— Plate —NC · USDA hardiness

Latest North Carolina growing zone map

If you are looking for plants suitable for growing in zip code 27960, head on over to our page on plants that grow well in Ocracoke, North Carolina.

You can also browse our list of recommended plants for zip code 27960 to find specific varieties suited to this hardiness zone.

— Plate —NC · USDA hardiness

Latest North Carolina growing zone map

The growing zone is a measure of the lowest temperature that a plant can survive based on average lowest year temperatures, helping you to decide what plants would grow best in your particular climate. Since zip code 27960 is in growing zone 9a this means that plants there can survive temperatures as low as 20 to 25 degrees Fahrenheit.

— Plate I —USDA Hardiness Zones · 2023

After the United States Department of Agriculture, revised November 2023

Some zones may have been changed by the USDA as of 2023. To see if zip code 27960 has been affected, refer to this map of half zone changes from the 2012 version of the USDA zones to the 2023 version.

— Plate II —Half-zone changes · 2012 → 2023

Half-zone changes between the 2012 and 2023 USDA hardiness maps.

The updated map shows that over half of the Southeast has warmed by about half a zone. For gardeners, that means you can now grow plants that tolerate a bit more heat and less frost than before. The tan areas reflect this shift. Meanwhile, the white areas had slight temperature changes, but not enough to move them into a new zone. In the Western U.S., a few spots shifted cooler. That's not due to a colder climate, but because the new map uses a larger dataset, giving a more accurate picture of local conditions. It's important to keep track of these changes when planning your garden!

Have questions about hardiness zones and what they mean for your garden? Check out our FAQ below for quick answers to common questions about USDA hardiness zones and how they affect plant selection for zip code 27960.

Looking for the best plants in a different area of the United States? Click on a state below to find plants that are ideal for that state's temperatures.