South Dakota falls into planting zones 4a to 5b. In this article, we’ll explain the distribution of each zone in the state so you can choose plants that will survive (and thrive) in your area.
Planting zones are based on the extreme minimum averages of a given area, working as a guide to know which plants can adapt to the local climate. Without further ado, let’s dive in:
South Dakota hardiness zone map
In the map above, you can see how the hardiness zones 4a, 4b, 5a, and 5b spread throughout South Dakota.
Zone 4a (-30 to -25 F)
The coldest zone in South Dakota, zone 4a covers most of Marshall and Brown counties (including Aberdeen). Zone 4b also covers isolated parts mostly throughout the northern portion of the state (except for a small area on the western corner of the border of Fall River County with Custer County).
In addition to these four counties, zone 4a covers parts of the following counties:
- Hamlin
- Codington
- Grant
- Roberts
- Day
- Spink
- Clark
- McPherson
- Campbell
- Corson (including Little Eagle)
- Butte
- Harding
- Perkins
Pro Tip: If you’re in search of flowers that can bloom in zone 4a’s cold weather, visit our article: “Winter Flowers that Bloom in the Cold.” There are a few flowers in this article, including cyclamen and daffodil, that can withstand zone 4’s harsh winter temperatures.
Zone 4b (-25 to -20 F)
Zone 4b is the largest area of South Dakota, covering most of the upper portion of the state. Zone 4b starts from Harding County and reaches east to Roberts County at its northernmost range. From Roberts County, it extends south until it reaches Minnehaha.
Its southern boundary goes from Butte County to Minnehaha, covering most of Opal, a big portion of Haakon, Stanley, Hughes (including Pierre), Lyman, Buffalo, Jerauld, Sanborn, Miner, and most of Lake County. Zone 4b also covers small areas in the following counties:
- Lincoln
- McCook
- Brule
- Jones
- Mellette
- Jackson
- Pennington
- Shannon
- Fall River
- Custer
- Lawrence
Zone 5a (-20 to -15 F)
Zone 5a mainly covers the counties south of Interstate 90, spreading also to a small portion north of the interstate. From Fall River, it extends east until Union County. From there, Zone 5a extends north to a big portion of Minnehaha, covering Sioux Falls. From Minnehaha, it extends west and north to McCook, Miner, Sanborn, and Jerauld.
Zone 5a also occupies Brule (including Pukwana and Chamberlain), Buffalo, Lyman, Jones (including Murdo), Haakon, Jackson, Meade, and Butte counties (including Belle Fourche). It also covers most of Lawrence, Pennington, Custer, and Fall River.
Besides its wider distribution, zone 5a also covers a small portion of:
- Perkins
- Dewey
- Ziebach
- Stanley
- Hughes
- Hand
- Beadle
- Lake
- Kingsbury
Zone 5b (-15 to -10 F)
Zone 5b represents the warmest areas of South Dakota. Zone 5b doesn’t cover large areas of the state, instead, it covers small areas throughout the southern half of South Dakota.
Zone 5b covers a small area in the southwestern corner of Butte and a good portion in northern and central Lawrence. From Lawrence, it spreads to the western border of Mead, where it also covers a small area on its southern border.
From there, it extends south to western Pennington, including Rapid City, then to the middle of Custer (covering the Custer State Park) and to the upper portion of Fall River (north of the Cheyenne River). Zone 5b also comprises other small areas in the following counties:
- Shannon
- Bennett
- Todd
- Tripp
- Gregory
- Charles Mix
- Douglas
- Hutchinson
- Bon Homme
- Yankton
When to call a pro
Knowing your hardiness zone can be of immense help when choosing the plants that can thrive in your garden. And with the help of one of our knowledgeable pros, you can elevate your garden or landscape even more. Contact one of our trusted gardeners today.
Main Image Credit: Ammodramus | Wikimedia Commons | CC0 1.0
