Alabama Plant Hardiness Zones - 2012

Alabama Hardiness Zones Map

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Alabama Hardiness Zones are defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS). The zones in this map were created in 2012 using mean extreme climate data covering the period of 1976-2005.
The State of Alabama is covered by four unique Hardiness Zones :

• Zone 7a: The higher elevations in the extreme Northeast corner of Alabama are in growing zone 71 and has average extreme minimum temperatures ranging from 0°F to 5°F.
• Zone 7b: The majority of Northern Alabama is in hardiness zone 7b with an average extreme minimum temperatures ranging from 5°F to 10°F. This includes the Northern suburbs of Birmingham, Huntsville, Decatur and Florence.
• Zone 8a: This zone covers most of Central Alabama from Birmingham southwards towards Florida. In this zone extreme minimum temperatures range from 10°F to 15°F and allow for the planting of more cold hardy species. Major cities in zone 8a include Montgomery, Auburn, Phenix City and Tuscaloosa. There are a few small pockets of zone 8b in Northern Alabama in Oxford and Gadsden.
• Zone 8b: This zone covers the coastal regions of Alabama in the Mobile Bay area as well as the extreme Southeast corner of the state around Dothan. In this zone extreme minimum temperatures range from 15°F to 20°F with some areas along the coast like Gulf Shores suitable for planting sub-tropical plants.