What hardiness zone is Newfoundland?

The island of Newfoundland is roughly Zone 4b to Zone 6, and the ocean is the whole story. The North Atlantic keeps the island's winters relatively mild for the latitude, so the coasts — especially the Avalon Peninsula around St. John's — sit around Zone 5b to 6. The west coast around Corner Brook is Zone 4b, and the more continental central interior (Gander, Grand Falls) is cooler, around Zone 4 to 5. The catch is summer: Newfoundland's summers are famously cool, short, and foggy, so the growing-season heat — not the winter zone — is usually the real limit on what you can grow. Zones are assigned by Natural Resources Canada from winter minimum plus summer heat, rainfall, snow cover, wind, and frost-free days, so a Canadian zone is not identical to the U.S. (USDA) zone of the same number. Labrador is a different, far colder story (see below). Check your exact location at planthardiness.gc.ca.

What is Newfoundland's growing zone?

On the island, most gardeners are in Zone 5 — Zone 5b on the ocean-moderated Avalon around St. John's and the southeast coast, Zone 4b on the west coast (Corner Brook), and around Zone 4 to 5 through the cooler central interior. Because the sea moderates the coasts, the winter zone is milder than the latitude suggests, but the cool, short, foggy summers mean season length and heat are the practical limit. Confirm your own community on the NRCan map. Labrador, on the mainland, is much colder — Zone 0 to 3 — and should not be judged by the island's numbers.

What planting zone is St. John's?

St. John's is Zone 5b. On the Avalon Peninsula, surrounded by the Atlantic, it has mild winters for its latitude but very cool, foggy, windy summers and a late spring. Expect an average last spring frost around the start of June and a first fall frost in mid-October. Choose perennials, shrubs, and trees rated Zone 5 or hardier, shelter plants from the relentless wind and salt, and lean on cool-season crops — brassicas, roots, potatoes, salad greens — that don't need much summer heat, giving heat-lovers like tomatoes a sheltered, protected spot or a greenhouse.

What is the warmest hardiness zone in Newfoundland?

The warmest parts of the island are around Zone 6, in the most ocean-sheltered pockets of the Avalon and the south coast, where the surrounding Atlantic holds winter temperatures up. St. John's and the southeast coast are Zone 5b. There is no Zone 7 on the island, and the mild winter zone is deceptive: the cool, short summers mean even a 'warm' Newfoundland zone grows more like a cooler one in practice for heat-loving crops. Season extension — cold frames, tunnels, greenhouses — does more for a Newfoundland garden than chasing a warmer winter zone.

What hardiness zone is Labrador?

Labrador is far colder than the island of Newfoundland — generally Zone 0 to 3, and it must be treated as its own region. Coastal Labrador (Happy Valley-Goose Bay, and the coast) is roughly Zone 2 to 3, while the interior and the north drop to Zone 1 and Zone 0. This is a subarctic, continental climate with long, hard winters and short seasons, nothing like the ocean-moderated island. Labrador gardeners rely on the hardiest short-season varieties, heavy season-extension, and Zone 1–2 perennials, and make the most of long midsummer daylight. Because these communities aren't in our island dataset, look up your exact location on the Natural Resources Canada map at planthardiness.gc.ca.

How do I find my exact hardiness zone in Newfoundland & Labrador?

Three ways, most precise first: (1) Use the official Natural Resources Canada Plant Hardiness Zone Map at planthardiness.gc.ca — enter your address or postal code, essential here given the huge gap between the mild island coast and cold Labrador. (2) Use our interactive Zone Finder (growersguide.ca/zone-finder) — click Newfoundland & Labrador for the island's zones and frost dates. (3) Match to the nearest city in the table on this page for the island. On the island, distance from the ocean and wind exposure are the key variables; in Labrador, expect a much colder zone than any island reading. When a plant tag says 'hardy to Zone 5,' choosing one rated Zone 4 is the safe hedge on exposed coasts.

Are Canadian hardiness zones the same as USDA zones?

