USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 7

Zone 7 covers winter lows from 0°F to 10°F, split into 7a (0 to 5°F) and 7b (5 to 10°F).

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 7 covers areas where the coldest winter temperatures typically fall between 0 and 10 degrees F. That average annual extreme minimum is the key number for deciding which perennials, shrubs, and trees will survive the winter in your yard. Zone 7 is one of the more forgiving zones in the country, giving gardeners a long, mild season with only moderate winter cold.

Climate and where it is found

Zone 7 stretches across a broad band of the country, including much of the mid-Atlantic and upper South, parts of the Pacific Northwest, and scattered higher-elevation pockets in the Southwest. Example states include Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, northern Georgia, and coastal areas of Washington and Oregon, along with the eastern end of Long Island. Winters are cool but rarely severe, and summers range from warm and humid in the East to warm and dry in the West. The growing season is generous, commonly running about 180 to 220 frost-free days, which lets gardeners fit in spring, summer, and fall plantings.

States most often in Zone 7

Based on locations in our database, these states have the most ZIP codes falling in Zone 7:

What grows in Zone 7

A wide range of plants reliably overwinter in Zone 7 because the ground rarely stays deeply frozen for long. Most common landscape shrubs, fruit trees, and cold-hardy perennials come through winter without trouble, and many plants that struggle farther north do well here. Hardy vegetables such as leafy greens and root crops can hold in the garden through much of the winter with light protection, and cool-season crops thrive in both spring and fall. Broadleaf evergreens, ornamental grasses, and many flowering perennials that need a cold period to bloom well are all a good fit for this zone.

• Cool-season greens such as lettuce, spinach, kale, and collards
• Root crops including carrots, beets, turnips, and radishes
• Warm-season vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, squash, and beans
• Tree fruits such as apples, peaches, pears, and figs
• Berries including blueberries, blackberries, and strawberries
• Hardy herbs such as rosemary, thyme, sage, and oregano
• Garlic and onions planted in fall for summer harvest
• Cold-hardy perennials and flowering shrubs

Gardening tips for Zone 7

Plan your calendar around an average last spring frost in mid-April and a first fall frost in late October or early November, adjusting for your specific location and elevation. The long season means you can plant cool-season crops in early spring, follow with warm-season crops after the last frost, then plant a second cool-season round in late summer for fall harvest. Simple season extenders such as row covers, cold frames, or low tunnels let hardy greens and roots keep producing well into winter and get you an earlier start in spring. When choosing perennials, shrubs, and trees, look for a hardiness rating of Zone 7 or lower to be sure they can handle your coldest nights, and give tender or borderline plants a sheltered spot with good drainage.

Sample locations in Zone 7

Open any location for its live weather, frost dates, and planting calendar:

Related tools

Hardiness zones tell you what survives winter. To decide when to plant, check your frost dates and planting calendar, and browse crops and growing guides for individual plants.

Zone boundaries follow the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, which is based on 1991-2020 winter minimum temperatures. Local microclimates, elevation, and unusual winters can differ from the map. Page updated Aug 4, 2026.