What Hardiness Zone Is Kentucky?

USDA 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map · 933 ZIP codes · Data updated 2026-10-28

Quick answer

Kentucky spans USDA hardiness zones 6b–7b on the 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map. The most common zone is 7a, covering 78% of Kentucky's ZIP codes, followed by zone 6b (20%). Zone 7a means the coldest night of an average winter reaches 0°F to 5°F (−18°C to −15°C). Enter your ZIP code for your exact zone.

Kentucky hardiness zones by share of ZIP codes

Zone 6b20% · 187 ZIPs

Zone 7a78% · 728 ZIPs

Zone 7b2% · 18 ZIPs

What the zones mean for Kentucky gardeners

Coldest and warmest towns: among towns with NOAA weather stations, Williamstown (969 ft) is in zone 6b, while Kenlake Resort (484 ft) is in zone 7b. That is a difference of about 10°F in the coldest night of a typical winter.
Same zone, different frost dates: within zone 7a, the median last spring frost ranges from March 27 at Eddyville 5S to April 26 at Summer Shade, 30 days apart. Your zone tells you which perennials survive winter; your frost dates tell you when to plant.

Typical frost dates in each Kentucky 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
6b	April 18	October 22	23
7a	April 15	October 25	69

Hardiness zones for Kentucky cities

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


Bowling Green 21 NNE	7a	0°F to 5°F	790	Apr 4	Oct 31
Bowling Green Warren County Airport	7a	0°F to 5°F	523	Apr 5	Oct 31
Cincinnati Northern Ky Airport	6b	−5°F to 0°F	869	Apr 18	Oct 25
Frankfort Capital City Airport	6b	−5°F to 0°F	804	Apr 15	Oct 24
Jackson	7a	0°F to 5°F	1,364	Apr 6	Nov 1
Lexington Bluegrass Airport	7a	0°F to 5°F	980	Apr 13	Oct 28
London Corbin Airport	7a	0°F to 5°F	1,188	Apr 15	Oct 25
Louisville Bowman Field	7a	0°F to 5°F	540	Apr 3	Nov 3
Louisville Intl Airport	7a	0°F to 5°F	488	Mar 31	Nov 7
Paducah	7a	0°F to 5°F	392	Apr 5	Oct 28
Versailles 3 NNW	6b	−5°F to 0°F	891	Apr 12	Oct 28