No. The USDA system is based on winter minimum temperature alone. Natural Resources Canada's system factors in seven variables — winter minimum, summer maximum, frost-free period, rainfall, snow cover, and wind — so a Canadian 'Zone 5' is defined differently from a USDA 'Zone 5,' even though the numbers look the same. This is especially relevant in Newfoundland, where a mild ocean winter could suggest a warm zone but the cool summers pull it back. NRCan does also publish a separate USDA-method map for cross-border comparison. Practical rule: use the Canadian (NRCan) zone from planthardiness.gc.ca for Canadian-sourced plants, and treat a U.S. plant tag's zone as a rough guide only — when in doubt, pick the hardier (lower-numbered) option.

What can I grow in Newfoundland?

Newfoundland's cool, moist, ocean-moderated climate favours cool-season crops. Root vegetables (potatoes, turnips, carrots, beets — the classic 'root cellar' crops), brassicas (cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts), leeks, and hardy greens thrive in the cool summers. Rhubarb is practically a provincial emblem, and berries — especially the native partridgeberry, bakeapple (cloudberry), and blueberry — are woven into local food culture. Hardy Zone 5 (or Zone 4 on the west coast) perennials, shrubs, and roses do well with shelter from wind and salt. Heat-loving crops (tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers) need a sheltered spot, a tunnel, or a greenhouse. In Labrador, stick to the hardiest short-season varieties with season extension. Use your frost dates for timing.

NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR PLANT HARDINESS ZONES

Newfoundland & Labrador Hardiness Zones — Zone by City & Region

The island of Newfoundland is ocean-moderated to Zone 4b–6, warmest on the Avalon around St. John's; Labrador is far colder at Zone 0–3. Find your city's plant zone, frost dates, and growing-season length.

Updated July 2026 · Natural Resources Canada Plant Hardiness Zone Map + Environment and Climate Change Canada normals (1991–2020)

Newfoundland & Labrador hardiness zones: the island is ocean-moderated to Zone 4b–6 — St. John's is Zone 5b on the Avalon, the west coast (Corner Brook) is Zone 4b, and the central interior is Zone 4–5. Mild winters for the latitude, but very cool, short, foggy summers are the real limit. Labrador is far colder — Zone 0 to 3. Zones come from Natural Resources Canada and are not identical to U.S. (USDA) zones. Find your exact zone at planthardiness.gc.ca or with our Zone Finder.

🍁 Newfoundland & Labrador Zones at a Glance

Warmest (island)

St. John's

Zone 5b

West coast (island)

Corner Brook

Zone 4b

Labrador

Zone 0–3

subarctic, far colder

Newfoundland Hardiness Zone by City

Island cities below are drawn from our frost-date dataset (Environment and Climate Change Canada normals + Natural Resources Canada zones), sorted from the warmest zone to the coolest. Labrador is far colder and not represented here — check the NRCan map for Labrador communities. Tap a city with a link for its full month-by-month planting guide.

City	Zone	Last Frost	First Frost	Season
St. John's ›	5b	Jun 1	Oct 12	133 days
Corner Brook	4b	Jun 5	Oct 5	122 days

Frost dates are historical averages; actual dates vary year to year, so add 1–2 weeks of buffer before transplanting frost-sensitive crops. On the island, wind and fog exposure matter as much as the zone number.

What Zone Is My Newfoundland & Labrador Town?

The places gardeners look up most, with the plant hardiness zone for each. Dataset cities carry their exact Natural Resources Canada zone; for other regions — and all of Labrador — we give the zone band and point you to the NRCan map. For a pinpoint answer, check your address at planthardiness.gc.ca or our Zone Finder.

What zone is St. John's?

Zone 5b

The Avalon Peninsula — mild ocean winters, but very cool, foggy, windy summers and a late spring. Cool-season crops shine.

Find St. John's on the Zone Finder ›

What zone is Corner Brook & the west?

Zone 4b

The west coast and Humber Valley — a touch more continental than the Avalon, with colder winters; choose Zone 4-hardy plants.

Find Corner Brook on the Zone Finder ›

What zone is Central (Gander, Grand Falls)?

