- What planting zones are in Rhode Island<\/a><\/li>
- Growing zones by city in Rhode Island<\/a><\/li>
- Understanding planting zones in Rhode Island<\/a><\/li><\/ul> \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><\/div>
What planting zones are in Rhode Island<\/span><\/h2>
The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map for Rhode Island shows zones ranging from 6a to 7b across both states. <\/p>
However, focusing specifically on Rhode Island, we see a narrower range of zones: 6b, 7a, and 7b. <\/p>
![\"usda](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/usda-map-rhode-island-1.jpg\")
USDA<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> The western and northern parts of Rhode Island,<\/strong> including areas like Foster and Greene, fall primarily within zone 6b<\/strong>. This means it can get pretty chilly in winter, down to about -5 degrees Fahrenheit. As you head toward the coast, things warm up a bit. <\/p>
Central areas of the state<\/strong> straddle the line between zones 6b and 7a. <\/strong><\/p>
Moving southeast toward Newport, as well as most of southern Rhode Island<\/strong>, fall into zone 7a.<\/strong> Here, winter lows usually don’t drop below 0 degrees Fahrenheit. The Atlantic Ocean helps keep these spots a little warmer. <\/p>
There\u2019s even a tiny slice of zone 7b in Rhode Island.<\/strong> You\u2019ll find these extra-warm spots in Block Island and parts of Newport County <\/strong>right along the coast.<\/p>
*Note: <\/strong><\/p>
- According to the State Climate Summary<\/a>, \u201cTemperatures in Rhode Island have risen almost 4 degrees Fahrenheit since the beginning of the 20th century.\u201d<\/strong> With Rhode Island getting warmer, gardeners need to stay updated on their area’s planting zone. You can even try growing plants you previously thought were too delicate for your region.<\/li> <\/ul>
Growing zones by city in Rhode Island<\/span><\/h2>
Rhode Island\u2019s planting zones are influenced by several factors, including proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, Narragansett Bay, and urban heat islands. <\/p>
Moreover, your own backyard might be a little warmer or cooler depending on things like buildings, trees, or how close you are to water.<\/strong><\/p>
Pro tip: <\/strong>For the most accurate information, you should consult local extension offices or use the USDA\u2019s interactive map<\/a> to pinpoint your exact location.<\/p>
Here’s a breakdown of zones by major cities:<\/p>
- Providence County (Zones 6b and 7a)<\/strong>
- Woonsocket <\/strong>(Northern Inland)<\/em>: Zone 6b<\/li>
- Cumberland<\/strong> (Northern Inland<\/em>): Zone 6b<\/li>
- Foster Center<\/strong> (Western Inland):<\/em> Zone 6b <\/li>
- Greenville<\/strong> (Central Inland)<\/em>: Zone: 6b <\/li>
- Valley Falls <\/strong>(Central Inland)<\/em>: Zones: 6b and 7a<\/li>
- Providence<\/strong> (Narragansett Bay Area)<\/em>: Zones 6b and 7a<\/li>
- Pawtucket <\/strong>(Narragansett Bay Area)<\/em>: Zones 6b and 7a<\/li>
- Central Falls<\/strong> (Narragansett Bay Area<\/em>): Zones 6b and 7a<\/li> <\/ul> <\/li>
- Kent County (Zones 6b and 7a)<\/strong>
- Greene (Western Inland)<\/em>: Zone 6b <\/li>
- East Greenwich (Narragansett Bay Area):<\/em> Zone 6b and 7a<\/li>
- Warwick (Narragansett Bay Area)<\/em>: Zone 6b and 7a<\/li> <\/ul> <\/li>
- Washington County (Zones 6a, 7a, and 7b)<\/strong>
- Ashaway<\/strong> (Southern Inland)<\/em>: Zones 6b and 7a<\/li>
- Kingston<\/strong> (Southern Inland<\/em>): Zones 6b and 7a<\/li>
- Misquamicut <\/strong>(Coastal Area)<\/em>: Zone 7a <\/li>
- Narragansett Pier<\/strong> (Coastal Area<\/em>) Zone 7a <\/li>
- Westerly<\/strong> (Coastal Area<\/em>): Zone 7a<\/li>
- New Shoreham <\/strong>(Block Island<\/em>): <\/strong>Zone <\/strong>7b <\/li> <\/ul> <\/li>
- Bristol County<\/strong> (Zone 7a)<\/strong>
- Bristol (The Narragansett Bay Area): <\/em>Zone 7a<\/li> <\/ul> <\/li>
- Newport County (Zones 7a and 7b)<\/strong>
- Melville (Coastal Areas)<\/em>: Zone 7a <\/li>
- Tiverton (Coastal Areas<\/em>): Zone 7a <\/li> <\/ul> <\/li> <\/ul>
Understanding planting zones in Rhode Island<\/span><\/h2>
The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is split into numbered areas – or \u201czones\u201d – based on their average lowest temperature during winter. <\/p>
In Rhode Island, the coldest regions of the state fall into Zone 6b, and the milder areas are classified as zone 7a or 7b. The idea is that if you plant something rated for your zone, it should be able to withstand the coldest temperatures of a typical winter in your area.<\/strong> <\/p>
