What Hardiness Zone Is Alabama?

Q: What hardiness zone is Alabama?

Alabama is in USDA hardiness zones 7b–9b on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zone 8b is the most common, covering 42% of Alabama's ZIP codes, and zone 8a covers 41%. Enter your ZIP code for your exact zone.

Q: What does zone 8b mean?

Zone 8b means the average annual extreme minimum temperature, the coldest night of a typical winter, is 15°F to 20°F (−9°C to −7°C). Perennials, shrubs and trees rated for zone 8b or colder should survive winter there.

Q: What is the coldest hardiness zone in Alabama?

Zone 7b is the coldest zone mapped in Alabama, found around Valley Head, and zone 9b is the warmest.

Q: Did Alabama's hardiness zones change in 2023?

The USDA released a new Plant Hardiness Zone Map in November 2023, based on 1991–2020 temperatures instead of 1976–2005. About half of the United States shifted half a zone warmer. Check your ZIP code here, because plant tags and older books may still list your 2012 zone.

Q: When should I plant in zone 8b?

Hardiness zones don't set planting dates; frost dates do. Inside zone 8b in Alabama, the median last spring frost varies from March 4 to March 31. Look up your local frost dates and plant tender crops such as tomatoes after the 10%-risk last-frost date.

USDA 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map · 804 ZIP codes · Data updated 2026-10-28

Quick answer

Alabama spans USDA hardiness zones 7b–9b on the 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map. The most common zone is 8b, covering 42% of Alabama's ZIP codes, followed by zone 8a (41%). Zone 8b means the coldest night of an average winter reaches 15°F to 20°F (−9°C to −7°C). Enter your ZIP code for your exact zone.

Alabama hardiness zones by share of ZIP codes

Zone 7b6% · 49 ZIPs

Zone 8a41% · 332 ZIPs

Zone 8b42% · 335 ZIPs

Zone 9a11% · 87 ZIPs

Zone 9b<1% · 1 ZIP

What the zones mean for Alabama gardeners

Coldest and warmest towns: among towns with NOAA weather stations, Valley Head (1,121 ft) is in zone 7b, while Coden (12 ft) is in zone 9a. That is a difference of about 15°F in the coldest night of a typical winter.
Same zone, different frost dates: within zone 8b, the median last spring frost ranges from March 4 at Montgomery 6SW to March 31 at Highland Home, 27 days apart. Your zone tells you which perennials survive winter; your frost dates tell you when to plant.

Typical frost dates in each Alabama zone

Medians across NOAA weather stations in each zone. Colder zones usually have later spring frosts, but local terrain can shift the dates by weeks.

Zone	Last spring frost	First fall frost	Stations
7b	April 4	November 1	11
8a	March 30	November 3	45
8b	March 17	November 12	38
9a	March 4	November 24	11

Hardiness zones for Alabama cities

Zones at the National Weather Service stations, mostly city airports, with their median frost dates.


