some notable cities here are Zenda, Green Bay, and Greendale. The moderating effect of Lake Michigan influences the climate in the eastern part of this zone.

6. Zone 6a

The warmest zone in Wisconsin, 6a, is shown in yellow color on our map and is primarily found along the Lake Michigan coast in the southeastern part of the state. This zone experiences average annual minimum temperatures between -10°F and -5°F (-23.3°C to -20.6°C). It covers a narrow strip that includes cities like Racine, Kenosha, and parts of Milwaukee. The proximity to Lake Michigan creates a microclimate that allows for the cultivation of plants that might not survive in other parts of the state.

Planting Zones in Wisconsin with Cities

USDA hardiness zones for Wisconsin Cities, Towns and Counties. Source: USDA

Planting Zones in Wisconsin	Temp Range (°F)	Cities
5b	-15 to -10	Adell, Algoma, Appleton, Avalon, Baileys Harbor, Bassett, Belgium, Beloit, Benet Lake, Big Bend, Brillion, Bristol, Brookfield, Brooklyn, Brussels, Burlington, Butler, Butte Des Morts, Caledonia, Cambridge, Camp Lake, Cascade, Casco, Cedar Grove, Cedarburg, Chilton, Cleveland, Clinton, Collins, Combined Locks, Cottage Grove, Darien, De Pere, Deerfield, Delafield, Delavan, Denmark, Dousman, Eagle, East Troy, Edgerton, Egg Harbor, Elkhart Lake, Elkhorn, Ellison Bay, Elm Grove, Ephraim, Evansville, Fish Creek, Fond Du Lac, Fontana, Footville, Forest Junction, Forestville, Fort Atkinson, Francis Creek, Franklin, Franksville, Fredonia, Freedom, Genesee Depot, Genoa City, Germantown, Glenbeulah, Green Bay, Greenbush, Greendale, Greenleaf, Greenville, Hales Corners, Hanover, Hartland, Helenville, Hilbert, Hingham, Honey Creek, Jackson, Janesville, Jefferson, Johnson Creek, Kansasville, Kaukauna, Kellnersville, Kenosha, Kewaskum, Kewaunee, Kiel, Kimberly, Kohler, La Pointe, Lake Geneva, Lake Mills, Lannon, Larsen, Little Chute, Little Suamico, Lowell, Luxemburg, Lyons, Madison, Malone, Manitowoc, Maplewood, Maribel, Marinette, Marshall, Mc Farland, Menasha, Menomonee Falls, Mequon, Merton, Milton, Milwaukee, Mishicot, Mount Calvary, Mukwonago, Muskego, Nashotah, Neenah, New Berlin, New Franken, New Holstein, New Munster, Newburg, Newton, North Lake, North Prairie, Oconomowoc, Okauchee, Omro, Oneida, Oostburg, Orfordville, Oshkosh, Palmyra, Pell Lake, Pewaukee, Pleasant Prairie, Plymouth, Port Washington, Powers Lake, Racine, Random Lake, Reedsville, Reeseville, Richfield, Rochester, Saint Cloud, Saint Nazianz, Salem, Saukville, Sharon, Sheboygan, Sheboygan Falls, Sherwood, Silver Lake, Sister Bay, Somers, Springfield, Stockbridge, Stoughton, Sturgeon Bay, Sturtevant, Suamico, Sullivan, Sussex, Tisch Mills, Trevor, Twin Lakes, Two Rivers, Union Grove, Valders, Van Dyne, Waldo, Wales, Walworth, Waterford, Waterloo, Watertown, Waukesha, West Bend, Whitelaw, Whitewater, Williams Bay, Wilmot, Winnebago, Winneconne, Woodworth, Wrightstown, Zenda
