Which Herbs Survive Winter by Zone
USDA zone hardiness for rosemary, sage, thyme, oregano, chives, mint, and other ThriveThyme catalog herbs, with Extension sources and indoor backups.
Published by ThriveThyme
herbs winter hardiness rosemary basil
Some outbound seed-house links may be affiliate links.
Which Herbs Survive Winter by Zone
Some culinary herbs are true outdoor perennials. Others are tender and need a pot by the window. Use your USDA zone from My Garden, then read the notes below. Drainage, wind, snow cover, and cultivar still decide what lives in your yard.
For plant-by-plant timing see the herbs catalog. For frost countdown use first frost date and Garden to Bed.
Hardiness Snapshot by Herb
Ranges are typical outdoor overwinter expectations from university Extension. They are not a guarantee for every microclimate.
- Rosemary: Reliably hardy outdoors about zones 8 to 10. Hardy cultivars such as Arp, Hill Hardy, and Salem are often rated to zone 7. Zone 6 is marginal even with Arp. Colder zones: grow in a pot and bring indoors. Wet winter soil kills rosemary as often as cold.
- Sage: Usually hardy about zones 5 to 9. Light mulch and wind protection help after the first hard freeze.
- Thyme: Usually hardy about zones 5 to 9. Cultivar matters. Keep soil well drained.
- Oregano: Usually hardy about zones 5 to 9. Hardiness varies by species.
- Chives: Among the hardiest kitchen herbs, often zones 3 to 9 with light mulch.
- Mint: Usually hardy about zones 3 to 8. Contain it if you do not want a spreading patch.
- Tarragon (French): Usually hardy about zones 4 to 7 with wind protection and sharp drainage.
- Lemon balm: Usually hardy about zones 4 to 9 with light mulch.
- Marjoram: Tender perennial. Treat as an annual north of about zone 9, or pot it up before hard frost.
- Parsley: Biennial. Often overwinters in zones 6 to 9, then bolts in spring. Colder zones: annual or indoor pot.
- Basil (including Thai and purple types): Tender annual. Frost kills it. Bring plants in before nights stay near 50F.
- Cilantro, dill, and chervil: Cool-season annuals. They are not winter perennials. Finish harvest or pot briefly for a short indoor run.
Open each crop page for a zone-aware "Will it survive winter in zone N?" line once your zone is set: rosemary, sage, thyme, oregano, chives, mint, basil, parsley.
What To Do Before Frost
1. Leave hardy perennials in place. After the ground freezes, add a light mulch where Extension recommends it. 2. Pot rosemary in cold zones, marjoram, and any borderline woody herb you refuse to lose. See how to bring rosemary indoors for winter. 3. Move basil and other tender annuals before nights linger near 50F. See when to bring basil and tender herbs indoors. 4. Start a small windowsill tray from herb seeds if outdoor plants are spent.
Next Steps
Run the Garden to Bed herbs checklist, confirm frost timing on first frost date, and browse all herb planting pages.