USDA Hardiness Zone 5B Growing Guide
Source: USDA Agricultural Research Service Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023
Mid-Atlantic highlands and central plains — good fruit tree region.
Where Zone 5B sits on the national map
Zone 5B highlighted in dark green; neighboring zones in their reference colors. Tap a neighboring zone to compare.
Source: USDA ARS Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 · PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University · 1991-2020 normals
Zone Position
Key Facts — Zone 5B
- Avg. coldest night: -15°F to -10°F (-26.1°C to -23.3°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: 32 US states, including Massachusetts, California, New York and 29 more
- Growing Considerations: Mid-Atlantic highlands and central plains — good fruit tree region.
What Is Zone 5B?
USDA Hardiness Zone 5B is defined by an average annual extreme minimum temperature between -15°F and -10°F (-26.1°C to -23.3°C), according to the USDA ARS Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023.
Coldest avg. low
-15°F
USDA PHZM 2023
Warmest avg. low
-10°F
USDA PHZM 2023
Coldest avg. low (°C)
-26.1°C
USDA PHZM 2023
States
32
Where Is Zone 5B Found?
Zone 5B appears across 32 states:
Plants That Thrive in Zone 5B
Plants well-adapted to the temperature range of this zone.
Apple
Blueberry
Lavender
Grape
Your Zone Is Just One Factor
Hardiness zone tells you about winter cold tolerance — but it doesn't tell you about soil drainage, summer heat, frost dates, flood risk, or contamination proximity. Two Zone 5B parcels can have very different growing outcomes. Your Growable Ground report scores 1,112 plants against all these factors for your specific address.
Your zone is a starting point — your parcel is the whole story
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Frequently Asked Questions
What plants grow in Zone 5B?
Mid-Atlantic highlands and central plains — good fruit tree region. Common plants that thrive include Apple, Blueberry, Lavender, Grape. Actual suitability depends on your parcel's soil, drainage, and microclimate.
What states have Zone 5B?
Zone 5B appears across 32 US states: Massachusetts, California, New York, Colorado, Ohio, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Arizona, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
What temperature is USDA Zone 5B?
USDA Hardiness Zone 5B is defined by an average annual extreme minimum temperature between -15°F and -10°F (-26.1°C to -23.3°C), per the USDA ARS Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023.