*Note:<\/strong> For in-depth information on how hardiness zones function and advice on the right grass or plant types for your zone, check our guide: “How the Hardiness Zone Helps with Your Yard.”<\/a> <\/p>
Here is an overview of the different zones in Rhode Island:<\/p>
Zone 6b (5 to 0 degrees Fahrenheit)<\/span><\/h3>
The western and northern inland areas of Rhode Island, like Foster, mainly fall within zone 6b. This zone can get quite cold during winter months, with temperatures often falling below freezing. <\/p>
Key characteristics:<\/strong><\/p>
- Moderate growing season (around 150 to 180 days)<\/li>
- Cold winters with potential for heavy snowfall<\/li> <\/ul>
Zone 7a (0 to 5 degrees Fahrenheit) <\/span><\/h3>
The coastal cities of Rhode Island, as well as central inland such as Providence, fall into zone 7a. This zone is a bit milder, with the lowest winter temperatures rarely falling below 0 degrees Fahrenheit.<\/p>
Plants that thrive here are those that can handle a bit more warmth but still stand up to harsh cold snaps.<\/p>
Key characteristics:<\/p>
- Moderate growing season (around 180 to 200 days)<\/li>
- Milder winters influenced by ocean temperatures<\/li> <\/ul>
Zone 7b (5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit)<\/span><\/h3>
This is the warmest planting zone in Rhode Island, and it only applies to a small area in Newport County along the coastline and across Block Island. This provides an opportunity for more heat-loving plants to grow here.<\/p>
Key characteristics:<\/p>
- Extended growing season (200 to 210 days)<\/li>
- Mild winters by New England standards<\/li> <\/ul>
Call a lawn care pro for help<\/span><\/h2>
Rhode Island’s weather can be quite unpredictable. You might plant your flower, thinking you’re in zone 7a, only to have a surprise frost remind you that the USDA’s zones are only general guidelines. To truly understand your garden’s specific microclimate, you might need a professional eye.<\/p>
Lawn Love can connect you with the best local gardening professionals<\/a> who can help your plants or lawns flourish regardless of the region’s fickle climate.<\/p>
Whether you are from Providence, Newport, or any other part of Rhode Island, reach out to a lawn care pro near you<\/a>. <\/p>
\t\t\t\t\t\tSources:<\/p> \t\t\t
<\/span><\/div> \t\t<\/div> \t\t\t- Rhode Island – State Climate Summaries 2022<\/a><\/li>
- Some Harvests Benefit as Plants React to Warming World<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<\/li> <\/ul> <\/div> \t\t<\/div> <\/div>
Main Image Credit: Harshil Shah<\/a> | Flickr | CC BY-ND 2.0<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The planting zones of Rhode Island range mainly from 6b in the northwestern regions to milder 7a and 7b along the coast.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":71,"featured_media":30993,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[187],"tags":[132,547],"class_list":["post-30985","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-rhode-island","tag-gardening","tag-lawn-care-ri"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/house-in-rhode-island-1.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Luminita Toma","author_link":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/author\/luminita-toma\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30985","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/71"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30985"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30985\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":40209,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30985\/revisions\/40209"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/30993"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30985"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30985"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30985"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
- Some Harvests Benefit as Plants React to Warming World<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<\/li> <\/ul> <\/div> \t\t<\/div> <\/div>
- Rhode Island – State Climate Summaries 2022<\/a><\/li>
- Tiverton (Coastal Areas<\/em>): Zone 7a <\/li> <\/ul> <\/li> <\/ul>
- Newport County (Zones 7a and 7b)<\/strong>
- Kingston<\/strong> (Southern Inland<\/em>): Zones 6b and 7a<\/li>
- East Greenwich (Narragansett Bay Area):<\/em> Zone 6b and 7a<\/li>
- Cumberland<\/strong> (Northern Inland<\/em>): Zone 6b<\/li>
- Woonsocket <\/strong>(Northern Inland)<\/em>: Zone 6b<\/li>
- Providence County (Zones 6b and 7a)<\/strong>
- Growing zones by city in Rhode Island<\/a><\/li>