Deconstruct Sun

Hardiness Zone 8b: Temperature, States & Cities

In USDA zone 8b, the coldest night of a typical winter falls between 15 and 20 °F (−9.4 to −6.7 °C).

8b
15 to 20 °F (−9.4 to −6.7 °C)
average annual extreme minimum

Where is zone 8b?

On the 2023 USDA map, zone 8b appears in Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Washington, South Carolina, Oregon, Louisiana, North Carolina, California, Arkansas, Virginia, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Florida, Alaska.

Cities in zone 8b

Gardening in zone 8b

Pick perennials, shrubs and trees labeled for zone 8b or a lower number. Then match the light: every plant tag also lists full sun, part sun or shade, and that depends on the exact spot, not the zone.

Full sun6+ hoursof direct sun
Part sun4–6 hoursof direct sun
Part shade2–4 hoursof direct sun
Full shadeUnder 2 hoursof direct sun

← Zone 8a · Zone 9a →

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Questions

What is the temperature range for zone 8b?

In zone 8b, the average coldest winter night is 15 to 20 °F (−9.4 to −6.7 °C). That is the average of each year’s lowest temperature from 1991 to 2020.

What is the difference between zone 8b and 8a?

Both are part of zone 8. The “a” half is 5 °F colder than the “b” half. Zone 8a averages 10 to 15 °F and zone 8b averages 15 to 20 °F.

Can I grow zone 9a plants in zone 8b?

A plant rated for a warmer zone may survive a mild winter, but one hard freeze can kill it. Choose plants rated for your zone or colder for permanent plantings, and treat warmer-zone plants as annuals or grow them in pots you can move.

This is not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones are derived from the official 2023 dataset, resampled to about 2 km.