USDA Zone 7A
Mild winters, occasional freezes. North Carolina Piedmont, Virginia, parts of Oklahoma, New Mexico. Long growing season with two planting windows.
Temperature Range
What Does Zone 7A Mean?
USDA Hardiness Zone 7A means your area's average annual extreme minimum winter temperature falls between 0°F to 5°F (-18°C to -15°C). This is the coldest temperature you can typically expect in a normal winter, based on 30 years of climate data.
Your zone primarily determines which perennial plants (trees, shrubs, perennial flowers, and fruit bushes) can survive outdoors year-round. It's also strongly correlated with your frost dates, which are the foundation for calculating when to plant annual vegetables and flowers. Learn more about what hardiness zones mean.
Enter your zip code on our homepage tool to see personalized planting dates for all 50 plants based on your specific location within Zone 7A.
States in Zone 7A
These states contain areas classified as Zone 7A:
Best Plants for Zone 7A
These plants are well-suited to Zone 7A conditions. Click any plant for detailed growing information and state-specific planting dates.
Tomatoes
America's favorite garden vegetable (technically a fruit). Nothing beats a...
Warm-Season VegetablePeppers
From sweet bells to fiery habaneros, peppers love heat and reward patience with...
Warm-Season VegetableOkra
A Southern garden staple that thrives in blazing heat. Beautiful flowers are a...
Warm-Season VegetableCucumbers
Cool, crisp, and perfect for salads and pickling. Cucumbers thrive in warm...
Warm-Season VegetableWatermelon
The ultimate summer treat. Watermelons need heat, space, and patience — but the...
HerbBasil
The king of herbs. Basil and tomatoes are best friends in the garden and in the...
Root VegetableSweet Potatoes
Not related to regular potatoes at all. Sweet potatoes need heat and a long...
Warm-Season VegetableBeans (Green/Snap)
Easy, productive, and they even improve your soil by fixing nitrogen. A perfect...
Annual FlowerSunflowers
Few things bring more joy than a row of sunflowers turning their faces to the...
FruitFigs
Ancient Mediterranean fruit tree that thrives in warm climates and can be...
Annual FlowerDahlias
Spectacular summer-to-fall bloomers producing dinner-plate-sized flowers in...
Perennial FlowerLavender
Fragrant, drought-tolerant, and beloved by pollinators. Once established,...
Frequently Asked Questions
Nearly. Your mild winters support cool-season crops (lettuce, kale, broccoli, spinach, carrots) through most cold months with minimal frost protection. A simple cold frame or row cover extends production through all but the coldest weeks. Spring and fall are your prime warm-season windows, and the long season (200-240 frost-free days) accommodates virtually every crop.
Okra, sweet potatoes, collard greens, and figs all perform well. Southern peas (black-eyed peas, crowder peas) thrive in your summer heat. Muscadine grapes are reliable. Peaches do well with proper variety selection. You're at the northern edge for figs growing outdoors year-round — Chicago Hardy is the go-to variety for winter survival in zone 7.