What temperature range is USDA zone 8b?

Zone 8b covers areas whose average annual extreme minimum winter temperature is 15 to 20 °F. Each numbered zone is a 10°F band; the "a" and "b" half-zones split it into 5°F steps.

Does zone 8b tell me when to plant?

No — the hardiness zone tells you which perennials survive winter, not when to sow annual vegetables. Planting dates depend on your local last and first frost, which can vary within a single zone. Open one of the sample locations in zone 8b to see its frost calendar and per-crop planting windows.

What can I grow in zone 8b?

Almost any common vegetable can be grown in zone 8b; what changes with zone and local climate is the timing and the length of the season. Cold-hardy crops (peas, spinach, lettuce) go out earliest, tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the last frost. Use each location's calendar for exact dates.

USDA hardiness zone 8b — frost dates & what to plant

USDA hardiness zone 8b

Average annual extreme minimum temperature: 15 to 20 °F

USDA plant hardiness zone 8b covers areas whose average annual extreme minimum winter temperature is 15 to 20 °F — the standard USDA measure of which perennials survive an average winter. Hardiness zone sets winter survival, but planting DATES depend on your local frost calendar, which varies within a zone. 608 locations on this site fall in zone 8b (Abbeville, AL, Aberdeen, WA, Adak, AK, Adrian, GA, Aguanga, CA, Aiken, SC, Albany, GA, Albany, OR, and 600 more); open one to see its frost dates, growing-season length, and a printable per-crop planting calendar.

Locations in zone 8b — 60 of 608

Same zone, different frost calendars — open one for its full planner. A spread across the zone is shown; browse a state for its full list.
Location	Last frost	First frost	Season (days)
Abbeville, AL	Mar 13	Nov 21	256
Alleene, AR	Mar 29	Nov 5	222
Anza, CA	Apr 29	Nov 18	201
Arnold, CA	May 7	Oct 28	169
Austin, TX	Mar 12	Nov 16	252
Beavercreek, OR	Mar 27	Nov 14	230
Bienville, LA	Mar 19	Nov 9	237
Boiling Spring Lakes, NC	Mar 24	Nov 17	239
Brookdale, SC	Mar 13	Nov 15	249
Camano, WA	Mar 17	Nov 11	237
Cedar Ridge, CA	Apr 9	Nov 9	213
Clayton, AL	Mar 11	Nov 19	254
Collins, MS	Mar 17	Nov 12	238
Cordele, GA	Mar 13	Nov 14	248
Creston, CA	Mar 15	Nov 10	238
Davis, NC	Mar 11	Nov 30	261
Dillard, OR	Mar 23	Nov 18	237
El Dorado, AR	Mar 24	Nov 7	230
Engelhard, NC	Mar 29	Nov 13	231
Evergreen, AL	Mar 13	Nov 19	253
Forest, MS	Mar 28	Nov 2	221
Friday Harbor, WA	Feb 26	Nov 29	276
Gilmer, TX	Mar 26	Nov 8	229
Graham, WA	Apr 11	Oct 30	202
Greenwood, MS	Mar 17	Nov 5	231
Happy Camp, CA	May 4	Oct 13	160
Henderson, TX	Mar 15	Nov 16	247
Hubbard, TX	Mar 13	Nov 14	250
Jackson, MS	Mar 14	Nov 14	245
Johnsonville, SC	Mar 20	Nov 13	240
Kelso, WA	Apr 8	Nov 5	210
Lake Hughes, CA	Apr 6	Nov 29	236
Laurel, MS	Mar 12	Nov 12	244
Little River, SC	Mar 26	Nov 11	231
Macon-Bibb County, GA	Mar 21	Nov 10	235
Marion, SC	Mar 22	Nov 11	234
McNeal, AZ	Apr 11	Nov 2	203
Midlothian, TX	Mar 16	Nov 16	245
Montgomery, AL	Mar 4	Nov 18	262
Mount Pleasant, TX	Mar 24	Nov 7	230
Neilton, WA	Apr 7	Nov 10	214
North Santee, SC	Mar 25	Nov 11	232
Paint Rock, TX	Mar 18	Nov 12	239
Philadelphia, MS	Mar 20	Nov 9	235
Point, TX	Mar 16	Nov 14	242
Ravensdale, WA	Apr 3	Nov 11	219
Robins AFB, GA	Mar 11	Nov 19	256
Salem, OR	Apr 3	Nov 1	212
Satartia, MS	Mar 11	Nov 15	246
Sheffield, TX	Mar 31	Nov 3	217
Skokomish, WA	Mar 24	Nov 15	235
Statesboro, GA	Mar 7	Nov 21	257
Sumner, MS	Mar 17	Nov 7	233
Tatum, TX	Mar 11	Nov 17	250
Toccoa, GA	Mar 23	Nov 11	233
Utica, MS	Mar 16	Nov 6	236
Virginia Beach, VA	Mar 29	Nov 12	230
Waynesboro, GA	Mar 21	Nov 9	233
Wiggins, MS	Mar 14	Nov 18	249
Wilsonville, OR	Mar 16	Nov 14	242

Data: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (public domain) and USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023. Planting windows synthesized from U.S. Cooperative Extension guides.

What zone 8b means for your garden

A plant rated "hardy to zone 8b" can be expected to survive a winter whose coldest night lands in the 15 to 20 °F range — the metric the USDA map is built on. That governs perennials, shrubs, and trees. For annual vegetables, what matters is the frost calendar: the dates of the average last spring and first fall freeze, which set when it is safe to plant and how long the season runs. Those come from the individual location pages above.

Zones are from the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023, matched to each location's ZIP — see the methodology page. Browse all hardiness zones or crop-by-crop timing.

Frequently asked questions

What temperature range is USDA zone 8b?: Zone 8b covers areas whose average annual extreme minimum winter temperature is 15 to 20 °F. Each numbered zone is a 10°F band; the "a" and "b" half-zones split it into 5°F steps.
Does zone 8b tell me when to plant?: No — the hardiness zone tells you which perennials survive winter, not when to sow annual vegetables. Planting dates depend on your local last and first frost, which can vary within a single zone. Open one of the sample locations in zone 8b to see its frost calendar and per-crop planting windows.
What can I grow in zone 8b?: Almost any common vegetable can be grown in zone 8b; what changes with zone and local climate is the timing and the length of the season. Cold-hardy crops (peas, spinach, lettuce) go out earliest, tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the last frost. Use each location's calendar for exact dates.