USDA zone 8b in South Carolina
USDA plant hardiness zone 8b covers 42 locations across South Carolina (average annual extreme minimum 15 to 20 °F): Aiken, SC, Bishopville, SC, Brookdale, SC, Clemson, SC, Clio, SC, Columbia, SC, and 36 more. Average last spring frost across this group ranges March 6 (Hampton) to April 10 (Irmo), and growing seasons run 201–267 days (Irmo to Hampton) — even within one state, because hardiness sets winter survival, not planting dates. The table below gives every South Carolina location's own frost dates; the printable planting calendar uses Georgetown, this group's median-season location.
- USDA zone
- 8b15 to 20 °F
- Last frost range
- Mar 6–Apr 10avg, 32°F
- First frost range
- Oct 28–Nov 27avg, 32°F
- Growing season range
- 201–267days
Locations in this group
Every location below shares this zone and a nearby weather station, but keeps its own frost dates — find your town for its own numbers, or use the ZIP planner on the home page for an instant personalized answer.
| Location | Also covers | Nearest station | Last frost | First frost | Season (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aiken | New Ellenton, Gloverville, Windsor | Aiken 5se | Mar 21 | Nov 7 | 232 |
| Bishopville | — | Bishopville 1ene | Mar 29 | Nov 4 | 222 |
| Brookdale | Cameron, St. Matthews, Neeses | Orangeburg 2 | Mar 13 | Nov 15 | 249 |
| Clemson | Fair Play, Utica, Newry | Clemson Univ | Apr 1 | Nov 3 | 217 |
| Clio | — | Mccoll 3 Nnw | Mar 26 | Nov 8 | 228 |
| Columbia | Cayce, Hopkins, Gadsden, St. Andrews, Capitol View, Olympia | Columbia Univ Of Sc | Mar 16 | Nov 16 | 245 |
| Columbia | Dentsville, Eastover, Elgin | Sandhill Rsch - Elgin | Mar 22 | Nov 15 | 239 |
| Conway | Aynor, Daviston | Conway | Mar 15 | Nov 22 | 254 |
| Denmark | Bamberg, Branchville, Lodge, Ehrhardt, Smoaks, Norway, +2 more | Bamberg | Mar 18 | Nov 12 | 240 |
| Dovesville | Darlington, Lamar | Darlington | Mar 30 | Nov 6 | 221 |
| Elliott | — | Elliott 0.8 Nw | Mar 19 | Nov 15 | 241 |
| Fairfax | Allendale, Kline, Ulmer, Luray, Brunson, Gifford | Allendale 2 Nw | Mar 28 | Nov 7 | 224 |
| Florence | Coward, Timmonsville, Danwood, Pamplico, Quinby | Florence Rgnl Ap | Mar 19 | Nov 13 | 241 |
| Georgetown * | Lane, Andrews, Stuckey, Jamestown | Andrews | Mar 23 | Nov 13 | 237 |
| Gilbert | Swansea, Wagener, North, Salley | Pelion 0.8 Nw | Mar 28 | Nov 4 | 221 |
| Goose Creek | Summerville, Awendaw, Ladson | Charleston Intl Ap | Mar 7 | Nov 27 | 266 |
| Hampton | Estill | Hampton 1s | Mar 6 | Nov 26 | 267 |
| Hemingway | — | Hemingway 8 Ese | Mar 23 | Nov 15 | 240 |
| Irmo | — | Cedar Creek 2e | Apr 10 | Oct 28 | 201 |
| Johnsonville | Scranton | Lake City 2 Se | Mar 20 | Nov 13 | 240 |
| Lake | Lane, Kingstree, Turbeville, Olanta | Cades 4 W | Mar 27 | Nov 9 | 227 |
| Lake Murray of Richland | Chapin | Little Mtn | Mar 22 | Nov 11 | 234 |
| Lexington | West Columbia, Irmo, White Knoll, Gaston, Pine Ridge, South Congaree | Columbia | Mar 25 | Nov 7 | 229 |
| Little River | Shallotte, Sunset Beach, Tabor, Bolton, Carolina Shores, Brunswick | Longwood | Mar 26 | Nov 11 | 231 |
| Marion | Rains, Centenary, Sellers | Marion | Mar 22 | Nov 11 | 234 |
| McCormick | — | Mccormick | Mar 28 | Nov 7 | 226 |
| Moncks Corner | Russellville, Bonneau, St. Stephen, Pinopolis, Pimlico | Moncks Corner 4 N | Mar 10 | Nov 26 | 265 |
| Mount Carmel | — | Calhoun Falls | Mar 27 | Nov 7 | 226 |
| Mullins | Aynor, Nichols | Mullins | Mar 26 | Nov 11 | 233 |
| Myrtle Beach | Carolina Forest, Little River, Loris, Briarcliffe Acres | Myrtle Beach | Mar 21 | Nov 13 | 239 |
| North Hartsville | Lydia, Society Hill | Hartsville | Mar 30 | Nov 6 | 224 |
| North Myrtle Beach | — | N Myrtle Bch Ap | Mar 13 | Nov 20 | 255 |