Alabaster Shelby County Airport	8b	15°F to 20°F	565	Mar 12	Nov 16
Anniston Metro Airport	8a	10°F to 15°F	594	Mar 23	Nov 9
Birmingham Airport	8a	10°F to 15°F	615	Mar 21	Nov 11
Brewton 3 NNE	8b	15°F to 20°F	170	Mar 14	Nov 16
Centreville 6 SW	8a	10°F to 15°F	450	Apr 2	Nov 2
Clanton 2 NE	8a	10°F to 15°F	584	Mar 22	Nov 10
Courtland 2 WSW	8a	10°F to 15°F	575	Mar 28	Nov 3
Cullman 3 ENE	8a	10°F to 15°F	800	Apr 5	Nov 1
Decatur Pryor Field	8a	10°F to 15°F	592	Mar 27	Nov 3
Dothan Regional Airport	9a	20°F to 25°F	370	Mar 1	Nov 24
Evergreen Middleton Field	8b	15°F to 20°F	258	Mar 10	Nov 17
Fairhope 3 NE	9a	20°F to 25°F	95	Mar 15	Nov 19
Florala Municipal Airport	9a	20°F to 25°F	314	Mar 4	Nov 26
Gadsden 19 N	8a	10°F to 15°F	1,152	Apr 1	Oct 31
Gainesville 2 NE	8b	15°F to 20°F	107	Mar 12	Nov 13
Greensboro 2 WNW	8b	15°F to 20°F	280	Mar 17	Nov 11
Huntsville Intl Airport	8a	10°F to 15°F	624	Mar 24	Nov 8
Mobile	9a	20°F to 25°F	208	Mar 3	Nov 25
Mobile Dwtn Airport	9a	20°F to 25°F	26	Feb 21	Dec 6
Montgomery Airport	8b	15°F to 20°F	202	Mar 13	Nov 13
Muscle Shoals 2 N	8a	10°F to 15°F	530	Mar 27	Nov 3
Muscle Shoals Regional Airport	8a	10°F to 15°F	540	Mar 20	Nov 8
Northport 2 S	8b	15°F to 20°F	150	Mar 18	Nov 10
Russellville 4 SSE	8a	10°F to 15°F	720	Apr 5	Oct 28
Scottsboro 2 NE	7b	5°F to 10°F	636	Apr 2	Oct 30
Selma 13 WNW	8b	15°F to 20°F	193	Mar 21	Nov 5
Talladega 10 NNE	8a	10°F to 15°F	525	Mar 26	Nov 4
Thomasville 2 S	8b	15°F to 20°F	350	Mar 17	Nov 9
Troy 2 W	8b	15°F to 20°F	472	Mar 17	Nov 16
Troy Municipal Airport	8b	15°F to 20°F	397	Mar 18	Nov 10
Valley Head 1 SSW	7b	5°F to 10°F	1,020	Apr 7	Oct 30
Weedon Field Airport	8b	15°F to 20°F	285	Mar 13	Nov 17

Hardiness zones for 105 towns in Alabama

Each NOAA weather station is shown with the USDA zone of the nearest ZIP code (within 8 miles). Coldest night is the zone's range for the average annual extreme minimum temperature. Click a column to sort.

