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What Hardiness Zone Is District of Columbia?

USDA 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map · 289 ZIP codes · Data updated 2026-10-28

Quick answer

District of Columbia spans USDA hardiness zones 7b–8a on the 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map. The most common zone is 8a, covering 86% of District of Columbia's ZIP codes, followed by zone 7b (14%). Zone 8a means the coldest night of an average winter reaches 10°F to 15°F (−12°C to −9°C). Enter your ZIP code for your exact zone.

District of Columbia hardiness zones by share of ZIP codes

Zone 7b14% · 41 ZIPs
Zone 8a86% · 248 ZIPs

Frequently asked questions

What hardiness zone is District of Columbia?

District of Columbia is in USDA hardiness zones 7b–8a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zone 8a is the most common, covering 86% of District of Columbia's ZIP codes, and zone 7b covers 14%. Enter your ZIP code for your exact zone.

What does zone 8a mean?

Zone 8a means the average annual extreme minimum temperature, the coldest night of a typical winter, is 10°F to 15°F (−12°C to −9°C). Perennials, shrubs and trees rated for zone 8a or colder should survive winter there.

Did District of Columbia'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 8a?

Hardiness zones don't set planting dates; frost dates do. 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. 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.

Hardiness zones in other states