Roses are common across Ohio, but not birds of paradise. Why? Ohio spans USDA hardiness zones 5b to 7a, but the majority of the state is either in zone 6a or 6b, and tropical plants just can’t survive the cold winters.
Let’s break it down so you can choose the right plants for your landscape:
Ohio USDA planting zones
Check the map above to see which zone your county is in. You can then check out our article (“How the Hardiness Zone Helps with Your Yard”) to learn how to choose the best plants for your zone.
For specific information about each hardiness zone, continue reading.
Zone 5b
Zone 5b experiences average extreme minimum temperatures between -15 F and -10 F, making it the coldest zone in Ohio. Only a tiny portion of the state falls into this zone, located in Knox County, just east of Mount Vernon.
This area includes the region near Apple Valley Lake and the Howard community.
Zone 6a
Zone 6a experiences average extreme minimum temperatures between -10 F and -5 F, making it a bit warmer than zone 5b. This zone covers mostly the upper part of Ohio, including:
- Central Ohio: Counties like Morrow, Licking, Marion, and Knox (including the city of Mount Vernon)
- Northwest Ohio: Counties like Williams, Defiance, Paulding, and Putnam (where Ottawa is located)
- Southwest Ohio: Counties like Darke, Champaign, and Preble
- Northeast Ohio: Counties like Trumbull, Mahoning, and Geauga
Zone 6b
Zone 6b experiences average extreme minimum temperatures between -5 F and 0 F. This zone covers much of the lower part of Ohio but also extends to areas near Lake Erie. The majority of Ohio’s major cities are located in this zone. It includes:
- Central Ohio: Counties like Franklin (where the capital, Columbus, is located), Pickaway, and Delaware
- Southwest Ohio: Counties such as Clinton, Highland, Montgomery (home to Dayton), and Hamilton (where Cincinnati is located)
- Southeast Ohio: Including Meigs, Athens, and Washington counties
- Northeast Ohio: Counties like Harrison (home to Cadiz), Stark (where Canton is located), Summit (home to Akron), and the northern part of Huron County (where Norwalk is located)
- Lake Erie’s shore: Including Lucas County (where Toledo is located), Ottawa, and Erie counties
Note: Not sure which species to plant in this zone? Check out our articles:
- Best Native Plants for Your Cincinnati Garden
- Native Plants for Your Akron Garden
- Best Native Plants for Toledo
Zone 7a
Zone 7a, the warmest in Ohio, experiences average extreme minimum temperatures between 0 F and 5 F.
This zone covers the southernmost part of the state, including Scioto, Lawrence, and Gallia counties, as well as parts of Pike and Jackson counties.
Additionally, zone 7a spans some areas near Cleveland, including part of Lorain, Cuyahoga, and Lake counties.
More Ohio resources
Now that you know about Ohio’s planting zones, it’s time to get started on landscaping. Here are a few of our other Ohio articles that might help you:
Call a Professional
If navigating Ohio’s planting zones feels overwhelming, call an Ohio gardening pro to help. Whether you need advice on native plants, selecting the best grass, or planting and maintaining your garden, a pro can handle it all. Let the expertise take the guesswork out of the process while you sit back and enjoy a delicious Hot Brown.
Main Image Credit: John Edwards House in Leipsic | Nyttend | Wikimedia Commons | Public Domain
