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Zone 6b

Hardiness Zone 6b

USDA hardiness zone 6b has an average coldest winter night of -5 to 0 °F (-21 to -18 °C). On the 2023 map it covers ZIP codes in 33 states, mostly Ohio, Pennsylvania and Missouri. Cities in zone 6b include Cincinnati, OH; Detroit, MI; Columbus, OH.

Average coldest night

-5 to 0 °F

-21 to -18 °C

States with zone 6b

33

ZIP codes in zone 6b

5,271

Check your own zone

States in zone 6b

StateZIP codesShare of state
Ohio 784 56%
Pennsylvania 761 36%
Missouri 521 46%
Kansas 401 54%
West Virginia 364 43%
New York 320 15%
Massachusetts 281 42%
Illinois 260 17%
Connecticut 252 60%
Indiana 226 24%
Michigan 222 19%
Kentucky 187 20%
Washington 88 12%
Idaho 87 28%
New Jersey 76 11%
New Mexico 68 16%
Oregon 62 13%
Utah 57 17%
Rhode Island 40 45%
California 38 1%
Colorado 36 6%
Virginia 33 3%
Arizona 26 5%
Nevada 24 10%
Oklahoma 15 2%
Maine 10 2%
North Carolina 9 1%
Alaska 8 3%
Maryland 7 1%
Texas 4 <1%
New Hampshire 2 1%
Montana 1 <1%
Tennessee 1 <1%

Cities in zone 6b

Larger places where every ZIP code is zone 6b.

Zones: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP code data, USDA Agricultural Research Service and the PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University (official map). Place names: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Each ZIP code gets one zone, but a ZIP code can cross a zone line, and hills, valleys and towns can be warmer or colder than the zone shown.

About the Hardiness Zone Map

The Hardiness Zone Map finds your USDA plant hardiness zone, also called your planting or growing zone, from your ZIP code. Zones are based on the average coldest winter night of the year: each zone is 10 °F wide and split into a and b halves of 5 °F, from zone 1a in Alaska to 13b in Puerto Rico. Plant labels and seed packets give the coldest zone a plant can survive, so knowing your zone tells you which perennials, shrubs and trees can stay outside all winter. Zones come from the official 2023 USDA map ZIP code data for all 50 states, Washington DC and Puerto Rico.

How to use it

  1. 1 Enter your 5-digit ZIP code and press Find my zone.
  2. 2 Read your zone and the average coldest winter temperature it stands for.
  3. 3 Open your state to see its zones and the zone of every city.
  4. 4 Choose plants rated for your zone number or a colder (lower) one.

Frequently asked questions

What is the lowest temperature in zone 6b?

In zone 6b the coldest night of the year averages -5 to 0 °F (-21 to -18 °C). That is an average over 1991–2020, so a hard winter can go lower.

Which states have zone 6b?

Zone 6b is found in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Kansas, West Virginia, New York, Massachusetts, Illinois, Connecticut, Indiana, Michigan, Kentucky, Washington, Idaho, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Rhode Island, California, Colorado, Virginia, Arizona, Nevada, Oklahoma, Maine, North Carolina, Alaska, Maryland, Texas, New Hampshire, Montana and Tennessee.

What is the difference between zone 6a and 6b?

Zone 6b is 5 °F warmer than 6a. Zone 6a has winter lows of -10 to -5 °F, and zone 6b -5 to 0 °F. Plant labels often give only the number, which covers both halves.

What plants grow in zone 6b?

Plants labelled hardy to zone 6 or colder (a lower number) should survive a zone 6b winter. Plants rated only for warmer zones may be damaged by frost unless grown in pots and brought in, or given shelter.