5a	-20 to -15	Abrams, Albany, Allenton, Amherst, Amherst Junction, Arena, Argyle, Arlington, Ashippun, Ashland, Avoca, Bagley, Baraboo, Barneveld, Bayfield, Bear Creek, Beaver Dam, Beetown, Belleville, Belmont, Benton, Berlin, Big Falls, Black Creek, Black Earth, Blanchardville, Bloomington, Blue Mounds, Blue River, Bonduel, Boscobel, Brandon, Briggsville, Brodhead, Brownsville, Browntown, Burnett, Cambria, Campbellsport, Caroline, Cashton, Cassville, Cazenovia, Cecil, Chaseburg, Clintonville, Clyman, Cobb, Coleman, Colgate, Columbus, Coon Valley, Cross Plains, Cuba City, Dale, Dalton, Dane, Darlington, De Forest, De Soto, Dickeyville, Dodgeville, Doylestown, Eastman, Eden, Edmund, Eldorado, Elroy, Embarrass, Endeavor, Fairwater, Fall River, Fennimore, Ferryville, Fox Lake, Fremont, Friesland, Gays Mills, Genoa, Gillett, Glen Haven, Gratiot, Green Lake, Gresham, Hartford, Hazel Green, Highland, Hillpoint, Hollandale, Holmen, Horicon, Hortonville, Hubertus, Hustisford, Iola, Iron Ridge, Ixonia, Juda, Juneau, Kendall, Keshena, Kieler, King, Kingston, Krakow, La Crosse, La Valle, Lake Delton, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lena, Leopolis, Lime Ridge, Linden, Livingston, Lodi, Loganville, Lomira, Lone Rock, Lyndon Station, Madison, Manawa, Marion, Markesan, Mauston, Mayville, Mazomanie, Merrimac, Middleton, Mineral Point, Monroe, Montello, Montfort, Monticello, Morrisonville, Mosinee, Mount Hope, Mount Horeb, Mount Sterling, Muscoda, Nelsonville, Neosho, Neshkoro, New Glarus, New London, Nichols, North Freedom, Norwalk, Oakfield, Oconto, Oconto Falls, Odanah, Ogdensburg, Onalaska, Oregon, Oxford, Packwaukee, Pardeeville, Patch Grove, Peshtigo, Pickett, Pine River, Plain, Platteville, Port Wing, Portage, Porterfield, Potosi, Pound, Poy Sippi, Poynette, Prairie Du Chien, Prairie Du Sac, Princeton, Pulaski, Randolph, Readfield, Readstown, Redgranite, Reedsburg, Rewey, Richland Center, Ridgeway, Rio, Ripon, Rock Springs, Rockland, Rosendale, Rothschild, Rubicon, Sauk City, Saxeville, Scandinavia, Seneca, Seymour, Shawano, Shiocton, Shullsburg, Sinsinawa, Slinger, Sobieski, Soldiers Grove, South Wayne, Spring Green, Steuben, Stevens Point, Stitzer, Stoddard, Sun Prairie, Suring, Theresa, Tigerton, Tilleda, Trempealeau, Verona, Viola, Viroqua, Watertown, Waukau, Waunakee, Waupaca, Waupun, Wausau, Wautoma, Wauzeka, West Salem, Westby, Westfield, Weyauwega, Wild Rose, Wilton, Windsor, Wisconsin Dells, Wonewoc, Woodford, Woodland, Woodman, Wyocena
6a	-10 to -5	Cudahy, Grafton, Kenosha, Milwaukee, Oak Creek, Racine, Sheboygan, South Milwaukee, Thiensville, Washington Island
4b	-25 to -20	Abbotsford, Adams, Alma, Alma Center, Almena, Almond, Altoona, Amberg, Amery, Aniwa, Antigo, Arcadia, Argonne, Arkansaw, Arkdale, Armstrong Creek, Arpin, Athelstane, Athens, Auburndale, Augusta, Babcock, Baldwin, Balsam Lake, Bancroft, Bangor, Barron, Barronett, Bay City, Beldenville, Benoit, Birnamwood, Black River Falls, Blair, Blenker, Bloomer, Bowler, Boyceville, Boyd, Brokaw, Bruce, Bryant, Cadott, Cameron, Camp Douglas, Cataract, Centuria, Chetek, Chili, Chippewa Falls, Clayton, Clear