USDA zone 6 Map with its 36 states

What is USDA Zone 6 Planting Zone?

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6 is defined as the region where the average annual extreme minimum temperature falls between -10°F to 0°F (-23.3°C to -17.8°C). This definition is based on the average annual extreme minimum temperature over a 30-year period from 1976-2005.

This zone spans landscapes from the Appalachian Mountains to the Great Plains and stretches across 36 U.S. states, including the central United States, with extensions into the Northeast (e.g., Pennsylvania) and parts of the West (e.g., Washington).

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USDA Planting Zone 6 Map

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Zone 6 is divided into two subzones: 6a and 6b, each with distinct temperature ranges and growing conditions:

Zone 6a

Zone 6a has an average annual extreme minimum temperature range of -10°F to -5°F (-23.3°C to -20.6°C). This subzone typically experiences:

1. A growing season of approximately 150-160 days
2. Cold winters with consistent snow cover in many areas
3. Warm summers with moderate humidity

Zone 6a covers significant portions of states like Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, extending into parts of the Northeast and Midwest. In these regions, the climate supports a wide variety of cold-hardy perennials, deciduous trees, and many vegetable crops.

Zone 6b

Zone 6b is slightly milder, with average annual extreme minimum temperatures ranging from –5°F to 0°F (-20.6°C to -17.8°C). Characteristics of this subzone include:

1. 160-170 day growing season
2. Moderately cold winters with less consistent snow cover than Zone 6a
3. Warm to hot summers with occasional high humidity levels

Zone 6b is prevalent in states like Missouri, Kansas, and Kentucky, and occurs in parts of the Pacific Northwest and Northeast. This subzone provides more planting flexibility, supporting less cold-hardy species.

Microclimates create subtle transitions between subzones, significantly impacting local growing conditions. Determine your exact zone using our interactive color-coded map or zip-based planting zone search tool below.

What are the States of Zone 6 USDA Planting Zone?

1. Arizona

Zone 6 in Arizona occurs in high-elevation areas, primarily within its north-central region. Subzone 6a includes cities like Flagstaff at higher elevations, while 6b extends to areas such as Show Low. This zone supports drought-tolerant and cold-hardy plants, including yucca species, pinyon pines, and native wildflowers.

2. California

Zone 6 in California is located in high-elevation areas of the Sierra Nevada and other mountain ranges. Subzone 6a includes Truckee at the highest elevations, while 6b extends to slightly lower elevations, such as South Lake Tahoe. This zone supports cold-hardy plants, including conifers, alpine wildflowers, and species like penstemon and columbine.

3. Colorado

Zone 6 in Colorado occurs primarily in western and south-central regions. Subzone 6a includes Grand Junction in higher elevation areas, while 6b extends to slightly lower elevations and sheltered areas, such as Durango. This zone supports drought-tolerant plants, including Russian sage, yarrow, and penstemon varieties.

4. Connecticut

Zone 6 occurs in most of Connecticut, with subzone 6a including Hartford in the northern and eastern regions, and 6b extending to the southern and western areas, such as New Haven. This zone supports diverse plants, including rhododendrons, azaleas, and native New England perennials.

5. Idaho

Zone 6 in Idaho occurs primarily in southern and western regions. Subzone 6a includes Twin Falls in higher elevation areas, while 6b extends into lower elevations and sheltered valleys, such as Boise. This zone supports drought-tolerant plants, including lavender, sage, conifers, and fruit trees like apples and pears.

6. Illinois

Zone 6 in Illinois occurs in central and southern regions. Subzone 6a includes Springfield in central Illinois, while 6b, a warmer subzone, extends further south and includes Carbondale. This zone supports hardy plants, including coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, and hardy hibiscus.

7. Indiana

Zone 6 in Indiana occurs in central and southern regions. Subzone 6a includes Indianapolis in central Indiana, while 6b extends further south and includes Bloomington. This zone supports fruit trees, berry bushes, and hardy plants, including redbud trees, butterfly weed, and hardy geraniums.

8. Iowa

Zone 6 in Iowa occurs in southeastern Iowa. Subzone 6a includes cities like Burlington, Fort Madison, and Keokuk. Average annual minimum winter temperatures range from -10°F to -5°F (-23.3°C to -20.6°C). This subzone supports native, climate-adapted plants, including Black-Eyed Susan, Purple Coneflower, and Butterfly Weed.

9. Kansas

Zone 6 in Kansas occurs in eastern Kansas, with subzone 6a including Topeka in the northeastern region, and 6b extending into southern and western areas, such as Wichita. This zone supports native grasses and ornamental plants, including little bluestem, coreopsis, and purple coneflower.

10. Kentucky

Zone 6 in Kentucky occurs in most of the state, with subzone 6a including Lexington in eastern and central regions, and 6b extending to western areas, such as Bowling Green. This zone supports diverse plants, including dogwoods, hydrangeas, ferns, and vegetable crops.

