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Home Garden Lot: Garden & Home Improvement

What Hardiness Zone Is New York?

USDA 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map · 2,125 ZIP codes · Data updated 2026-10-28

Quick answer

New York spans USDA hardiness zones 4a–7b on the 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map. The most common zone is 6a, covering 23% of New York's ZIP codes, followed by zone 7b (23%). Zone 6a means the coldest night of an average winter reaches −10°F to −5°F (−23°C to −21°C). Enter your ZIP code for your exact zone.

New York hardiness zones by share of ZIP codes

Zone 4a1% · 29 ZIPs
Zone 4b5% · 107 ZIPs
Zone 5a7% · 141 ZIPs
Zone 5b21% · 436 ZIPs
Zone 6a23% · 499 ZIPs
Zone 6b15% · 320 ZIPs
Zone 7a5% · 108 ZIPs
Zone 7b23% · 485 ZIPs

What the zones mean for New York gardeners

  • Coldest and warmest towns: among towns with NOAA weather stations, Old Forge (1,748 ft) is in zone 4a, while Orient Point State Park (3 ft) is in zone 7b. That is a difference of about 35°F in the coldest night of a typical winter.
  • Same zone, different frost dates: within zone 6a, the median last spring frost ranges from April 19 at Troy L&d to May 14 at Rhinebeck 4SE, 25 days apart. Your zone tells you which perennials survive winter; your frost dates tell you when to plant.

Typical frost dates in each New York 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.

ZoneLast spring frostFirst fall frostStations
4aMay 18September 286
4bMay 10October 112
5aMay 6October 518
5bMay 11October 643
6aMay 4October 1439
6bApril 29October 2130
7aApril 21October 2610
7bApril 4November 1117

Hardiness zones for New York cities

Zones at the National Weather Service stations, mostly city airports, with their median frost dates.
Albany Airport6a−10°F to −5°F312Apr 27Oct 15
Binghamton6a−10°F to −5°F1,606May 2Oct 11
Buffalo6b−5°F to 0°F693Apr 24Oct 26
Canton 4 SE4b−25°F to −20°F448May 9Sep 30
Dansville Municipal Airport6a−10°F to −5°F685May 1Oct 19
Dunkirk Chautauqua Airport6b−5°F to 0°F666May 5Oct 20
Elmira Corning Regional Airport6a−10°F to −5°F955May 9Oct 9
Farmingdale Airport7b5°F to 10°F81Apr 6Nov 6
Fulton Oswego County Airport6a−10°F to −5°F475May 2Oct 16
Glens Falls Airport5a−20°F to −15°F321May 9Sep 30
Islip Li Macarthur Airport7b5°F to 10°F84Apr 10Nov 2
Ithaca 13 E5b−15°F to −10°F1,228May 13Oct 4
Massena Intl Airport4b−25°F to −20°F214May 8Oct 1
Millbrook 3 W6a−10°F to −5°F413May 4Oct 7
Montauk Airport7b5°F to 10°F7Apr 7Nov 15
Montgomery Orange Airport6b−5°F to 0°F365May 1Oct 11
New York Central Park Tower7b5°F to 10°F130Mar 30Nov 20
New York Jfk Intl Airport7b5°F to 10°F11Apr 2Nov 14
New York Laguardia Airport7b5°F to 10°F11Mar 26Nov 25
Niagara Falls Intl Airport6b−5°F to 0°F585May 1Oct 19
Penn Yan Airport6a−10°F to −5°F903Apr 30Oct 22
Plattsburgh Intl Airport5a−20°F to −15°F234May 6Oct 5
Poughkeepsie Dutchess County Airport6b−5°F to 0°F166Apr 30Oct 14
Rochester Gtr Intl Airport6b−5°F to 0°F533Apr 24Oct 25
Rome Griffiss Airfield5b−15°F to −10°F519May 6Oct 13
Saranac Regional Airport4a−30°F to −25°F1,663Jun 2Sep 9
Shirley Brookhaven Airport7a0°F to 5°F82Apr 18Oct 28
Syracuse Hancock Intl Airport6a−10°F to −5°F413Apr 29Oct 19
Utica Oneida County Airport5b−15°F to −10°F711May 1Oct 13
Watertown Intl Airport5a−20°F to −15°F318May 11Oct 1
Wellsville Municipal Airport5b−15°F to −10°F2,124May 4Oct 14
Westchester County Airport7a0°F to 5°F379Apr 12Oct 31
Westhamptn Gabreski Airport7a0°F to 5°F67May 7Oct 14

