What Growing Zone Is Missoula?

Our records indicate the United States Department of Agriculture has given Missoula a growing zone designation of 5b. Sometimes also called the planting or hardiness zone, this zone number gives you an idea of what plants can and cannot grow in Missoula's climate based on the average extreme annual temperature. .Our data is based on the latest 2023 USDA maps, which used Missoula's weather data from 1991 - 2020 in their analysis.

If you are looking for plants suitable for growing in the Missoula area, head on over to our page on plants that grow well in Missoula, MT.

Seed Starting Trays

Perfect for starting seeds indoors before transplanting to your garden.

Cluck Around Sign

Whimsical sign for your chicken coop area.

Large Greenhouse Kit

Spacious greenhouse for extending your growing season.

Metal Seed Storage Box

Organized storage solution for your seed collection.

Wooden Chicken Coop

Spacious and secure home for your backyard chickens.

Latest MT 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 Missoula is in growing zone 5b this means that plants there can survive temperatures as low as -15 to -10 degrees Fahrenheit. Plants for Missoula's climate should be chosen with this in mind, or plants should be moved inside to keep their core temperature in the right range if necessary.

USDA growing zone map of the United States

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

map of usda hardiness zone changes from 2012 to 2023

Half zone changes from 2012 to 2023

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!

View this profile on Instagram
The Plant Guide Online (@plantguideonline) • Instagram photos and videos

Missoula's Growing Zone Details

USDA Growing Zone: 5b

Zip Codes: 59812, 59808, 59803, 59802, 59801

Longitude: -114.0214

Latitude: 46.8751

Lowest Avg Temperatures (F): -15 to -10

Steel Hori Hori Weeding Knife

Versatile Japanese-style gardening knife for weeding and planting.

Large Greenhouse Kit

Spacious greenhouse for extending your growing season.

Fiskars Garden Harvest Basket

Sturdy basket for collecting and carrying your garden harvest.

Small Greenhouse Kit

Compact greenhouse perfect for small spaces.

Worm Composting Kit

Complete kit for starting your own worm composting system.