| North Santee | Alcolu, Manning, Turbeville, Greeleyville, Pinewood | Manning | Mar 25 | Nov 11 | 232 |
| Sandy Springs | — | Anderson Co Ap | Mar 29 | Nov 8 | 227 |
| Socastee | Murrells Inlet, Surfside Beach | Brookgreen Gardens | Mar 18 | Nov 18 | 247 |
| St. George | Holly Hill, Harleyville, Eutawville, Vance | Holly Hill 1 Sw | Mar 22 | Nov 12 | 237 |
| Summerville | Sangaree, Ridgeville, Harleyville | Summerville 4w | Mar 22 | Nov 12 | 238 |
| Walterboro | Cottageville, Williams | Walterboro 1 Sw | Mar 19 | Nov 12 | 239 |
| Wedgefield | Privateer, Lakewood, Dalzell, Stateburg, Rembert, Mulberry, +3 more | Sumter | Mar 24 | Nov 7 | 230 |
| Wilkinson Heights | Santee, Reevesville, Bowman, Elloree, Rowesville, Cordova | Orangeburg Muni Ap | Mar 15 | Nov 19 | 249 |
| Williston | Blackville, Barnwell, Springfield, Elko | Blackville 3 W | Mar 20 | Nov 13 | 238 |
| Yemassee | Varnville, Scotia, Furman, Islandton, Gillisonville, Coosawhatchie | Yemassee 1 N | Mar 23 | Nov 6 | 233 |
* Georgetown is this group's median-season location — the calendar below is computed from its data.
Data: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (public domain) and USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023. Planting windows synthesized from U.S. Cooperative Extension guides.
Planting calendar (Georgetown, representative)
Computed from Georgetown's average frost dates — the median-season location in this South Carolinazone 8b group. hatched = start seeds indoors, solid green = plant out, teal = a fall sowing, and the terracotta dot marks the estimated first harvest. Ranges are extension-guide planning guidance, not guarantees — your own location's dates may run a week or two earlier or later (see the table above).
- Start indoors
- Plant out
- Fall sowing
- First harvest
| Crop | Frost tolerance | Start indoors | Plant out | First harvest | Fall planting | Season fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Tender | Jan 26 – Feb 9 | Mar 30 – Apr 6 | May 29 – Jun 18 | — | matures comfortably |
| Pepper | Very tender | Jan 12 – Jan 26 | Apr 6 – Apr 13 | Jun 5 – Jul 5 | — | matures comfortably |
| Cucumber | Tender | Feb 23 – Mar 2 | Mar 30 – Apr 6 | May 19 – Jun 8 | — | matures comfortably |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Tender | — | Mar 30 – Apr 6 | May 14 – May 29 | — | matures comfortably |
| Bush bean | Tender | — | Mar 30 – Apr 6 | May 19 – May 29 | Sep 14 – Sep 24 | matures comfortably |
| Sweet corn | Tender | — | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | May 22 – Jun 21 | — | matures comfortably |
| Basil | Very tender | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | Mar 30 – Apr 6 | Apr 29 – May 14 | — | matures comfortably |
| Lettuce | Half-hardy | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | Feb 23 – Mar 9 | Apr 9 – Apr 24 | Aug 31 – Sep 15 | matures comfortably |
| Pea | Hardy | — | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | Apr 5 – Apr 20 | Aug 21 – Sep 5 | matures comfortably |
| Spinach | Hardy | — | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | Mar 21 – Mar 31 | Sep 10 – Sep 20 | matures comfortably |
| Carrot | Half-hardy | — | Mar 2 – Mar 9 | May 1 – May 21 | Aug 11 – Aug 31 | matures comfortably |
| Broccoli | Half-hardy | Jan 26 – Feb 9 | Feb 23 – Mar 9 | Apr 19 – May 9 | Aug 16 – Sep 5 | matures comfortably |
Which crops fit this growing season
Using Georgetown's own 237-day growing season (32°F, NOAA 1991–2020 median) against each crop's real days-to-maturity range: 12 of 12 crops mature here with comfortable margin. A different location in the table above with a longer or shorter season will get a different mix — the ZIP planner on the home page gives your own.
