USDA hardiness zone 8b
In zone 8b, the average annual extreme minimum temperature is 15 to 20°F (-9.4 to -6.7°C), based on 1991–2020 data from the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.
What zone 8b means for your garden
A plant labeled "hardy to zone 8b" should survive a typical winter low of 15°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 8a is the colder half of zone 8.
ZIP codes in zone 8b: 3,375 in contiguous U.S., 4 in Alaska. New to zones? Read how to read your hardiness zone.
Frost dates in zone 8b
Across 59 major cities in zone 8b, the 30%-risk last spring frost ranges from Mar 6 to May 1 (median Mar 22), and the first fall frost has a median of Nov 10. 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 8b
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 | Jan 25 – Feb 8 | Mar 29 – Apr 12 | — | — |
| Pepper | Jan 11 – Jan 25 | Apr 5 – Apr 19 | — | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | Mar 8 – Mar 29 | Feb 22 – Apr 5 | Sep 1 – Sep 29 |
| Green Beans | — | — | Mar 29 – May 3 | Aug 18 – Sep 1 |
| Sweet Corn | — | — | Mar 29 – Apr 26 | — |
| Zucchini & Summer Squash | Feb 22 – Mar 1 | Mar 29 – Apr 12 | Mar 29 – Apr 19 | Aug 18 – Sep 1 |
| Cucumber | Feb 22 – Mar 1 | Apr 5 – Apr 12 | Mar 29 – Apr 19 | Aug 18 – Sep 1 |
| Carrot | — | — | Mar 1 – Apr 5 | Aug 18 – Sep 1 |
| Onion | Dec 28 – Jan 11 | Feb 22 – Mar 8 | — | — |
| Potato | — | Feb 22 – Mar 15 | — | — |
| Basil | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | Apr 5 – Apr 19 | Apr 5 – Apr 26 | — |
| Spinach | — | — | Feb 8 – Mar 8 | Sep 15 – Oct 13 |
| Kale | Jan 25 – Feb 8 | Feb 22 – Mar 15 | Feb 22 – Mar 15 | Sep 1 – Sep 29 |
| Broccoli | Jan 25 – Feb 8 | Mar 8 – Mar 29 | — | Aug 18 – Sep 1 |
| Peas | — | — | Feb 8 – Mar 1 | Sep 1 – Sep 15 |
| Eggplant | Jan 11 – Jan 25 | Apr 5 – Apr 19 | — | — |
| Cabbage | Jan 25 – Feb 8 | Feb 22 – Mar 8 | — | Aug 18 – Sep 1 |
| Radish | — | — | Feb 15 – Apr 5 | Sep 29 – Oct 27 |
| Strawberry | — | Feb 22 – Mar 15 | — | — |
| Beets | — | — | Mar 1 – Apr 12 | Sep 1 – Sep 15 |
Cities in zone 8b (59)
Major cities whose center falls in zone 8b:
- Dallas, TX — last frost Mar 9, first frost Nov 20
- Fort Worth, TX — last frost Mar 12, first frost Nov 14
- El Paso, TX — last frost Mar 9, first frost Nov 14
- Virginia Beach, VA — last frost Apr 3, first frost Nov 7
- Arlington, TX — last frost Mar 16, first frost Nov 12
- Plano, TX — last frost Mar 14, first frost Nov 13
- Irving, TX — last frost Mar 15, first frost Nov 15
- Garland, TX — last frost Mar 14, first frost Nov 13
- Frisco, TX — last frost Mar 14, first frost Nov 13
- Norfolk, VA — last frost Mar 23, first frost Nov 18
- Tacoma, WA — last frost Mar 17, first frost Nov 7
- McKinney, TX — last frost Mar 26, first frost Nov 7
- Grand Prairie, TX — last frost Mar 29, first frost Nov 5
- Columbus, GA — last frost Mar 14, first frost Nov 16
- Augusta, GA — last frost Mar 6, first frost Nov 26
- Vancouver, WA — last frost May 1, first frost Oct 10
- Montgomery, AL — last frost Mar 13, first frost Nov 9
- Salem, OR — last frost Apr 13, first frost Oct 26
- Eugene, OR — last frost Apr 25, first frost Oct 15
- Shreveport, LA — last frost Mar 17, first frost Nov 11
- Lancaster, CA — last frost Apr 11, first frost Oct 27