Filter by town


Addison	7b	5°F to 10°F	818	Apr 4	Nov 1
Alabaster Shelby County Airport	8b	15°F to 20°F	565	Mar 12	Nov 16
Alexander City	8a	10°F to 15°F	640	Mar 26	Nov 8
Aliceville	8b	15°F to 20°F	195	Mar 24	Nov 8
Andalusia 3 W	8b	15°F to 20°F	250	Mar 25	Nov 9
Anniston Metro Airport	8a	10°F to 15°F	594	Mar 23	Nov 9
Ashland 3 ENE	8a	10°F to 15°F	1,022	Apr 4	Nov 1
Athens	8a	10°F to 15°F	689	Mar 20	Nov 12
Atmore	9a	20°F to 25°F	300	Feb 28	Nov 27
Auburn No.2	8b	15°F to 20°F	545	Mar 13	Nov 17
Bay Minette	9a	20°F to 25°F	271	Feb 28	Nov 25
Belle Mina 2 N	8a	10°F to 15°F	603	Mar 31	Nov 1
Bessemer 3 WSW	8a	10°F to 15°F	445	Mar 23	Nov 10
Birmingham Airport	8a	10°F to 15°F	615	Mar 21	Nov 11
Brewton 3 NNE	8b	15°F to 20°F	170	Mar 14	Nov 16
Bridgeport 5 NW	7b	5°F to 10°F	664	Apr 7	Oct 31
Camden 3 NW	8b	15°F to 20°F	235	Mar 18	Nov 11
Camp Hill 2NW	8a	10°F to 15°F	680	Apr 11	Oct 27
Centre	8a	10°F to 15°F	600	Apr 6	Oct 31
Centreville 6 SW	8a	10°F to 15°F	450	Apr 2	Nov 2
Chatom	8b	15°F to 20°F	285	Mar 26	Nov 8
Childersburg Wtp	8a	10°F to 15°F	418	Mar 31	Nov 2
Clanton	8a	10°F to 15°F	590	Mar 24	Nov 10
Clanton 2 NE	8a	10°F to 15°F	584	Mar 22	Nov 10
Clayton	8b	15°F to 20°F	569	Mar 11	Nov 19
Coden	9a	20°F to 25°F	12	Mar 13	Nov 24
Courtland 2 WSW	8a	10°F to 15°F	575	Mar 28	Nov 3
Cullman 3 ENE	8a	10°F to 15°F	800	Apr 5	Nov 1
Decatur 4SE	8a	10°F to 15°F	550	Mar 26	Nov 7
Decatur Pryor Field	8a	10°F to 15°F	592	Mar 27	Nov 3
Demopolis L&d	8b	15°F to 20°F	100	Mar 16	Nov 14
Dothan Regional Airport	9a	20°F to 25°F	370	Mar 1	Nov 24
Enterprise 4 W	8b	15°F to 20°F	337	Mar 9	Nov 21
Evergreen	8b	15°F to 20°F	290	Mar 13	Nov 19
Evergreen Middleton Field	8b	15°F to 20°F	258	Mar 10	Nov 17
Fairhope 2 NE	9a	20°F to 25°F	23	Mar 10	Nov 17
Fairhope 3 NE	9a	20°F to 25°F	95	Mar 15	Nov 19
Fayette	8a	10°F to 15°F	357	Mar 20	Nov 9
Florala Municipal Airport	9a	20°F to 25°F	314	Mar 4	Nov 26
Fort Payne	7b	5°F to 10°F	917	Mar 29	Nov 8
Gadsden	8a	10°F to 15°F	565	Mar 19	Nov 13
Gadsden 19 N	8a	10°F to 15°F	1,152	Apr 1	Oct 31
Gainesville 2 NE	8b	15°F to 20°F	107	Mar 12	Nov 13
Gainesville Lock	8b	15°F to 20°F	125	Mar 19	Nov 8
Geneva #2	8b	15°F to 20°F	145	Mar 23	Nov 7
Greensboro	8b	15°F to 20°F	249	Mar 18	Nov 12
Greensboro 2 WNW	8b	15°F to 20°F	280	Mar 17	Nov 11
Greenville	8b	15°F to 20°F	342	Mar 28	Nov 7
Guntersville	8a	10°F to 15°F	578	Mar 19	Nov 18
Guntersville No.2	8a	10°F to 15°F	595	Mar 17	Nov 19
Haleyville	7b	5°F to 10°F	920	Mar 29	Nov 9
Hamilton 3 S	7b	5°F to 10°F	435	Apr 11	Oct 27
Hanceville	8a	10°F to 15°F	590	Apr 6	Oct 29
Headland	9a	20°F to 25°F	370	Mar 5	Nov 24
Heflin	8a	10°F to 15°F	1,000	Apr 6	Oct 31
Helena	8b	15°F to 20°F	480	Mar 19	Nov 8
Highland Home	8b	15°F to 20°F	433	Mar 31	Nov 5
Highland Home #2	8b	15°F to 20°F	555	Mar 12	Nov 18
Huntsville Intl Airport	8a	10°F to 15°F	624	Mar 24	Nov 8
Jackson	8b	15°F to 20°F	220	Mar 18	Nov 12
Jasper	8a	10°F to 15°F	486	Mar 30	Nov 4
Lafayette 2W	8a	10°F to 15°F	740	Apr 9	Oct 30
Lexington	7b	5°F to 10°F	760	Mar 29	Nov 4
Livingston	8b	15°F to 20°F	128	Mar 20	Nov 9
Milstead	8b	15°F to 20°F	215	Mar 25	Nov 8
Mobile	9a	20°F to 25°F	208	Mar 3	Nov 25
Mobile Dwtn Airport	9a	20°F to 25°F	26	Feb 21	Dec 6
Montgomery 6SW	8b	15°F to 20°F	225	Mar 4	Nov 18
Montgomery Airport	8b	15°F to 20°F	202	Mar 13	Nov 13
Moulton 2	8a	10°F to 15°F	622	Apr 2	Oct 31
Muscle Shoals 2 N	8a	10°F to 15°F	530	Mar 27	Nov 3
Muscle Shoals Regional Airport	8a	10°F to 15°F	540	Mar 20	Nov 8
Muscle Shoals Wtp	8a	10°F to 15°F	540	Mar 30	Nov 3
Northport 2 S	8b	15°F to 20°F	150	Mar 18	Nov 10
Oneonta	8a	10°F to 15°F	1,100	Mar 26	Nov 10
Opelika	8a	10°F to 15°F	640	Mar 29	Nov 5
Owens Cross Roads 3S	8a	10°F to 15°F	590	Apr 4	Oct 30
Pinson	8a	10°F to 15°F	608	Apr 4	Nov 1
Robertsdale	9a	20°F to 25°F	161	Mar 5	Nov 23
Rock Mills	8a	10°F to 15°F	750	Apr 2	Nov 3
Rockford 3 ESE	8a	10°F to 15°F	600	Mar 25	Nov 11
Russellville #2	7b	5°F to 10°F	830	Mar 31	Nov 4
Russellville 4 SSE	8a	10°F to 15°F	720	Apr 5	Oct 28
Saint Bernard	8a	10°F to 15°F	800	Mar 31	Nov 1
Sand Mount Substn	8a	10°F to 15°F	1,190	Mar 31	Nov 3
Scottsboro	8a	10°F to 15°F	615	Apr 4	Oct 30
Scottsboro 2 NE	7b	5°F to 10°F	636	Apr 2	Oct 30
Selma	8b	15°F to 20°F	147	Mar 8	Nov 18
Selma 13 WNW	8b	15°F to 20°F	193	Mar 21	Nov 5
Sylacauga 4 NE	8a	10°F to 15°F	490	Apr 2	Oct 31
Talladega	8a	10°F to 15°F	448	Apr 5	Nov 1
Talladega 10 NNE	8a	10°F to 15°F	525	Mar 26	Nov 4
Thomasville	8b	15°F to 20°F	390	Mar 10	Nov 21
Thomasville 2 S	8b	15°F to 20°F	350	Mar 17	Nov 9
Thorsby Experiment Station	8b	15°F to 20°F	680	Mar 21	Nov 11
Troy	8b	15°F to 20°F	542	Mar 10	Nov 21
Troy 2 W	8b	15°F to 20°F	472	Mar 17	Nov 16
Troy Municipal Airport	8b	15°F to 20°F	397	Mar 18	Nov 10
Tuscaloosa Acfd	8b	15°F to 20°F	169	Mar 12	Nov 15
Valley Head	7b	5°F to 10°F	1,121	Apr 8	Oct 29
Valley Head 1 SSW	7b	5°F to 10°F	1,020	Apr 7	Oct 30
Vernon	8a	10°F to 15°F	298	Mar 29	Nov 5
Weedon Field Airport	8b	15°F to 20°F	285	Mar 13	Nov 17
Whatley	8b	15°F to 20°F	170	Mar 22	Nov 8
Winfield 2 SW	7b	5°F to 10°F	520	Apr 4	Nov 1

