USDA Hardiness Zone 4A Growing Guide
Source: USDA Agricultural Research Service Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023
Northern plains and mountains — hardy deciduous trees and cool-season crops.
Where Zone 4A sits on the national map
Zone Position
Key Facts — Zone 4A
- Avg. coldest night: -30°F to -25°F (-34.4°C to -31.7°C) — the band of average annual extreme minimum temperatures that defines this zone (USDA ARS PHZM 2023)
- What that means: in an average year your coldest night lands somewhere in that 5°F window. Actual lows can drop colder in extreme winters; daytime highs are not bounded by this number.
- Found In: 17 US states, including New York, Colorado, Washington and 14 more
- Growing Considerations: Northern plains and mountains — hardy deciduous trees and cool-season crops.
What Is Zone 4A?
USDA Hardiness Zone 4A is defined by an average annual extreme minimum temperature between -30°F and -25°F (-34.4°C to -31.7°C), according to the USDA ARS Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023.
Coldest avg. low
-30°F
USDA PHZM 2023
Warmest avg. low
-25°F
USDA PHZM 2023
Coldest avg. low (°C)
-34.4°C
USDA PHZM 2023
States
17
Where Is Zone 4A Found?
Zone 4A appears across 17 states:
Plants That Thrive in Zone 4A
Plants well-adapted to the temperature range of this zone.
Cherry
Raspberry
Lilac
Kale
Your Zone Is Just One Factor
Zone 4A covers 89 counties across 8 states, and their growing seasons are not the same. Silver Bow County, Montana measures 119 frost-free days a year; Otter Tail County, Minnesota measures 172 — a 53-day difference under the same winter low, before you get to soil drainage, summer heat, flood risk, or contamination proximity. Your Growable Ground report scores 1,112 plants against all of it for your specific address.
Measured across the 89 counties whose USDA PHZM centroid falls in Zone 4A — NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals, 28°F killing freeze. Median 157 days.
Your zone is a starting point — your parcel is the whole story
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Frequently Asked Questions
What plants grow in Zone 4A?
Northern plains and mountains — hardy deciduous trees and cool-season crops. Common plants that thrive include Cherry, Raspberry, Lilac, Kale. Actual suitability depends on your parcel's soil, drainage, and microclimate.
What states have Zone 4A?
Zone 4A appears across 17 US states: New York, Colorado, Washington, Alaska, Idaho, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
What temperature is USDA Zone 4A?
USDA Hardiness Zone 4A is defined by an average annual extreme minimum temperature between -30°F and -25°F (-34.4°C to -31.7°C), per the USDA ARS Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023.