USDA Hardiness Zone 8A Growing Guide
Source: USDA Agricultural Research Service Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023
Deep South and Pacific coast — near year-round growing possible.
Where Zone 8A sits on the national map
Zone Position
Key Facts — Zone 8A
- Avg. coldest night: 10°F to 15°F (-12.2°C to -9.4°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: 25 US states, including California, Texas, Georgia and 22 more
- Growing Considerations: Deep South and Pacific coast — near year-round growing possible.
What Is Zone 8A?
USDA Hardiness Zone 8A is defined by an average annual extreme minimum temperature between 10°F and 15°F (-12.2°C to -9.4°C), according to the USDA ARS Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023.
Coldest avg. low
10°F
USDA PHZM 2023
Warmest avg. low
15°F
USDA PHZM 2023
Coldest avg. low (°C)
-12.2°C
USDA PHZM 2023
States
25
Where Is Zone 8A Found?
Zone 8A appears across 25 states:
Plants That Thrive in Zone 8A
Plants well-adapted to the temperature range of this zone.
Olive
Citrus (with protection)
Pecan
Tea Olive
Your Zone Is Just One Factor
Zone 8A covers 337 counties across 17 states, and their growing seasons are not the same. Tuolumne County, California measures 183 frost-free days a year; Phillips County, Arkansas measures 279 — a 96-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 337 counties whose USDA PHZM centroid falls in Zone 8A — NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals, 28°F killing freeze. Median 252 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 8A?
Deep South and Pacific coast — near year-round growing possible. Common plants that thrive include Olive, Citrus (with protection), Pecan, Tea Olive. Actual suitability depends on your parcel's soil, drainage, and microclimate.
What states have Zone 8A?
Zone 8A appears across 25 US states: California, Texas, Georgia, Oregon, Washington, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Idaho, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia.
What temperature is USDA Zone 8A?
USDA Hardiness Zone 8A is defined by an average annual extreme minimum temperature between 10°F and 15°F (-12.2°C to -9.4°C), per the USDA ARS Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023.