Frost & freeze dates (Georgetown)
From NOAA's 1991–2020 Climate Normals at station USC00380184. The median (p50) is the average date; the 90%-safe column is the date the freeze has passed in about 9 years out of 10 — the conservative date to plant after or harvest before.
| Threshold | Last spring — avg | Last spring — 90%-safe | First fall — avg | First fall — 90%-safe | Season (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 3 | Apr 19 | Nov 3 | Nov 17 | 212 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 23 | Apr 7 | Nov 13 | Dec 1 | 237 |
| 28°F | Mar 8 | Mar 27 | Nov 25 | Dec 20 | 262 |
| 24°F | Feb 18 | Mar 17 | Dec 12 | Jan 14 | 297 |
Growing degree days
Growing degree days (GDD) accumulate warmth above a base temperature over the year — a better predictor of crop development than the calendar alone. This group's median GDD (base 50°F) across all 42 locations is 5,579; Georgetown's own reading is shown below.
| Model | °F·days | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Base 50°F (warm-season) | 5,518 | standard warm-season base (tomato, corn, beans) |
| Base 40°F (cool-season) | 8,692 | cool-season crops (brassicas, greens) |
Hardiness zone 8b in South Carolina
Zone 8b means an average annual extreme minimum winter temperature of about 15 to 20 °F on the USDA's 2023 map — the number that tells you which perennials, shrubs, and trees reliably survive an average winter here. It does not set your planting dates, which come from the frost calendar above. South Carolina spans 5 hardiness zones in this dataset — see all South Carolina locations for the full range, including zones7b, 8a, 9a, 9b.
Explore zone 8b in other states at zone 8b, or see all USDA hardiness zones.
Frequently asked questions
- What does USDA hardiness zone 8b mean in South Carolina?
- Zone 8b means an average annual extreme minimum winter temperature of 15 to 20 °F — the standard USDA measure of which perennials survive winter. 42 locations in South Carolina fall in this zone. It does not set planting dates; see the frost calendar below for that.
- Where in South Carolina's zone 8b is the growing season longest?
- Hampton runs the longest season on this page at about 267 days; Irmo is shortest at about 201 days — they share the same hardiness zone, but they sit at different weather stations, so their frost calendars differ.
- When should I plant tomatoes in South Carolina's zone 8b?
- Using Georgetown's frost dates (this page's median-season location): start seeds indoors about Jan 26 – Feb 9, then transplant outside about Mar 30 – Apr 6. Your own location in the table above may differ by a week or two — use the ZIP planner on the home page for your exact station's dates.
- Does every location in South Carolina's zone 8b have the same frost dates?
- No — they do not all share a weather station, so frost dates vary by a week or more across the 42 locations listed (see the table above for each location's own dates).
Sources & method
Frost, freeze, growing-season, and growing-degree-day figures are NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, one reading per location's own nearest station (see the table above). The hardiness zone is the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023, matched to each location's ZIP. Planting windows are computed by counting from the average last and first frost using per-crop offsets synthesized from U.S. Cooperative Extension guides — the full method and citations are on the methodology page.