USDA Hardiness Zone 8B Growing Guide
Source: USDA Agricultural Research Service Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023
Gulf Coast and Southern California — subtropical species viable.
Where Zone 8B sits on the national map
Zone Position
Key Facts — Zone 8B
- Avg. coldest night: 15°F to 20°F (-9.4°C to -6.7°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: 20 US states, including California, Texas, Florida and 17 more
- Growing Considerations: Gulf Coast and Southern California — subtropical species viable.
What Is Zone 8B?
USDA Hardiness Zone 8B is defined by an average annual extreme minimum temperature between 15°F and 20°F (-9.4°C to -6.7°C), according to the USDA ARS Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023.
Coldest avg. low
15°F
USDA PHZM 2023
Warmest avg. low
20°F
USDA PHZM 2023
Coldest avg. low (°C)
-9.4°C
USDA PHZM 2023
States
20
Where Is Zone 8B Found?
Zone 8B appears across 20 states:
Plants That Thrive in Zone 8B
Plants well-adapted to the temperature range of this zone.
Satsuma Mandarin
Kumquat
Live Oak
Sweet Potato
Your Zone Is Just One Factor
Zone 8B covers 326 counties across 15 states, and their growing seasons are not the same. Clark County, Washington measures 217 frost-free days a year; Falls County, Texas measures 294 — a 77-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 326 counties whose USDA PHZM centroid falls in Zone 8B — NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals, 28°F killing freeze. Median 277 days.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What plants grow in Zone 8B?
Gulf Coast and Southern California — subtropical species viable. Common plants that thrive include Satsuma Mandarin, Kumquat, Live Oak, Sweet Potato. Actual suitability depends on your parcel's soil, drainage, and microclimate.
What states have Zone 8B?
Zone 8B appears across 20 US states: California, Texas, Florida, Georgia, Oregon, Washington, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia.
What temperature is USDA Zone 8B?
USDA Hardiness Zone 8B is defined by an average annual extreme minimum temperature between 15°F and 20°F (-9.4°C to -6.7°C), per the USDA ARS Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023.