USDA hardiness zone by state
Your hardiness zone is the first thing to know before choosing any lawn — here’s what it means and how to find yours exactly.
A winter-survival map
The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023) is the U.S. standard for choosing perennials. It divides the country into 13 zones (1 coldest, 13 warmest) in 10°F bands, each split into a/b half-zones of 5°F, based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature over 30 years (1991–2020 in the 2023 edition). In short: it tells you how cold your winters get, which is what determines whether a perennial survives.
The 2023 update — developed by USDA’s Agricultural Research Service with Oregon State University’s PRISM Climate Group — shifted roughly half the country into a warmer half-zone versus 2012, so it’s worth re-checking even if you thought you knew your zone.
Get your exact zone in seconds
Because every state spans several zones, the only precise way is by location: enter your ZIP code on the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), or download your state map from the same site. Our own zone finder points you there too.
Approximate zones by region
| USDA zone band | Representative areas | What grows well |
|---|---|---|
| 3–4 (coldest) | Northern MN, ND, interior ME, high Rockies, much of AK | Clover, fine fescue, thyme, sedge |
| 4–5 | Upper Midwest, northern New England, mountain states | Clover, fescue, thyme, buffalograss |
| 5–6 | Much of the Midwest & interior Northeast | Most of our species |
| 6–7 | Mid-Atlantic, Ohio Valley, higher Southern ground | Most of our species |
| 7–8 | Southeast, southern Plains, Pacific NW lowlands | All cool-season + dichondra (warm) |
| 8–9 | Deep South, Gulf Coast, much of CA & TX | Warm-season + dichondra; clover/thyme in cooler spots |
| 9–11+ | South FL, southern CA, south TX, HI, PR | Warm-season; dichondra |
Approximate bands only — most states span several zones. Enter your ZIP on the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023) for your exact zone (including the a/b half-zone).
Our species cover zones 3–10
Most of what we sell thrives across a wide range: clover, fine fescue, creeping thyme and sedge handle roughly zones 3–9; buffalograss 4–8; dichondra is the warm-climate option at 7–10. Whatever your zone, there’s a low-input lawn for it — check each species’ verified range in our reference data.
Zone is only half the story
Hardiness zone covers winter cold — not summer heat, rainfall, soil or microclimate, all of which matter for a lawn. A south-facing slope, an urban heat island or a frost pocket can shift your effective zone by half a step. Use the zone as a starting filter, then match for sun, soil and water.
More reference
Match a lawn to your climate
Start with the zone, then the site.