Lake, Cochrane, Colby, Colfax, Coloma, Comstock, Conover, Conrath, Cornell, Cornucopia, Crandon, Crivitz, Cumberland, Curtiss, Custer, Dallas, Deer Park, Deerbrook, Dodge, Dorchester, Downing, Downsville, Dresser, Dunbar, Durand, Eagle River, Eau Claire, Eau Galle, Edgar, Eland, Elcho, Elderon, Eleva, Elk Mound, Ellsworth, Elmwood, Elton, Ettrick, Fairchild, Fall Creek, Fence, Florence, Fountain City, Frederic, Friendship, Galesville, Gile, Gilmanton, Gleason, Glenwood City, Goodman, Grand Marsh, Grand View, Granton, Greenwood, Hager City, Hammond, Hancock, Hatley, Herbster, Hewitt, High Bridge, Hillsboro, Hixton, Holcombe, Houlton, Hudson, Humbird, Hustler, Independence, Irma, Jim Falls, Junction City, Knapp, La Farge, Lakewood, Laona, Long Lake, Loyal, Luck, Maiden Rock, Maple, Marathon, Marengo, Marshfield, Mason, Mattoon, Mc Naughton, Melrose, Menomonie, Merrill, Merrillan, Milladore, Millston, Milltown, Mindoro, Mondovi, Mountain, Necedah, Neillsville, Nekoosa, Nelson, Neopit, New Auburn, New Lisbon, New Richmond, Niagara, Oakdale, Ontario, Osceola, Osseo, Owen, Pearson, Pelican Lake, Pembine, Pepin, Phelps, Phlox, Pickerel, Pigeon Falls, Pittsville, Plainfield, Plover, Plum City, Poplar, Port Edwards, Prairie Farm, Prescott, Rhinelander, Rice Lake, Ridgeland, Ringle, River Falls, Roberts, Rock Falls, Rosholt, Rudolph, Saxon, Sayner, Schofield, Sextonville, Siren, Somerset, South Range, Sparta, Spencer, Spring Valley, Stanley, Star Lake, Star Prairie, Stetsonville, Stevens Point, Stockholm, Stratford, Strum, Summit Lake, Superior, Taylor, Thorp, Three Lakes, Tomah, Townsend, Tunnel City, Turtle Lake, Union Center, Unity, Vesper, Wabeno, Warrens, Washburn, Wausau, Wausaukee, Wheeler, White Lake, Whitehall, Willard, Wilson, Wisconsin Rapids, Wittenberg, Woodruff, Woodville
4a	-30 to -25	Birchwood, Boulder Junction, Brantwood, Brule, Butternut, Cable, Catawba, Clam Lake, Couderay, Cushing, Danbury, Drummond, Exeland, Fifield, Foxboro, Gilman, Glen Flora, Glidden, Gordon, Grantsburg, Harshaw, Haugen, Hawkins, Hawthorne, Hayward, Hazelhurst, Heafford Junction, Hertel, Hurley, Iron Belt, Iron River, Kennan, Lac Du Flambeau, Ladysmith, Lake Nebagamon, Lake Tomahawk, Land O Lakes, Lublin, Manitowish Waters, Medford, Mellen, Mercer, Mikana, Minocqua, Minong, Montreal, Ogema, Ojibwa, Park Falls, Phillips, Prentice, Presque Isle, Radisson, Rib Lake, Saint Croix Falls, Saint Germain, Sarona, Sheldon, Shell Lake, Solon Springs, Spooner, Springbrook, Stone Lake, Tomahawk, Tony, Trego, Tripoli, Upson, Webster, Westboro, Weyerhaeuser, Winter, Withee
3b	-35 to -30	Wascott

Factors considered in creating Wisconsin’s new planting zones Map?

The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map for Wisconsin includes 30-year averages of annual minimum winter temperatures, elevation changes, topography, proximity to bodies of water (particularly Lake Michigan), and urban heat island effects. The new map utilizes data from 13,412 stations nationwide. All this allows for more precise zone delineation.