11. Maine

Zone 6 in Maine occurs in southern coastal regions. Subzone 6a covers coastal areas, including cities like Portland and Kennebunkport, while 6b includes a narrow coastal strip, such as Bar Harbor. This zone supports coastal- and cold-tolerant plants, including Highbush Blueberry, Eastern White Pine, and Red Osier Dogwood.

12. Maryland

Zone 6 in Maryland occurs in western Maryland. Subzone 6a includes higher elevations in the Appalachian Mountains, such as Oakland, Frostburg, and Grantsville, while 6b covers lower elevations and valleys. This zone supports mountain-adapted plants, including Redbud, Black Chokeberry, and New England Aster, which thrive in the region’s cool climate and rugged terrain.

13. Massachusetts

Zone 6 in Massachusetts occurs across much of the state. Subzone 6a includes central and western regions with cities like Worcester and Springfield, while 6b extends to coastal and eastern areas, such as Boston. This zone supports diverse plants, including rhododendrons, mountain laurel, maple trees, and native New England species adapted to cool coastal to inland climates.

14. Michigan

Zone 6 in Michigan occurs primarily in southern Michigan. Subzone 6a includes southern interior regions with cities like Grand Rapids and Ann Arbor, while 6b extends along Lake Michigan’s shoreline and into the southeastern corner, such as Detroit. This zone supports hardy plants, including serviceberry, ninebark, clematis varieties, and species that thrive in lake-effect moderated climates.

15. Missouri

Zone 6 in Missouri occurs in northern and central regions. Subzone 6a includes Kansas City and Columbia across northern Missouri, while 6b covers central areas and the Missouri River Valley, such as St. Louis. This zone supports temperature-resilient plants, including oakleaf hydrangea, purple coneflower, and native prairie grasses that thrive in cold winters and hot summers.

16. Montana

Zone 6 in Montana occurs in scattered valleys and lower elevations statewide. Subzone 6a includes the Yellowstone River Valley, while 6b is limited to warmer microclimates, such as Missoula. This zone supports cold-winter and short-season resilient plants, including Rocky Mountain juniper, blue grama grass, and cold-hardy fruit trees like apples and plums.

17. Nebraska

Zone 6 in Nebraska occurs in eastern Nebraska. Subzone 6a includes Lincoln across the eastern third, while 6b is limited to the southeast corner. Omaha straddles the 5b/6a boundary. This zone supports drought-tolerant and temperature-resilient plants, including coreopsis, Russian sage, drought-tolerant perennials, and species adapted to the Great Plains’ cold winters and hot, dry summers.

18. Nevada

Zone 6 in Nevada occurs in higher-elevation areas. Subzone 6a includes the Sierra Nevada, while 6b extends into other mountain ranges. This zone supports native and climate-adapted plants, including sagebrush, rabbitbrush, cold-hardy juniper, and species suited to arid, high-elevation conditions in Nevada’s high desert climate with extreme temperature fluctuations.

19. New Hampshire

Zone 6 in New Hampshire occurs primarily in southern regions. Subzone 6a includes Manchester and Nashua across southern New Hampshire, while 6b extends to the southeastern coastal area, such as Portsmouth. This zone supports cold-hardy and native plants, including sugar maples, lilacs, ferns, native New England species, and cold-hardy ornamentals that thrive in New Hampshire’s varied topography, from coastal zones to inland hills.

20. New Jersey

Zone 6 in New Jersey occurs in northern and central regions. Subzone 6a includes higher elevations and inland areas, while 6b covers lower elevations and coastal zones, such as Newark, Paterson, and Morristown. Average annual minimum winter temperatures range from -10°F to 0°F (-23.3°C to -17.8°C). This zone supports cold-hardy plants, including Eastern Redbud, Flowering Dogwood, and American Holly, which thrive in New Jersey’s variable coastal-to-inland climate.

21. New Mexico

Zone 6 in New Mexico occurs in higher-elevation areas. Subzone 6a includes the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, while 6b extends to regions like Santa Fe. This zone supports drought-tolerant and climate-resilient plants, including penstemon, yarrow, conifers, and species adapted to cold winters, arid conditions, and dramatic temperature swings in New Mexico’s high desert climate.

22. New York

Zone 6 in New York occurs in southern and eastern regions. Subzone 6a includes Albany and Buffalo in the Hudson Valley and western New York, while 6b extends to Long Island and the New York City metro area, such as New York City. This zone supports diverse ornamental and edible plants, including butterfly bush, forsythia, hydrangeas, and species adapted to urban, coastal, and inland microclimates.

23. North Carolina

North Carolina zone 6 is located in the western part of the state in the Appalachian Mountains. Subzone 6a includes higher elevations, while 6b covers lower elevations and valleys, with cities like Boone, Banner Elk, and Newland. Suitable plants for these areas include Fraser Fir, Rhododendron, and Mountain Laurel.

24. Ohio

Ohio’s zone 6 covers a significant area of the state, with subzone 6a having cities like Columbus (6a) in much of the northern and central parts, and 6b extending to areas in the south and along Lake Erie with cities such as Cleveland (6b) and Cincinnati (6b). It is suitable to grow a wide variety of plants here, for example coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, and hardy hibiscus, as well as various perennials, deciduous trees, and some cold-hardy fruit trees.

