Unlock Georgia’s growing zones with the new 2023 USDA hardiness map. Learn which zone you’re in, typical frost dates, and the best vegetables, fruits, flowers, and native plants for your climate—from cool North Georgia mountains to warm coastal gardens in Savannah, Brunswick, and beyond.
Gardening in Georgia might mean kale and apples on a misty Blue Ridge slope, juicy tomatoes and zinnias in an Atlanta backyard, or citrus and camellias basking in coastal sunshine near Savannah and Brunswick. Georgia planting zones stretch from chilly mountain hollows to almost subtropical barrier islands, so what thrives in Blairsville won’t be the same as what loves St. Simons.
Using the updated 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (based on 1991–2020 winter lows), Georgia spans roughly zones 6b to 9a. The coolest pockets hug the high ridges of the Blue Ridge and northeast mountains, while the warmest zones follow the extreme south and coastal plain near Florida. A hardiness zone describes your average annual extreme minimum temperature so you can quickly see which plants can reliably survive winter in your garden.
This guide will help you understand your Georgia growing zone, read the 2023 USDA map, time your planting around frost dates, and choose the best plants for your part of the Peach State.
Georgia runs from cool, forested mountains along the Tennessee and North Carolina borders down through rolling red-clay Piedmont hills, across broad coastal plains, and out to sun-soaked barrier islands. That mix of elevation, latitude, and both Atlantic and Gulf influence creates several distinct gardening climates. According to the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, Georgia’s plant hardiness zones range from about 6b to 9a, with much of the state now mapped roughly a half-zone warmer than older charts.
The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is built from 30-year averages (1991–2020) of the coldest winter temperatures. It’s the national standard gardeners use to choose trees, shrubs, and perennials that can reliably survive winter in their area.
A simplified Georgia planting zone map based on the 2023 USDA Hardiness Zone Map, using 1991–2020 climate data.
Use the map together with your ZIP code to pinpoint your exact Georgia garden zone. Look up your Georgia planting zone by ZIP code using the USDA tool, then come back here or explore our Plant Finder to discover plants matched to your zone, sun exposure, and soil.
Although Georgia’s planting zones run from about 6b to 9a, local conditions—mountain hollows, city heat islands, river bottoms, and salt-breezy barrier islands—create countless microclimates. Thinking regionally makes it easier to match plants and planting dates to your yard.
This region includes the highest, coolest parts of Georgia—Blairsville, Blue Ridge, Clayton, and the rugged mountains edging North Carolina and Tennessee. Winters are long and crisp, summers pleasantly warm, and late frosts are common.
Rome, Dalton, Cartersville, and other Ridge-and-Valley and foothill communities bridge the cooler mountains and the warmer central Piedmont. Winters are relatively mild, and the growing season is longer than in the high country.
Atlanta, Marietta, Athens, and much of the north-central Piedmont form Georgia’s busy urban and suburban belt. Summers are warm and humid, winters are moderate, and the frost-free season is comfortably long. Many neighborhoods map to 8a–8b, with slightly cooler pockets in outlying suburbs and higher elevations.
From Macon and Warner Robins to Dublin, Tifton, and Valdosta, sandy or loamy soils and warm temperatures define this region. Winters are mild, and heat-loving plants thrive.
Savannah, Brunswick, St. Simons Island, Jekyll Island, and St. Marys are strongly influenced by the Atlantic Ocean and nearby marshes. Frosts arrive later and end earlier here than anywhere else in the state.
From breezy mountain overlooks to sheltered coastal patios, frost dates are your best planning tool. Whether you’re gardening in Blairsville, Atlanta, Athens, Macon, Columbus, or Savannah, your average last and first frosts help you decide when to sow cool-season crops, set out tender seedlings, and be ready with row covers in fall.
Across Georgia, last spring frosts generally run from late March near the warmest coastal and south Georgia areas to late April or even May in higher elevations. First fall frosts often arrive from late September–early October in the mountains to late November along the southern and coastal tier.
| Region / City | Average Last Spring Frost | Average First Fall Frost | Approx. Frost-Free Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blairsville (North Georgia Mountains) | Late April–Mid May (around Apr 25–May 15) | Late September–Early October (around Sep 25–Oct 5) | ~130–145 days |
| Atlanta (North-Central Piedmont) | Late March (around Mar 21–31) | Early–Mid November (around Nov 1–10) | ~220–230 days |
| Athens (Northeast Piedmont) | Late March (around Mar 21–31) | Early November (around Nov 1–10) | ~220–230 days |
| Macon (Central Georgia / Fall Line) | Early April (around Apr 1–10) | Late October (around Oct 21–31) | ~200–210 days |
| Savannah (Coastal Georgia) | Early March (around Mar 1–10) | Late November (around Nov 21–30) | ~260–270 days |
Dates summarized from regional climate and frost-date tools; always check a local forecast and ZIP code–based lookup for the most precise information for your garden.