- Denton, TX — last frost Mar 21, first frost Nov 12
- Killeen, TX — last frost Mar 24, first frost Nov 8
- Macon, GA — last frost Mar 29, first frost Nov 4
- Bellevue, WA — last frost Mar 16, first frost Nov 15
- Mesquite, TX — last frost Mar 20, first frost Nov 11
- Waco, TX — last frost Mar 19, first frost Nov 13
- Columbia, SC — last frost Mar 31, first frost Nov 9
- Midland, TX — last frost Apr 3, first frost Nov 3
- Jackson, MS — last frost Mar 13, first frost Nov 12
- Victorville, CA — last frost Mar 31, first frost Nov 5
- Hampton, VA — last frost Mar 30, first frost Nov 10
- Kent, WA — last frost Mar 29, first frost Nov 3
- Lewisville, TX — last frost Mar 23, first frost Nov 9
- Carrollton, TX — last frost Mar 15, first frost Nov 15
- Wilmington, NC — last frost Mar 26, first frost Nov 13
- Odessa, TX — last frost Mar 27, first frost Nov 8
- Richardson, TX — last frost Mar 14, first frost Nov 13
- Las Cruces, NM — last frost Mar 20, first frost Nov 7
- Tuscaloosa, AL — last frost Mar 25, first frost Nov 5
- Allen, TX — last frost Mar 27, first frost Nov 5
- Everett, WA — last frost Apr 1, first frost Oct 27
- Tyler, TX — last frost Mar 15, first frost Nov 13
- Hillsboro, OR — last frost Apr 25, first frost Oct 14
- St. George, UT — last frost Mar 25, first frost Nov 5
- Hesperia, CA — last frost Mar 12, first frost Nov 23
- Federal Way, WA — last frost Mar 17, first frost Nov 7
- Portsmouth, VA — last frost Mar 30, first frost Nov 11
- Temple, TX — last frost Mar 22, first frost Nov 11
- Hoover, AL — last frost Mar 29, first frost Nov 2
- Medford, OR — last frost Apr 18, first frost Oct 23
- Warner Robins, GA — last frost Mar 20, first frost Nov 12
- Auburn, WA — last frost Mar 29, first frost Nov 3
- Auburn, AL — last frost Mar 21, first frost Nov 10
- Longview, TX — last frost Mar 15, first frost Nov 14
- Redmond, WA — last frost Mar 16, first frost Nov 15
- Mansfield, TX — last frost Mar 16, first frost Nov 12
- Flower Mound, TX — last frost Mar 23, first frost Nov 9
- Marysville, WA — last frost Apr 1, first frost Oct 27
← Zone 8a · Zone 9a → · All zones
Zone 8b questions
How cold does it get in zone 8b?
Zone 8b is defined by an average annual extreme minimum temperature of 15 to 20°F (-9.4 to -6.7°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 8b carry some risk in a severe year.
When is the last frost in zone 8b?
It depends far more on the city than on the zone. Among 59 zone 8b cities on this site, the 30%-risk last spring frost runs from Mar 6 in Augusta, GA to May 1 in Vancouver, WA — 56 days apart (median Mar 22).
Which states have zone 8b?
The 2023 listings put 3,379 ZIP codes in zone 8b, spread over 18 states and territories. The most are in Texas (903), Alabama (335), Georgia (317), Mississippi (303), Washington (263).
Did zone 8b grow on the 2023 map?
Yes: 2,536 ZIP codes were in zone 8b on the 2012 map and 3,379 are on the 2023 map (+843). Of today's zone 8b ZIP codes that were also listed in 2012, 64% were in a colder zone then, 35% were already 8b, and 1% were in a warmer zone. What changed in 2023.
Which big cities are in zone 8b?
The largest cities on this site in zone 8b are Dallas, TX, Fort Worth, TX, El Paso, TX; 59 cities in all are listed below.