25. Oklahoma

Zone 6 in Oklahoma is located in the northern and eastern parts of the state. Subzone 6a includes higher elevations and more northern areas, while 6b covers lower elevations and areas further south, with cities like Tulsa, Bartlesville, and Tahlequah. Suitable plants for these areas include Oklahoma Redbud, Prairie Zinnia, and Indian Blanket, which are adapted to the state’s climate and soil conditions.

26. Oregon

Oregon zone 6 covers the central and eastern parts of the state. Subzone 6a includes higher elevation areas in the Cascade Range and Blue Mountains, with cities like Burns (6a), and 6b covers lower valleys and plateau regions, including cities like Bend (6b). The diverse geography of Oregon and rain shadow effect of the Cascade Range significantly influences the climate in these areas, it is suitable for plants like Ponderosa Pine, Oregon Grape, and Blue Elderberry.

27. Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania’s zone 6 covers its central and western regions, with subzone 6a having cities like Erie (6a), and 6b extending to the southeast with cities such as Pittsburgh (6b) and Allentown (6b). It is suitable to grow plants like Eastern Redbud, Flowering Dogwood, and Black-Eyed Susan.

28. Rhode Island

Zone 6 covers most of Rhode Island. Subzone 6a includes inland areas and higher elevations, and 6b covers coastal areas and islands, with cities like Providence, Warwick, and Newport. Suitable plants variety for these areas include Inkberry, Beach Plum, and New England Aster, which can withstand coastal conditions and cold winters.

29. Tennessee

Tennessee zone 6 is located in the eastern part of the state, primarily in the Appalachian Mountains and surrounding areas. Subzone 6a covers higher elevations, while 6b includes lower elevations and valleys. Cities in this zone include Knoxville, Johnson City, and Kingsport. Example of suitable plants for this zone include Tennessee Coneflower, Flame Azalea, and Serviceberry, which are adapted to the region’s topography and climate.

30. Texas

Zone 6 in Texas is limited to small areas in the northern panhandle region, and have cities like Amarillo and surrounding areas. Suitable plants for this zone in Texas include Texas Sage, Blackfoot Daisy, and Yucca, which can withstand the region’s cold winters and hot summers.

31. Utah

Utah zone 6 covers much of its northern and central parts, with subzone 6a including cities like Provo (6a) and Logan (6a) in higher elevations, and 6b covering the lower valleys with cities such as Salt Lake City (6b). The presence of the Wasatch Range and Great Salt Lake influences local microclimates here and it is suitable to grow plants like Rocky Mountain Juniper, Utah Serviceberry, and Gambel Oak.

32. Vermont

Zone 6 in Vermont is located in the western and southern parts of the state. Subzone 6a includes higher elevation areas, with cities like Bennington (6a), and 6b covers the Champlain Valley and some southern regions, including cities like Burlington (6b). The Green Mountains and Lake Champlain create diverse microclimates, and suitable plants for these areas include Sugar Maple, White Pine, and Northern Red Oak.

33. Virginia

Virginia’s zone 6 is located in the western and northwestern parts of the state. Subzone 6a includes higher elevation areas in the Appalachian Mountains, with cities like Blacksburg (6a), and 6b covers some lower valleys and foothills, including cities like Roanoke (6b). The influence of the Appalachian Mountains create microclimates and suitable plants for these areas include Virginia Pine, Flowering Dogwood, and Redbud.

34. Washington

Hardiness Zone 6 in Washington is located in the eastern part of the state. Subzone 6a includes higher elevation areas in the Cascade Range and northeastern mountains, and 6b covers lower valleys and the Columbia Basin, with cities like Spokane (6b) and Walla Walla (6b). The diverse geography, influenced by the rain shadow effect of the Cascade Range, creates varied growing conditions suitable for plants like Douglas Fir, Vine Maple, and Pacific Dogwood.

35. West Virginia

West Virginia’s zone 6 covers most of the state. Subzone 6a includes higher elevation areas in the Appalachian Mountains, such as Elkins (6a), and 6b covers lower elevations and river valleys, including cities like Charleston (6b) and Morgantown (6b). The state’s mountainous terrain creates diverse microclimates, the Appalachian Mountains significantly influence the climate, making it suitable for plants like Tulip Poplar, American Beech, and Mountain Laurel.

36. Wisconsin

Zone 6 in Wisconsin is confined to the southeastern part of the state, specifically subzone 6b, which includes parts of the Lake Michigan shoreline and some inland regions, with cities like Milwaukee and Racine. The moderating effect of Lake Michigan creates a warmer microclimate, with average annual minimum winter temperatures ranging from -5°F to 0°F (-20.6°C to -17.8°C). This area is suitable for plants like Sugar Maple, Red Oak, and American Hornbeam, with the lake effect also influencing precipitation patterns.