The New York City metropolitan area’s rich cultural diversity mirrors its diverse climate. With six different hardiness zones, the NYC metro area falls into zones 5a (the coldest) to 7b (the warmest).
In this article, we’ll discuss the range of each zone so you can know what zone your home is located in:
NYC metro area hardiness zone map
In this article, we’ll delve into the hardiness zones of the New York City metropolitan area, which includes NYC’s five boroughs (the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Staten Island, and Queens), the rest of Long Island, and most of the Hudson Valley (except for Delaware and Columbia Counties).
Visit the articles below to learn more about the hardiness zones of the other areas of New York State:
An important note: The New York City metropolitan area also includes counties from New Jersey and Connecticut, which are not discussed in this article.
Zone 5a (-20 F to -15 F)
Zone 5a is the coldest hardiness zone in the NYC metro area, but it covers only small, isolated areas in northernmost Ulster and Sullivan counties. In Ulster, zone 5a occupies northern Hardenburgh, and in Sullivan County, it covers an area in northern Rockland.
Zone 5b (-15 F to -10 F)
Zone 5b covers north Sullivan and northwestern Ulster. Its Sullivan distribution encompasses the cities of:
- Fremont
- Callicoon
- Liberty
- Rockland
- Neversink
In its Ulster distribution, it covers mainly the area in the Balsam Lake Mountain and Big Indian Wilderness:
- Hardenburgh
- Shandaken
- Small areas in north of Woodstock
- Small, concentrated areas on the west border of Saugerties
- Denning (and a small area on the border of Denning with Wawarsing)
Zone 6a (-10 F to -5 F)
Zone 6a encompasses most of Sullivan, Ulster, and Dutchess counties, ending at the northeastern corner of Putnam. In Sullivan, it starts in the south of Neversink, encompasses Liberty, and reaches down to most of Lumberland. It also covers Thompson, including the Village of Monticello.
In Ulster County, zone 6a covers small areas in northernmost Shandaken and most of northeastern Ulster, in municipalities like Woodstock and Saugerties (including Saugerties Village). Zone 6a also encompasses an isolated area in the Minnewaska State Park Preserve.
Additionally, 6a also covers most of Dutchess County, from Red Hook to most of Hyde Park and Pleasant Valley. It reaches parts of La Grange, upper Beekman, and most of Pawling (including the Village of Pawling).
Zone 6b (-5 F to 0 F)
Zone 6b covers the southern portion of Ulster, Sullivan, and Dutchess. It occupies most of Orange, Putnam, and a small part of Rockland and Westchester. It starts in the Kingston area in Ulster County, runs down the county’s border with Dutchess County, and occupies most of southern Ulster, including New Paltz, Clintondale, and Wallkill.
Zone 6b also extends down from Poughkeepsie to the southwest corner of Dutchess, covering Wappinger, the City of Beacon, Fishkill, East Fishkill, and parts of Beekman and Pawling. In Sullivan County, zone 6b covers part of Mamakating, Thompson, and Forestburgh.
Zone 6b also covers most of Orange and Putnam counties, reaching northern Rockland and Westchester.
Zone 7a (0 F to 5 F)
Zone 7a starts at the southernmost part of Orange (in the southeastern corner of Highlands) and Putnam (in the southwestern corner of Philipstown). It occupies most of Rockland, Westchester, and the eastern part of Suffolk (from Medford and East Patchogue to the areas surrounding the Great and the Little Peconic Bay).
Zone 7b (5 F to 10 F)
Zone 7b starts in the south of Westchester from Port Chester to Yonkers and Mount Vernon. Zone 7b encompasses the five boroughs of NYC:
- New York County
- Queens County
- Kings County
- Richmond County
- Bronx County
Zone 7b also covers Nassau County and most of Suffolk County, including Coram, Holbrook, and the outer parts of the North and South Forks, including East Hampton and most of Shelter Island.
Learn more about New York State lawn care
Knowing your hardiness zone is a great way to pick the right plants for your garden. To learn how to use the hardiness zone map, check out our article: “How to Use the Plant Hardiness Zone Map in Your Yard.”
If you’d like to learn more about lawn care and gardening in New York State, visit our other guides:
- The Best Grass Seed for New York
- When to Plant Grass Seed in New York
- The Best Perennials for New York Landscapes
When to call a pro
Caring for your lawn and garden doesn’t have to be a hard job. In fact, by contacting one of our qualified lawn care pros, you won’t have to worry about working on your lawn at all. Contact a local pro today so you can sit back and enjoy your new lawn.
Main Image Credit: Skyline of Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA | Pexels