Zone 4–5

The central interior — more continental and cooler than the coasts. Confirm your exact spot on the NRCan map.

Find your central town on the Zone Finder ›

What zone is Labrador?

Zone 0–3

A far colder, subarctic region: coastal Labrador Zone 2–3, the interior and north Zone 0–1. The hardiest varieties + season extension only.

Check Labrador on the NRCan map ›

Newfoundland & Labrador Zones, Warmest to Coldest

Zone 6 — sheltered Avalon & south coast. The most ocean-sheltered island pockets, where the Atlantic holds winters up. Mild winters — but the cool summers make it grow more like a cooler zone.

Zone 5b — St. John's & the southeast coast. The Avalon and southeast, ocean-moderated. Late springs, cool foggy summers, and constant wind — a cool-season gardener's climate.

Zone 4b–5 — the west coast & central interior. Corner Brook and the Humber Valley (4b), and central Newfoundland (Gander, Grand Falls) — more continental, colder winters, still short cool summers.

Zone 0–3 — Labrador. A separate, subarctic region: coastal Labrador Zone 2–3, the interior and north Zone 0–1. Long hard winters, short seasons — the hardiest varieties and heavy season extension. Confirm exact zones on the NRCan map.

Why These Zones Aren't the Same as U.S. Zones

If you're buying plants or reading growing advice from American sources, don't take a USDA zone at face value. The U.S. system is based on winter minimum temperature alone. Natural Resources Canada's system factors in seven variables — winter minimum, summer maximum, frost-free period, rainfall, snow cover, and wind — so a Canadian "Zone 5" is defined differently from a USDA "Zone 5." This matters a lot in Newfoundland, where a mild ocean winter would suggest a warm zone but the cool summers pull the practical growing conditions back toward a cooler one.

Practical rule: use the Canadian (NRCan) zone from planthardiness.gc.ca for Canadian-sourced plants, and treat a U.S. plant tag's zone as a rough guide only. On exposed coasts and in Labrador, pick the hardier (lower-numbered) option, and invest in season extension for heat.

Source & how to cite: Zone assignments follow the Natural Resources Canada Plant Hardiness Zone Map (planthardiness.gc.ca); frost dates are Environment and Climate Change Canada climate normals (1991–2020). Enter your address on the NRCan map for a location-specific zone — essential in Labrador, which our island dataset does not cover.

Newfoundland City Planting Guides

Your zone tells you what survives the winter; these guides tell you exactly what to sow and transplant, week by week.

St. John's Planting Guide ›
Zone 5b · last frost Jun 1

🍁 Hardiness Zones Across Canada

Ontario →Zones 3b–7a — Windsor to Thunder Bay Quebec →Zones 4b–5b — St. Lawrence valley British Columbia →Zones 4a–9a — Canada’s widest range Alberta →Zones 3b–4b — chinook + elevation Saskatchewan →Zones 2b–3b — Prairie continental Manitoba →Zones 1b–3b — Red River valley Nova Scotia →Zones 5b–6b — ocean-moderated Maritime New Brunswick →Zones 4–6a — Fundy coast to the north Prince Edward Island →Zones 5b–6a — ocean-moderated island 📍 Find Your Exact Zone →Interactive map + zones-by-city lookup for any Canadian town

Find your exact zone & what to plant now

Click your province on the interactive map, or jump straight to your city's frost-based planting timeline.

🗺️ Interactive Zone Finder 🌱 What to Plant Now ❄️ Frost Date Calculator

Newfoundland & Labrador Hardiness Zones — Zone by City & Region

🍁 Newfoundland & Labrador Zones at a Glance

Newfoundland Hardiness Zone by City

What Zone Is My Newfoundland & Labrador Town?

What zone is St. John's?

What zone is Corner Brook & the west?

What zone is Central (Gander, Grand Falls)?

What zone is Labrador?

Newfoundland & Labrador Zones, Warmest to Coldest

Why These Zones Aren't the Same as U.S. Zones

Newfoundland City Planting Guides

🍁 Hardiness Zones Across Canada

Find your exact zone & what to plant now

Get New Guides Before Anyone Else

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