Hardiness zones for 94 towns in Kentucky

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


Ashland	7a	0°F to 5°F	560	Apr 22	Oct 23
Augusta 2	6b	−5°F to 0°F	508	Apr 11	Oct 30
Barbourville	7a	0°F to 5°F	990	Apr 19	Oct 24
Bardstown 5E	7a	0°F to 5°F	780	Apr 13	Oct 25
Bardwell 2 E	7a	0°F to 5°F	410	Apr 6	Oct 30
Barren River Lake	7a	0°F to 5°F	615	Apr 12	Oct 29
Baxter	7a	0°F to 5°F	1,164	Apr 15	Oct 30
Beattyville 4N	7a	0°F to 5°F	1,080	Apr 12	Oct 25
Beaver Dam	7a	0°F to 5°F	400	Apr 10	Oct 22
Benton	7a	0°F to 5°F	365	Apr 9	Oct 19
Berea College	7a	0°F to 5°F	1,070	Apr 5	Nov 2
Bernheim Forest	7a	0°F to 5°F	550	Apr 18	Oct 25
Booneville 12SW	6b	−5°F to 0°F	880	Apr 24	Oct 19
Bowling Green 21 NNE	7a	0°F to 5°F	790	Apr 4	Oct 31
Bowling Green Warren County Airport	7a	0°F to 5°F	523	Apr 5	Oct 31
Bradfordsville	7a	0°F to 5°F	660	Apr 22	Oct 20
Brandenburg	7a	0°F to 5°F	615	Apr 19	Oct 24
Buckhorn Lake	7a	0°F to 5°F	780	Apr 19	Oct 25
Calhoun Lock 2	7a	0°F to 5°F	402	Apr 2	Nov 1
Cave Run Lake	6b	−5°F to 0°F	840	Apr 17	Oct 25
Charley 2 SW	7a	0°F to 5°F	740	Apr 24	Oct 17
Cincinnati Northern Ky Airport	6b	−5°F to 0°F	869	Apr 18	Oct 25
Corners	7a	0°F to 5°F	615	Apr 25	Oct 16
Crab Orchard 6 N	7a	0°F to 5°F	1,025	Apr 18	Oct 24
Crestwood 4NE	6b	−5°F to 0°F	780	Apr 12	Oct 25
Cynthiana	6b	−5°F to 0°F	700	Apr 18	Oct 23
Danville	7a	0°F to 5°F	900	Apr 9	Oct 27
Dix Dam	7a	0°F to 5°F	870	Apr 7	Nov 1
Eastern Kentucky University	7a	0°F to 5°F	1,000	Apr 15	Oct 22
Eddyville 5S	7a	0°F to 5°F	523	Mar 27	Nov 8
Elizabethtown Wp Cs	7a	0°F to 5°F	690	Apr 16	Oct 25
Elkton	7a	0°F to 5°F	619	Apr 3	Oct 29
Flemingsburg 2 N	6b	−5°F to 0°F	940	Apr 12	Oct 30
Frankfort Capital City Airport	6b	−5°F to 0°F	804	Apr 15	Oct 24
Glasgow	7a	0°F to 5°F	770	Apr 9	Oct 27
Glencoe 6 NW	6b	−5°F to 0°F	490	Apr 23	Oct 21
Grayson 2 E	6b	−5°F to 0°F	580	Apr 27	Oct 17
Grayson 3 SW	6b	−5°F to 0°F	700	May 2	Oct 11
Greensburg	7a	0°F to 5°F	585	Apr 15	Oct 24
Heidelberg	6b	−5°F to 0°F	665	Apr 17	Oct 22
Henderson 8 SSW	7a	0°F to 5°F	449	Apr 4	Oct 29
Henderson State Police	7a	0°F to 5°F	420	Apr 9	Oct 26
Hodgenville Lincoln P	7a	0°F to 5°F	788	Apr 16	Oct 25
Hopkinsville	7a	0°F to 5°F	520	Apr 4	Nov 2
Inez 2 E	7a	0°F to 5°F	710	Apr 20	Oct 24
Jackson	7a	0°F to 5°F	1,364	Apr 6	Nov 1
Jamestown Wwtp	7a	0°F to 5°F	890	Apr 18	Oct 24
Kenlake Resort	7b	5°F to 10°F	484	Mar 30	Nov 4
Knob Lick 4S	7a	0°F to 5°F	1,020	Apr 5	Nov 2
Leitchfield 2 N	7a	0°F to 5°F	620	Apr 26	Oct 15
Lexington Bluegrass Airport	7a	0°F to 5°F	980	Apr 13	Oct 28
London Corbin Airport	7a	0°F to 5°F	1,188	Apr 15	Oct 25
Louisville Bowman Field	7a	0°F to 5°F	540	Apr 3	Nov 3
Louisville Intl Airport	7a	0°F to 5°F	488	Mar 31	Nov 7
Louisville McAlpine	7a	0°F to 5°F	440	Mar 31	Nov 9
Louisville WFO	7a	0°F to 5°F	632	Apr 6	Nov 1
Madisonville	7a	0°F to 5°F	425	Apr 2	Nov 1