Use these frost windows as planning guides—your yard may act warmer or cooler depending on slope, altitude, wind, nearby pavement, and buildings. They’re long-term averages, not guarantees, so watch the forecast closely during spring warm-ups and autumn cold snaps.
Once you know your Georgia planting zone, you can lean into your region’s strengths—cooler mountain summers, long Piedmont autumns, or nearly frost-free falls along the coast. Focus on cold-hardy perennials for your zone (6–9) and heat- and humidity-tolerant annuals and vegetables, and pair them with soil-building practices that match your local conditions.
Many Georgia native plants are perfectly tuned to local soils, rainfall, and winter lows. Combine native wildflowers, grasses, shrubs, and trees for a low-maintenance, wildlife-friendly landscape that supports pollinators and songbirds while tolerating Georgia’s hot summers and occasional droughts.
Explore curated lists like great pollinator plants for Georgia, monarch nectar plant collections, and guides to native grasses, shrubs, ferns, and vines to build a garden that buzzes and flutters from spring through fall.
Tap a month to see what to plant in Georgia by zone. Use these quick guides as a starting point—then adjust for your exact frost dates and whether you garden on a cool mountain slope, a warm city balcony, or a breezy coastal patio.
Georgia gardeners juggle humidity, summer thunderstorms, red Piedmont clay, rocky mountain soils, coastal sands, deer pressure, and the occasional tropical storm. These tips will help your garden thrive from zone 6b to 9a:
Now that you understand your Georgia planting zone, frost dates, and regional climate, you’re ready to choose plants that love your conditions and build a thriving Peach State garden. Mix edible crops, flowering perennials, and native plants for a landscape that feeds both your household and local wildlife. Curious how Georgia compares to other states? Visit our national USDA planting zone guide to explore growing zones across the United States.
Key zone and climate information in this article is based on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map and Georgia climate resources from University of Georgia Extension and related tools.
On the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, Georgia spans roughly zones 6b to 9a. The coldest pockets are in the North Georgia mountains (around 6b–7a), much of the Piedmont and central Georgia fall in 8a–8b, and the warmest coastal and extreme southern areas reach 8b–9a.
Based on the 2023 USDA map, most of Atlanta is in zone 8a to 8b. That means the city’s average annual extreme minimum temperature is about 10–20°F (−12 to −7°C). Gardeners can reliably grow many warm-season vegetables, evergreen shrubs, and even some marginally tender plants with protection.
Go to the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map website, enter your ZIP code in the search box, and zoom in on your location. The tool will display your specific zone and a color-coded map. This is more accurate than relying only on a state-level map or city name.
The 2023 USDA map uses 1991–2020 winter temperature data. Many parts of Georgia warmed by about a half-zone compared to the 2012 map, especially in south and middle Georgia. Some areas that were formerly 8b are now 9a, and parts of north Georgia shifted from 7b to 8a, reflecting milder winter lows.
Average last spring frost dates vary widely. In the North Georgia mountains, frosts can linger until late April or even early May. In the Piedmont (Atlanta, Athens, Macon), most locations see their last frost from late March to early April. Coastal Georgia often sees the last light frost in late February or early March. Always confirm for your specific ZIP code.
In the mountains, first frost typically arrives in late September to early October. Across the Piedmont and central Georgia, it tends to fall in late October to early November. Coastal and far-south locations may not see a frost until late November—and some immediate coastal spots rarely freeze at all in mild years.
Yes, but success depends on your zone and microclimate. In zones 8b–9a (warmest south and coastal Georgia), cold-hardy citrus such as Satsuma mandarins, kumquats, and Meyer lemons can survive with good siting, wind protection, and occasional freeze covers. In cooler zones, citrus is usually grown in containers and moved indoors for winter.
Heat-loving crops perform especially well: okra, sweet potatoes, southern peas (cowpeas), lima beans, peppers, eggplant, melons, and long-season tomatoes. Mulch, consistent watering, and disease-resistant varieties help these crops thrive through hot, humid summers typical of zones 7–9 in Georgia.
USDA zones are an excellent starting point, but not the whole story. They tell you the average coldest winter temperature, not summer heat, soil type, rainfall, or humidity. In Georgia, you should also consider soil (clay vs. sand), drainage, summer heat tolerance, disease resistance, and local microclimates such as city heat islands or windy ridges.
Gardeners in cooler mountain zones (6b–7a) should start warm-season crops later and prioritize shorter-maturity varieties. Piedmont and central Georgia gardeners (mainly 8a–8b) can plant warm-season crops shortly after the last frost and often get two cool-season windows (spring and fall). Coastal and south Georgia (8b–9a) can plant earlier, enjoy very long warm seasons, and extend greens and root crops into winter with light protection.
Updated: December 2025
| Hardiness |
7 - 9 |
|---|---|
| Native Plants | United States, Southeast, Georgia |
| Hardiness |
7 - 9 |
|---|---|
| Native Plants | United States, Southeast, Georgia |
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Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.
Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.
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