Rhode Island Planting Zones

Rhode Island primarily has a humid continental climate which means cold winters and warm, short summers. The south coast sees a more subtropical climate with cooler winters that experience snow and rain and hot summers. Because of its location, Rhode Island is uniquely exposed and vulnerable to hurricanes and tropical storms. The average temperature across the state is 50 degrees. Summer temperatures are warm in the high 80s and winter averages are cool in the low 30s. 

U.S. hardiness zones, also known as growing or planting zones, are based on first and last frost dates and weather patterns in a region. You can find your zone using Gilmour’s Interactive Planting Zone Map. Planting zones are used by gardeners to help determine what will grow and when to plant. Rhode Island planting zones fall between 5b and 7a, but only the furthest north western corner of the state is in that colder 5b zone. Once you know the Rhode Island growing zones, it becomes easier to decide on plants that will show optimal results. Typically, it is fine to plant anything rated for a defined zone or below. Choosing plants that are rated for higher zones is generally not a good idea, as they will most often not survive the winter conditions of a lower Rhode Island planting zone. 

Many vegetables, plants and flowers thrive in the Rhode Island area. Beans, beets, onions, peas, tomatoes and peppers will all do well in a Rhode Island vegetable garden. Daylily, red columbine, white wood aster, butterfly milkweed, wild yellow indigo and Carolina roses are all Rhode Island natives that flourish in the region.