Hardiness zones for 175 towns in New York

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.
Addison5b−15°F to −10°F999May 14Oct 5
Albany Airport6a−10°F to −5°F312Apr 27Oct 15
Albion6b−5°F to 0°F472May 1Oct 20
Alcove Dam5b−15°F to −10°F607May 3Oct 12
Alfred5b−15°F to −10°F1,924May 18Oct 1
Allegany State Park5b−15°F to −10°F1,500May 12Oct 9
Angelica5b−15°F to −10°F1,475May 21Sep 30
Auburn6a−10°F to −5°F770May 2Oct 18
Aurora Rsch Farm6b−5°F to 0°F830May 1Oct 21
Avon6a−10°F to −5°F545May 3Oct 15
Baiting Hollow7a0°F to 5°F70Apr 24Oct 25
Batavia6a−10°F to −5°F913May 3Oct 16
Bath5b−15°F to −10°F1,120May 12Oct 3
Binghamton6a−10°F to −5°F1,606May 2Oct 11
Boonville 4 SSW5a−20°F to −15°F1,550May 10Oct 4
Brewerton Lock 235b−15°F to −10°F377May 4Oct 11
Bridgehampton7b5°F to 10°F42Apr 23Oct 24
Brockport6b−5°F to 0°F498Apr 24Oct 30
Bronx7b5°F to 10°F39Apr 1Nov 16
Buffalo6b−5°F to 0°F693Apr 24Oct 26
Buskirk5b−15°F to −10°F499May 6Oct 6
Cairo 3 NW6a−10°F to −5°F490Apr 29Oct 14
Callicoon Center5b−15°F to −10°F1,221May 12Oct 7
Camden5b−15°F to −10°F580May 12Oct 5
Canandaigua 3 S6b−5°F to 0°F720Apr 29Oct 22
Canton 4 SE4b−25°F to −20°F448May 9Sep 30
Carmel 4N6b−5°F to 0°F680Apr 28Oct 16
Centerport7b5°F to 10°F30Apr 9Nov 10
Chazy5a−20°F to −15°F157Apr 30Oct 12
Cherry Valley 2 NNE5b−15°F to −10°F1,360May 6Oct 6
Cobleskill 2 ESE5b−15°F to −10°F1,169May 9Oct 4
Colden 1 N6a−10°F to −5°F1,025May 7Oct 11
Colden 1W6a−10°F to −5°F1,535May 4Oct 17
Colton 2 N4b−25°F to −20°F580May 5Oct 8
Conklingville Dam5a−20°F to −15°F808Apr 30Oct 16
Cooperstown5b−15°F to −10°F1,257May 7Oct 7
Copake6a−10°F to −5°F550May 4Oct 11
Corning5b−15°F to −10°F1,147May 17Oct 2
Dannemora5a−20°F to −15°F1,340May 6Oct 11
Dansville6a−10°F to −5°F660May 4Oct 16
Dansville Municipal Airport6a−10°F to −5°F685May 1Oct 19
Delanson 2NE5b−15°F to −10°F984May 7Oct 7
Delhi 2 SE5a−20°F to −15°F1,460May 19Oct 1
Deposit5b−15°F to −10°F1,000May 12Oct 9
Dobbs Ferry-ardsley7a0°F to 5°F200Apr 20Oct 26
Downsville Dam5b−15°F to −10°F1,200May 15Oct 3
Dunkirk7a0°F to 5°F631Apr 30Oct 23
Dunkirk Chautauqua Airport6b−5°F to 0°F666May 5Oct 20
E Jewett5b−15°F to −10°F1,991May 20Sep 27
E Sidney5b−15°F to −10°F1,155May 11Oct 9
Ellenburg Depot4b−25°F to −20°F950May 10Oct 2
Elmira6a−10°F to −5°F947May 6Oct 11
Elmira Corning Regional Airport6a−10°F to −5°F955May 9Oct 9
Emmons5b−15°F to −10°F1,225May 17Oct 3
Endicott6a−10°F to −5°F827May 5Oct 12
Farmingdale Airport7b5°F to 10°F81Apr 6Nov 6
Franklinville5b−15°F to −10°F1,590May 14Oct 6
Fredonia6b−5°F to 0°F760Apr 25Nov 1
Freeville 1 NE5b−15°F to −10°F1,050May 7Oct 8
Fulton6a−10°F to −5°F360Apr 27Oct 24
Fulton Oswego County Airport6a−10°F to −5°F475May 2Oct 16
Geneva Rsch Farm6b−5°F to 0°F718Apr 30Oct 21
Glens Falls Airport5a−20°F to −15°F321May 9Sep 30
Glens Falls Farm5a−20°F to −15°F504May 17Sep 29
Gloversville 7NW (peck Lake)5a−20°F to −15°F1,455May 11Oct 3
Gouverneur 3 NW4b−25°F to −20°F420May 14Sep 26
Grafton5b−15°F to −10°F1,560May 1Oct 11
Hemlock6a−10°F to −5°F902May 2Oct 18
