Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Zone 6b

In USDA zone 6b the coldest night of an average winter reaches −5 to 0 °F (−20.6 to −17.8 °C). 5,271 ZIP codes (13.0% of all) are in this zone.

Zone6b−5 to 0 °F
Coldest night−20.6 to −17.8 °C
ZIP codes5,271
Typical last frostApr 23
Typical first frostOct 22

Frost dates vary within zone 6b

For the middle half of zone-6b ZIP codes the last spring frost falls between Apr 16 and Apr 29, and the first fall frost between Oct 16 and Oct 26. The zone measures winter cold, not season length: humid Eastern and dry Western towns in the same zone can be weeks apart. Use your ZIP code for a planting date.

States with zone 6b

Ohio784 ZIPsPennsylvania761 ZIPsMissouri521 ZIPsKansas401 ZIPsWest Virginia364 ZIPsNew York320 ZIPsMassachusetts281 ZIPsIllinois260 ZIPsConnecticut252 ZIPsIndiana226 ZIPsMichigan222 ZIPsKentucky187 ZIPsWashington88 ZIPsIdaho87 ZIPsNew Jersey76 ZIPs

Cities mostly in zone 6b

Pittsburgh, PA72 ZIPsKansas City, MO71 ZIPsCincinnati, OH70 ZIPsIndianapolis, IN56 ZIPsDetroit, MI46 ZIPsColumbus, OH45 ZIPsBuffalo, NY44 ZIPsDayton, OH42 ZIPsRochester, NY37 ZIPsHartford, CT36 ZIPsToledo, OH31 ZIPsTopeka, KS31 ZIPs

← Zone 6a (colder)Zone 7a (warmer) →

Questions

What is the temperature range of zone 6b?

Zone 6b covers places where the coldest night of an average winter (the annual extreme minimum averaged over 1991–2020) is −5 to 0 °F, or −20.6 to −17.8 °C.

When is the last frost in zone 6b?

Across ZIP codes in zone 6b, the median last spring frost falls between Apr 16 and Apr 29 for the middle half of places. Zone alone doesn't set the frost date — check your ZIP code.

Which states have zone 6b?

Zone 6b occurs in 33 states; the most ZIP codes are in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Kansas, West Virginia.

What can I grow in zone 6b?

Perennials, shrubs and trees labeled hardy to zone 6b or a lower (colder) number should survive a typical winter. Annual vegetables depend on frost dates rather than zone.

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.