USDA hardiness zones — 2023 map
Florida hardiness zones — USDA planting zone map + what to grow
Zones 8a-11b · most of Florida is zone 9b · Southeast region
FloridaUSDA zone range & map
On the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, Florida spans zones 8a-11b. The map shades the state from the western Panhandle near Tallahassee (zone 8a) through to the Florida Keys (zone 11b). The single most common half-zone across the populated state is zone 9b — that is the figure to use if you only remember one number for Florida. Florida is the warmest state in the contiguous US, with subtropical to tropical conditions. The growing constraint is summer heat, humidity, and rain — not cold.
| USDA zone range | Zones 8a-11b |
|---|---|
| Most common zone | Zone 9b |
| Coldest area | the western Panhandle near Tallahassee (zone 8a) |
| Warmest area | the Florida Keys (zone 11b) |
| Average last spring frost | late February (north) to no frost (south) |
| Average first fall frost | mid-December (north) to no frost (south) |
Source: USDA 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map (1991-2020 normals). Frost averages: NOAA/NCEI 1991-2020 climate normals. Local ZIP-level zones and frost dates can differ from these statewide figures.
Florida hardiness zones by major city
Zones shift across Florida with elevation and distance from the coast. Here is the 2023 USDA half-zone for the largest cities:
| City | USDA zone |
|---|---|
| Miami | Zone 11a |
| Orlando | Zone 10a |
| Tampa | Zone 10a |
| Jacksonville | Zone 9a |
| Tallahassee | Zone 8b |
Need your exact zone? Run the ZIP-code zone finder for a precise half-zone and frost dates for your address.
ZIP-code zones in Florida
Statewide ranges hide a lot. Tap your area for its exact USDA half-zone, last and first frost dates, and what to plant now:
- Fernandina Beach 32034 — Zone 9a
- Daytona Beach 32114 — Zone 9b
- Jacksonville 32202 — Zone 9a
- Jacksonville (Riverside) 32204 — Zone 9a
- Jacksonville (North) 32218 — Zone 9a
- Jacksonville (Southwest) 32244 — Zone 9a
- Jacksonville Beach 32250 — Zone 9b
- Tallahassee 32301 — Zone 9a
- Pensacola 32501 — Zone 9a
- Gainesville 32605 — Zone 9a
- Gainesville (Northwest) 32606 — Zone 9a
- Apopka 32703 — Zone 9b
- Winter Park 32789 — Zone 9b
- Winter Park (Goldenrod) 32792 — Zone 9b
- Orlando 32801 — Zone 9b
- Orlando (Pine Hills) 32811 — Zone 9b
- Orlando (Union Park) 32825 — Zone 9b
- Merritt Island 32953 — Zone 9b
- Vero Beach 32962 — Zone 10a
- Hialeah 33012 — Zone 10b
- Hollywood 33023 — Zone 10b
- Pembroke Pines 33024 — Zone 10b
- Key West 33040 — Zone 12a
- Pompano Beach 33060 — Zone 10b
- Margate 33063 — Zone 10b
- Coral Springs (Parkland) 33076 — Zone 10b
- Miami 33101 — Zone 11a
- Miami (Little Havana) 33125 — Zone 11a
- Miami Beach 33139 — Zone 11a
- Miami (Allapattah) 33142 — Zone 11a
- North Miami 33161 — Zone 11a
- Miami (Westchester) 33165 — Zone 10b
- Miami Gardens 33169 — Zone 10b
- Miami (Kendall West) 33186 — Zone 10b
- Fort Lauderdale 33308 — Zone 10b
- Fort Lauderdale (West) 33312 — Zone 10b
- West Palm Beach 33401 — Zone 10b
- Wellington 33414 — Zone 10b
- Jupiter 33458 — Zone 10a
- Tampa 33602 — Zone 10a
- Tampa (South) 33611 — Zone 10a
- Tampa (Town N Country) 33614 — Zone 10a
- Tampa (New Tampa) 33647 — Zone 9b
- St. Petersburg 33701 — Zone 10a
- St. Petersburg (West) 33710 — Zone 10a
- Clearwater 33756 — Zone 10a
- Fort Myers 33907 — Zone 10a
- LaBelle 33935 — Zone 10a
- Punta Gorda 33983 — Zone 10a
- Cape Coral 33990 — Zone 10a
- Naples 34108 — Zone 10b
- Bradenton 34201 — Zone 10a
- Sarasota 34234 — Zone 10a
- Brooksville 34601 — Zone 9a
- Kissimmee 34741 — Zone 9b
- Kissimmee (East) 34744 — Zone 9b
- Port St. Lucie 34952 — Zone 10a
What Florida's zone range means for planting
Your hardiness zone tells you which perennials, shrubs, and trees will survive a typical Florida winter, and it anchors when tender crops can go outside. Because Florida spans 8a-11b, two gardeners in the same state can have very different planting calendars.
- Pick perennials hardy to your local zone. Across most of Florida that means at least zone 9b; gardeners in the western Panhandle near Tallahassee (zone 8a) should choose hardier plants.
- Anchor tender crops to your frost dates. Florida is effectively frost-free at lower elevations, so timing is driven by summer heat and rainfall rather than a last-frost date.
- Adjust for your microclimate. Urban heat, a south-facing slope, or a cold valley pocket can shift your effective zone and frost dates by a half-zone or more from the statewide figure.
Find your exact zone in Florida
The 8a-11b range is statewide. Growli pins your hardiness zone and frost dates to your exact ZIP code and sends a push notification before any forecast frost night for your saved location.
Frequently asked questions
What hardiness zone is Florida?
Florida spans USDA hardiness zones 8a-11b on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. The most common zone — covering the largest share of the populated state — is zone 9b. The coldest areas are the western Panhandle near Tallahassee (zone 8a) and the warmest are the Florida Keys (zone 11b).
Does Florida get frost?
Lower-elevation Florida is effectively frost-free year-round, which is why it sits in the warmest USDA zones. Higher elevations can see occasional cold, but for most gardeners the limiting factor is heat and rainfall, not frost.
What grows well in Florida?
Florida is the warmest state in the contiguous US, with subtropical to tropical conditions. The growing constraint is summer heat, humidity, and rain — not cold. Match plants to your local half-zone within the 8a-11b range: choose varieties hardy to at least zone 9b for reliable overwintering, and time tender crops around your local frost dates. The zone 9 planting guide lists vegetables, fruit, and ornamentals suited to most of the state.
Why does Florida have more than one hardiness zone?
Hardiness zones track the average annual coldest temperature, which changes with latitude, elevation, distance from water, and urban heat. That is why Florida ranges from the western Panhandle near Tallahassee (zone 8a) to the Florida Keys (zone 11b) — a span of 8a-11b — even though it is a single state.
Did Florida's hardiness zone change in 2023?
The USDA updated the Plant Hardiness Zone Map in November 2023 using 1991-2020 climate data. About half the country, including parts of Florida, shifted to the next warmer half-zone versus the 2012 map. The 8a-11b range here reflects the current 2023 map. Always confirm your address against the official USDA map for plant-survival decisions.