Highmarket 2W4b−25°F to −20°F1,804May 22Sep 26
Honeoye6a−10°F to −5°F800May 10Oct 4
Hornell Almond Dam5b−15°F to −10°F1,325May 11Oct 8
Hudson Correctional Facility6a−10°F to −5°F30Apr 25Oct 18
Indian Lake 2SW4b−25°F to −20°F1,670May 23Sep 27
Islip Li Macarthur Airport7b5°F to 10°F84Apr 10Nov 2
Ithaca 13 E5b−15°F to −10°F1,228May 13Oct 4
Ithaca Cornell University6a−10°F to −5°F960May 11Oct 3
Jamestown 4 ENE6a−10°F to −5°F1,250May 8Oct 13
Lake Placid 2 S4b−25°F to −20°F1,888May 27Sep 22
Lansing Manor5b−15°F to −10°F1,100May 18Oct 2
Lawrenceville 3 SW4b−25°F to −20°F466May 10Oct 5
Liberty 1 NE6a−10°F to −5°F1,580May 9Oct 5
Little Falls City Rsch5a−20°F to −15°F893May 5Oct 4
Little Valley5b−15°F to −10°F1,625May 17Oct 1
Lockport 4E6b−5°F to 0°F610Apr 26Oct 26
Lowville4b−25°F to −20°F863May 8Oct 1
Malone4b−25°F to −20°F878May 6Oct 4
Massena Intl Airport4b−25°F to −20°F214May 8Oct 1
Mattituck7a0°F to 5°F20Apr 19Nov 1
Mecklenburg 4SW6a−10°F to −5°F1,510May 10Oct 8
Middletown 2 NW6b−5°F to 0°F700Apr 21Oct 22
Millbrook 3 W6a−10°F to −5°F413May 4Oct 7
Mineola7b5°F to 10°F96Apr 2Nov 12
Mohonk Lake6b−5°F to 0°F1,245Apr 21Oct 27
Molloy Cercom7b5°F to 10°F5Apr 4Nov 11
Montauk Airport7b5°F to 10°F7Apr 7Nov 15
Montgomery Orange Airport6b−5°F to 0°F365May 1Oct 11
Morrisville 6 SW5b−15°F to −10°F1,681May 6Oct 9
Mount Morris 2 W6a−10°F to −5°F880Apr 30Oct 17
Mount Sinai7b5°F to 10°F50Apr 4Nov 7
N Tonawanda6b−5°F to 0°F578May 6Oct 15
New York Central Park Tower7b5°F to 10°F130Mar 30Nov 20
New York Jfk Intl Airport7b5°F to 10°F11Apr 2Nov 14
New York Laguardia Airport7b5°F to 10°F11Mar 26Nov 25
Newcomb4b−25°F to −20°F1,647May 21Sep 26
Niagara Falls6b−5°F to 0°F588Apr 26Oct 25
Niagara Falls Intl Airport6b−5°F to 0°F585May 1Oct 19
Norwich5b−15°F to −10°F989May 13Oct 4
Ny Ave V Brooklyn7b5°F to 10°F20Apr 1Nov 19
Oceanside7b5°F to 10°F12Apr 7Nov 8
Ogdensburg 4 NE5a−20°F to −15°F280Apr 29Oct 10
Old Forge4a−30°F to −25°F1,748May 18Sep 30
Olean5b−15°F to −10°F1,420May 7Oct 11
Orient Point State Park7b5°F to 10°F3Apr 6Nov 17
Oswego6a−10°F to −5°F324Apr 22Oct 29
Pavilion 2NE6a−10°F to −5°F1,020May 2Oct 14
Penn Yan Airport6a−10°F to −5°F903Apr 30Oct 22
Perrysburg6a−10°F to −5°F1,210May 3Oct 20
Peru 2 WSW5a−20°F to −15°F510May 4Oct 4
Platte Clove5b−15°F to −10°F2,032May 9Oct 4
Plattsburgh Intl Airport5a−20°F to −15°F234May 6Oct 5
Port Jervis6b−5°F to 0°F580May 5Oct 10
Portland1 SW6b−5°F to 0°F808Apr 25Oct 31
Poughkeepsie6b−5°F to 0°F251Apr 21Oct 21
Poughkeepsie Dutchess County Airport6b−5°F to 0°F166Apr 30Oct 14
Pulaski5b−15°F to −10°F399May 10Oct 14
Ray Brook4a−30°F to −25°F1,620May 21Sep 24
Rhinebeck 4SE6a−10°F to −5°F301May 14Sep 28
Riverhead Rsch Farm7a0°F to 5°F100Apr 6Nov 9
Rochester Gtr Intl Airport6b−5°F to 0°F533Apr 24Oct 25
Rock Hill 3 SW6a−10°F to −5°F1,270May 7Oct 7
Rome Griffiss Airfield5b−15°F to −10°F519May 6Oct 13
Salamanca 25b−15°F to −10°F1,415May 18Oct 1
Saranac Regional Airport4a−30°F to −25°F1,663Jun 2Sep 9