Map of the Missoula Area

All Towns In MT

Absarokee Acton Alberton Alder Alzada Amsterdam Anaconda Antelope Argenta Arlee Ashland Augusta Avon Ayers Ranch Colony Azure Babb Bainville Baker Ballantine Basin Batavia Bear Dance Bearcreek Beaver Creek Belfry Belgrade Belknap Belt Biddle Big Arm Big Sandy Big Sky Big Sky Colony Big Stone Colony Big Timber Bigfork Billings Birch Creek Colony Birney Black Eagle Blackfoot Bloomfield Boneau Bonner-West Riverside Boulder Box Elder Boyd Bozeman Brady Brandon Bridger Broadus Broadview Brockton Brockway Brooks Browning Bull Lake Busby Butte Bynum Camas Camp Three Camrose Colony Canyon Creek Cardwell Carlton Carter Cascade Cascade Colony Centerville Charlo Charlos Heights Chester Chinook Choteau Churchill Circle Clancy Clinton Clyde Park Coffee Creek Colstrip Columbia Falls Columbus Condon Conner Conrad Cooke City Coram Corvallis Corwin Springs Craig Crane Crow Agency Culbertson Custer Cut Bank Cyr Danvers Darby Dayton De Borgia Deer Lodge Deerfield Colony Dell Denton Dewey Dillon Dixon Dodson Drummond Duncan Ranch Colony Dupuyer Dutton Eagle Creek Colony East End Colony East Glacier Park Village East Helena East Malta Colony East Missoula Edgar Ekalaka Elkhorn Elliston Elmo Emigrant Ennis Essex Eureka Evaro Evergreen Fair Haven Colony Fairfield Fairview Fallon Finley Point Fishtail Flat Willow Colony Flaxville Florence Floweree Fords Creek Colony Forest Hill Village Forsyth Fort Belknap Agency Fort Benton Fort Peck Fort Shaw Fort Smith Fortine Forty Mile Colony Four Corners Fox Fox Lake Frazer Frenchtown Froid Fromberg Gallatin Gateway Gallatin River Ranch Gardiner Garrison Geraldine Geyser Gibson Flats Gildford Gildford Colony Gilman Glacier Colony Glasgow Glen Glendale Colony Glendive Goldcreek Golden Valley Colony Grant Grass Range Great Falls Greycliff Hall Hamilton Happys Inn Hardin Hardy Harlem Harlowton Harrison Hartland Colony Haugan Havre Havre North Hays Heart Butte Hebgen Lake Estates Helena Helena Flats Helena Valley Northeast Helena Valley Northwest Helena Valley Southeast Helena Valley West Central Helena West Side Helmville Heron Herron Hidden Lake Colony Highwood Hilger Hilldale Colony Hillside Colony Hingham Hinsdale Hobson Hogeland Homestead Horizon Colony Hot Springs Hungry Horse Huntley Huson Hysham Indian Springs Inverness Ismay Jackson Jardine Jeffers Jefferson City Jette Joliet Joplin Jordan Judith Gap Kalispell Kerr Kevin Kicking Horse Kila Kilby Butte Colony King Arthur Park King Ranch Colony Kings Point Kingsbury Colony Klein Kremlin Lake Mary Ronan Lakeside Lakeview Lame Deer Landusky Laredo Laurel Lavina Lewistown Lewistown Heights Libby Lima Lincoln Lindisfarne Lindsay Little Bitterroot Lake Little Browning Livingston Lockwood Lodge Grass Lodge Pole Logan Lolo Loma Lonepine Loring Colony Luther Malmstrom AFB Malta Mammoth Manhattan Marion Martin City Martinsdale Marysville Maverick Mountain Maxville McAllister Medicine Lake Melstone Midway Colony Miles City Milford Colony Miller Colony Missoula Moccasin Monarch Montana City Montaqua Moore Mountain View Colony Muddy Musselshell Nashua Neihart New Miami Colony New Rockport Colony Niarada Nibbe Norris North Browning North Harlem Colony Noxon Nye Old Agency Olney Opheim Orchard Homes Outlook Ovando Pablo Paradise Park City Parker School Peerless Pendroy Philipsburg Piltzville Pine Creek Pinesdale Pinnacle Pioneer Junction Plains Pleasant Valley Colony Plentywood Plevna Polebridge Polson Pompeys Pillar Pondera Colony Ponderosa Pines Pony Poplar Potomac Power Prairie Elk Colony Pray Pryor Racetrack Rader Creek Radersburg Rapelje Ravalli Raynesford Red Lodge Redstone Reed Point Reserve Rexford Rhodes Riceville Richey Rimini Rimrock Colony Riverbend Riverview Colony Roberts Rockport Colony Rockvale Rocky Boy West Rocky Boy's Agency Rocky Point Rollins Ronan Roscoe Rosebud Roundup Roy Rudyard Ryegate Saco Saddle Butte Sage Creek Colony Saint Mary Saltese Sand Coulee Sangrey Santa Rita Sapphire Ridge Savage Scobey Sedan Seeley Lake Seville Colony Shawmut Shelby Shepherd Sheridan Sidney Silesia Silver Gate Silver Star Simms Sleeping Buffalo Snowslip Somers South Browning South Glastonbury South Hills Spokane Creek Spring Creek Colony Springdale Springdale Colony Springhill Springwater Colony Square Butte St. Ignatius St. Marie St. Pierre St. Regis St. Xavier Stanford Starr School Stevensville Stockett Stryker Sula Sun Prairie Sun River Sunburst Sunnybrook Colony Superior Surprise Creek Colony Swan Lake Sweet Grass Sylvanite Terry The Silos Thompson Falls Three Forks Toston Townsend Tracy Trego Trout Creek Troy Turah Turner Turner Colony Turtle Lake Twin Bridges Twin Creeks Twin Hills Colony Twodot Ulm Unionville Utica Valier Vaughn Victor Vida Virginia City Walkerville Warm Spring Creek Weeksville West Glacier West Glendive West Havre West Kootenai West Yellowstone Westby Wheatland White Haven White Sulphur Springs Whitefish Whitehall Whitetail Whitewater Whitlash Wibaux Willow Creek Wilsall Windham Wineglass Winifred Winnett Winston Wisdom Wise River Wolf Creek Wolf Point Woods Bay Worden Wye Wyola Yaak York Zenith Colony Zortman Zurich

Deluxe Plastic Watering Can

High-capacity watering can with comfortable grip and precise spout.

Raised Garden Planter

Elevated planter for easy access and better drainage.

Steel Hori Hori Weeding Knife

Versatile Japanese-style gardening knife for weeding and planting.

Rustic Iron Garden Trellis

Sturdy trellis for supporting climbing plants and vines.

Worm Composting Kit

Complete kit for starting your own worm composting system.

Plants For Other States:

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