North Carolina Plant Hardiness Zones

Hardiness Zones, also referred to as Growing Zones or Planting zones are defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS). The zones in this map were created in 2023 using mean extreme climate data covering the period of 1991 to 2020. The previous version of this map released in 2012 was created using climate data from the period of 1976-2005. The data in the 2012 maps covered a cooler period than the 2023 maps.
The US State of North Carolina is covered by a total of 7 hardiness zones: zones 6a to 9a. The coolest zones (6a and 6b) are in the high elevation areas of Western North Carolina (Clingmans Dome) near the Tennessee border and in the Mount Mitchell State park area. These areas are surrounded by zone 7b (0°F to 5°F) in cities like Waynesville and Boone. The lower level mountain regions and Northern piedmont area of Western North Carolina are covered by planting zone 7a (5°F to 10°F) including the cities of Asheville, Franklin, Murphy, Mount Airy and North Wilkesboro. The Southern part of the piedmont as well as most of Central North Carolina are covered by zone 8b (10°F to 15°F) including the cities of Charlotte, Greensboro and metro Raleigh. Most of the Eastern coastal plain area of the state is covered by the warm zone 8b (15°F to 20°F) including the cities of Fayetteville, Wilmington and New Bern. The warmest zone in the state is 9a (15°F to 20°F) in the outer banks area of Eastern NC.