Frequently asked questions

What hardiness zone is Alabama?

Alabama is in USDA hardiness zones 7b–9b on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zone 8b is the most common, covering 42% of Alabama's ZIP codes, and zone 8a covers 41%. Enter your ZIP code for your exact zone.

What does zone 8b mean?

Zone 8b means the average annual extreme minimum temperature, the coldest night of a typical winter, is 15°F to 20°F (−9°C to −7°C). Perennials, shrubs and trees rated for zone 8b or colder should survive winter there.

What is the coldest hardiness zone in Alabama?

Zone 7b is the coldest zone mapped in Alabama, found around Valley Head, and zone 9b is the warmest.

Did Alabama's hardiness zones change in 2023?

The USDA released a new Plant Hardiness Zone Map in November 2023, based on 1991–2020 temperatures instead of 1976–2005. About half of the United States shifted half a zone warmer. Check your ZIP code here, because plant tags and older books may still list your 2012 zone.

When should I plant in zone 8b?

Hardiness zones don't set planting dates; frost dates do. Inside zone 8b in Alabama, the median last spring frost varies from March 4 to March 31. Look up your local frost dates and plant tender crops such as tomatoes after the 10%-risk last-frost date.

Zone and frost dates: use both

Your hardiness zone answers one question: will this plant survive the winter here? Choose perennials, shrubs, trees and bulbs rated for your zone or a colder one. For vegetables and annuals, what matters is the length of the frost-free season. See Alabama frost dates by town, or get a planting calendar for your ZIP code with start-indoors, transplant and sowing dates for 30 crops.

Sources and method

Zones are from the USDA 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP-code files published by the PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University, based on 1991–2020 minimum temperatures. ZIP codes are assigned to states by USPS prefix. Town zones use the ZIP code nearest each NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals station. This is an independent tool, not an official USDA site. Full methodology.