USDA hardiness zone 7b
In zone 7b, the average annual extreme minimum temperature is 5 to 10°F (-15.0 to -12.2°C), based on 1991–2020 data from the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.
What zone 7b means for your garden
A plant labeled "hardy to zone 7b" should survive a typical winter low of 5°F. Most perennials sold at garden centers are rated for this zone or colder; marginal plants rated one zone warmer can survive in sheltered spots. Zone 7a is the colder half of zone 7.
ZIP codes in zone 7b: 3,840 in contiguous U.S., 15 in Alaska. New to zones? Read how to read your hardiness zone.
Frost dates in zone 7b
Across 35 major cities in zone 7b, the 30%-risk last spring frost ranges from Mar 29 to May 8 (median Apr 10), and the first fall frost has a median of Oct 27. Frost timing depends on elevation, latitude and distance from water — a zone does not set a frost date, so check your city page for local dates.
Typical planting calendar for zone 7b
Based on the median frost dates above. For your exact dates, use your city page.
| Crop | Start indoors | Transplant / plant out | Direct sow | Fall crop sow/plant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Feb 13 – Feb 27 | Apr 17 – May 1 | — | — |
| Pepper | Jan 30 – Feb 13 | Apr 24 – May 8 | — | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 27 – Mar 13 | Mar 27 – Apr 17 | Mar 13 – Apr 24 | Aug 18 – Sep 15 |
| Green Beans | — | — | Apr 17 – May 22 | Aug 4 – Aug 18 |
| Sweet Corn | — | — | Apr 17 – May 15 | — |
| Zucchini & Summer Squash | Mar 13 – Mar 20 | Apr 17 – May 1 | Apr 17 – May 8 | Aug 4 – Aug 18 |
| Cucumber | Mar 13 – Mar 20 | Apr 24 – May 1 | Apr 17 – May 8 | Aug 4 – Aug 18 |
| Carrot | — | — | Mar 20 – Apr 24 | Aug 4 – Aug 18 |
| Onion | Jan 16 – Jan 30 | Mar 13 – Mar 27 | — | — |
| Potato | — | Mar 13 – Apr 3 | — | — |
| Basil | Feb 27 – Mar 13 | Apr 24 – May 8 | Apr 24 – May 15 | — |
| Spinach | — | — | Feb 27 – Mar 27 | Sep 1 – Sep 29 |
| Kale | Feb 13 – Feb 27 | Mar 13 – Apr 3 | Mar 13 – Apr 3 | Aug 18 – Sep 15 |
| Broccoli | Feb 13 – Feb 27 | Mar 27 – Apr 17 | — | Aug 4 – Aug 18 |
| Peas | — | — | Feb 27 – Mar 20 | Aug 18 – Sep 1 |
| Eggplant | Jan 30 – Feb 13 | Apr 24 – May 8 | — | — |
| Cabbage | Feb 13 – Feb 27 | Mar 13 – Mar 27 | — | Aug 4 – Aug 18 |
| Radish | — | — | Mar 6 – Apr 24 | Sep 15 – Oct 13 |
| Strawberry | — | Mar 13 – Apr 3 | — | — |
| Beets | — | — | Mar 20 – May 1 | Aug 18 – Sep 1 |
Cities in zone 7b (35)
Major cities whose center falls in zone 7b:
- New York, NY — last frost Apr 4, first frost Nov 13
- Philadelphia, PA — last frost Apr 4, first frost Nov 11
- Oklahoma City, OK — last frost Apr 10, first frost Oct 29
- Nashville, TN — last frost Apr 7, first frost Oct 25
- Washington, DC — last frost Apr 3, first frost Nov 2
- Baltimore, MD — last frost Mar 29, first frost Nov 15
- Albuquerque, NM — last frost Apr 21, first frost Oct 22
- Tulsa, OK — last frost Apr 5, first frost Oct 30
- Newark, NJ — last frost Apr 8, first frost Nov 1
- Jersey City, NJ — last frost Apr 8, first frost Nov 1
- Reno, NV — last frost May 6, first frost Oct 21
- Lubbock, TX — last frost Apr 12, first frost Oct 28
- Richmond, VA — last frost Apr 9, first frost Oct 31
- Salt Lake City, UT — last frost Apr 16, first frost Oct 25
- Yonkers, NY — last frost Apr 27, first frost Oct 19
- Knoxville, TN — last frost Apr 19, first frost Oct 22
- Clarksville, TN — last frost Apr 10, first frost Oct 27
- Murfreesboro, TN — last frost Apr 15, first frost Oct 22
- Elizabeth, NJ — last frost Apr 6, first frost Nov 4
- West Valley City, UT — last frost Apr 16, first frost Oct 25
- Norman, OK — last frost Apr 9, first frost Oct 29
- Broken Arrow, OK — last frost Apr 8, first frost Oct 26
- West Jordan, UT — last frost Apr 25, first frost Oct 16
- Rio Rancho, NM — last frost Apr 15, first frost Oct 28
- Edmond, OK — last frost Apr 18, first frost Oct 23
- Roanoke, VA — last frost Apr 9, first frost Oct 27
- Asheville, NC — last frost Apr 13, first frost Oct 26
- Sandy, UT — last frost May 8, first frost Oct 16
- Lawton, OK — last frost Apr 3, first frost Nov 1
- Franklin, TN — last frost Apr 10, first frost Oct 25
- Kennewick, WA — last frost Apr 2, first frost Oct 25
- New Rochelle, NY — last frost Apr 5, first frost Nov 9
- Lynchburg, VA — last frost Apr 23, first frost Oct 19
- Wilmington, DE — last frost Apr 13, first frost Oct 30
- Dover, DE — last frost Apr 9, first frost Oct 31
← Zone 7a · Zone 8a → · All zones
Zone 7b questions
How cold does it get in zone 7b?
Zone 7b is defined by an average annual extreme minimum temperature of 5 to 10°F (-15.0 to -12.2°C) for 1991–2020 — the average of each year's single coldest night, not the record low. Individual winters can be colder, so plants rated exactly for zone 7b carry some risk in a severe year.
When is the last frost in zone 7b?
It depends far more on the city than on the zone. Among 35 zone 7b cities on this site, the 30%-risk last spring frost runs from Mar 29 in Baltimore, MD to May 8 in Sandy, UT — 40 days apart (median Apr 10).
Which states have zone 7b?
The 2023 listings put 3,855 ZIP codes in zone 7b, spread over 29 states and territories. The most are in Tennessee (544), Virginia (515), New York (483), Oklahoma (460), Maryland (366).
Did zone 7b grow on the 2023 map?
Yes: 3,478 ZIP codes were in zone 7b on the 2012 map and 3,855 are on the 2023 map (+377). Of today's zone 7b ZIP codes that were also listed in 2012, 66% were in a colder zone then, 33% were already 7b, and 1% were in a warmer zone. What changed in 2023.
Which big cities are in zone 7b?
The largest cities on this site in zone 7b are New York, NY, Philadelphia, PA, Oklahoma City, OK; 35 cities in all are listed below.