Mammoth Cave	7a	0°F to 5°F	760	Apr 9	Oct 30
Manchester 4 W	6b	−5°F to 0°F	870	Apr 29	Oct 16
Maysville Wwtp	6b	−5°F to 0°F	515	Apr 18	Oct 30
McDaniels	6b	−5°F to 0°F	425	Apr 11	Oct 26
Millerstown 4E	7a	0°F to 5°F	600	Apr 21	Oct 18
Monticello 3 NE	7a	0°F to 5°F	979	Apr 18	Oct 26
Mount Sterling	6b	−5°F to 0°F	960	Apr 24	Oct 18
Mount Vernon	7a	0°F to 5°F	1,160	Apr 18	Oct 24
Murray	7b	5°F to 10°F	527	Apr 5	Nov 1
Nolin River Lake	7a	0°F to 5°F	623	Apr 22	Oct 22
Olive Hill 5NE	6b	−5°F to 0°F	888	Apr 24	Oct 18
Oneida	7a	0°F to 5°F	760	Apr 16	Oct 26
Paducah	7a	0°F to 5°F	392	Apr 5	Oct 28
Paintsville 1E	7a	0°F to 5°F	630	Apr 19	Oct 25
Prestonsburg 3WSW	7a	0°F to 5°F	760	Apr 23	Oct 23
Princeton 1 SE	7a	0°F to 5°F	497	Apr 11	Oct 24
Providence	7a	0°F to 5°F	409	Apr 7	Oct 28
Quicksand	7a	0°F to 5°F	745	Apr 19	Oct 24
Rochester Ferry	7a	0°F to 5°F	390	Apr 15	Oct 20
Rough River Lake	7a	0°F to 5°F	560	Apr 17	Oct 23
Russellville	7a	0°F to 5°F	570	Apr 9	Oct 28
Salyersville Wtr Wks	7a	0°F to 5°F	970	Apr 25	Oct 21
Scottsville	7a	0°F to 5°F	743	Apr 15	Oct 25
Shelbyville 1 E	6b	−5°F to 0°F	730	May 1	Oct 10
Skyline 1 SE	7a	0°F to 5°F	1,083	Apr 18	Oct 28
Somerset 2 N	7a	0°F to 5°F	1,020	Apr 5	Oct 30
Stanton 2W	6b	−5°F to 0°F	720	Apr 19	Oct 20
Stearns 2S	7a	0°F to 5°F	1,220	Apr 24	Oct 18
Summer Shade	7a	0°F to 5°F	864	Apr 26	Oct 18
Taylorsville Lake	7a	0°F to 5°F	700	Apr 23	Oct 16
Versailles 3 NNW	6b	−5°F to 0°F	891	Apr 12	Oct 28
W Liberty 3NW	6b	−5°F to 0°F	780	Apr 29	Oct 16
W Paducah 2W	7a	0°F to 5°F	413	Apr 3	Oct 27
Warnock 2	6b	−5°F to 0°F	910	Apr 20	Oct 22
Whitesburg 2SE	7a	0°F to 5°F	1,240	Apr 21	Oct 22
Williamsburg	7a	0°F to 5°F	940	Apr 21	Oct 22
Williamstown	6b	−5°F to 0°F	969	Apr 11	Oct 29

Frequently asked questions

What hardiness zone is Kentucky?

Kentucky is in USDA hardiness zones 6b–7b on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zone 7a is the most common, covering 78% of Kentucky's ZIP codes, and zone 6b covers 20%. Enter your ZIP code for your exact zone.

What does zone 7a mean?

Zone 7a means the average annual extreme minimum temperature, the coldest night of a typical winter, is 0°F to 5°F (−18°C to −15°C). Perennials, shrubs and trees rated for zone 7a or colder should survive winter there.

What is the coldest hardiness zone in Kentucky?

Zone 6b is the coldest zone mapped in Kentucky, found around Williamstown, and zone 7b is the warmest, found around Kenlake Resort.

Did Kentucky'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 7a?

Hardiness zones don't set planting dates; frost dates do. Inside zone 7a in Kentucky, the median last spring frost varies from March 27 to April 26. 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 Kentucky 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.