Saratoga Springs 4 SW5b−15°F to −10°F326May 2Oct 7
Schoharie5b−15°F to −10°F734May 2Oct 13
Setauket Strong7b5°F to 10°F40Apr 15Nov 10
Sherburne5b−15°F to −10°F1,095May 13Oct 4
Shirley Brookhaven Airport7a0°F to 5°F82Apr 18Oct 28
Shrub Oak6b−5°F to 0°F462Apr 30Oct 17
Slide Mountain5b−15°F to −10°F2,650May 6Oct 7
Sodus 1W6b−5°F to 0°F444May 6Oct 10
Spencer 1 NE6a−10°F to −5°F1,170May 12Oct 3
Stillwater Rsvr4a−30°F to −25°F1,690May 15Oct 2
Stormville6b−5°F to 0°F915Apr 21Oct 25
Syracuse Hancock Intl Airport6a−10°F to −5°F413Apr 29Oct 19
Trenton Falls5a−20°F to −15°F800May 4Oct 13
Troy L&d6a−10°F to −5°F15Apr 19Oct 26
Tully Heiberg Forest5b−15°F to −10°F1,899May 12Oct 5
Tupper Lake Sunmount4a−30°F to −25°F1,680May 16Sep 28
Upton Coop - NWSFO New York7a0°F to 5°F80Apr 21Oct 24
Utica Oneida County Airport5b−15°F to −10°F711May 1Oct 13
Valatie 1 N6a−10°F to −5°F300Apr 27Oct 14
Victor 2NW6b−5°F to 0°F588May 2Oct 17
Walden 1 ESE6b−5°F to 0°F380Apr 29Oct 11
Wales6a−10°F to −5°F1,135May 7Oct 10
Walton 25a−20°F to −15°F1,480May 21Oct 1
Wanakena Ranger School4a−30°F to −25°F1,510May 18Sep 28
Wantagh Cedar Creek7b5°F to 10°F10Apr 3Nov 11
Warsaw 6 SW5b−15°F to −10°F1,820May 7Oct 10
Watertown5a−20°F to −15°F497May 2Oct 13
Watertown Intl Airport5a−20°F to −15°F318May 11Oct 1
Waverly6a−10°F to −5°F845May 6Oct 10
Webster 2 NE6b−5°F to 0°F275May 1Oct 20
Wellsville5b−15°F to −10°F1,510May 15Oct 2
Wellsville Municipal Airport5b−15°F to −10°F2,124May 4Oct 14
West Point6b−5°F to 0°F320Apr 10Nov 1
Westchester County Airport7a0°F to 5°F379Apr 12Oct 31
Westfield 2 SSE6b−5°F to 0°F707Apr 21Nov 5
Westhamptn Gabreski Airport7a0°F to 5°F67May 7Oct 14
Whitehall5a−20°F to −15°F119Apr 30Oct 12
Whitney Point Dam6a−10°F to −5°F1,040May 4Oct 16
Willsboro 1 N5a−20°F to −15°F180May 2Oct 14
Wyoming 3W6a−10°F to −5°F1,559May 4Oct 17
Yorktown Heights 1W7a0°F to 5°F670Apr 25Oct 19
Youngstown 2 E6b−5°F to 0°F295Apr 29Oct 28

Frequently asked questions

What hardiness zone is New York?

New York is in USDA hardiness zones 4a–7b on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zone 6a is the most common, covering 23% of New York's ZIP codes, and zone 7b covers 23%. Enter your ZIP code for your exact zone.

What does zone 6a mean?

Zone 6a means the average annual extreme minimum temperature, the coldest night of a typical winter, is −10°F to −5°F (−23°C to −21°C). Perennials, shrubs and trees rated for zone 6a or colder should survive winter there.

What is the coldest hardiness zone in New York?

Zone 4a is the coldest zone mapped in New York, found around Old Forge, and zone 7b is the warmest, found around Orient Point State Park.

Did New York'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 6a?

Hardiness zones don't set planting dates; frost dates do. Inside zone 6a in New York, the median last spring frost varies from April 19 to May 14. 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 New York 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.

Hardiness zones in other states