What temperature range is USDA zone 8a?

Zone 8a covers areas whose average annual extreme minimum winter temperature is 10 to 15 °F. Each numbered zone is a 10°F band; the "a" and "b" half-zones split it into 5°F steps.

Does zone 8a tell me when to plant?

No — the hardiness zone tells you which perennials survive winter, not when to sow annual vegetables. Planting dates depend on your local last and first frost, which can vary within a single zone. Open one of the sample locations in zone 8a to see its frost calendar and per-crop planting windows.

What can I grow in zone 8a?

Almost any common vegetable can be grown in zone 8a; what changes with zone and local climate is the timing and the length of the season. Cold-hardy crops (peas, spinach, lettuce) go out earliest, tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the last frost. Use each location's calendar for exact dates.

USDA hardiness zone 8a — frost dates & what to plant

USDA hardiness zone 8a

Average annual extreme minimum temperature: 10 to 15 °F

USDA plant hardiness zone 8a covers areas whose average annual extreme minimum winter temperature is 10 to 15 °F — the standard USDA measure of which perennials survive an average winter. Hardiness zone sets winter survival, but planting DATES depend on your local frost calendar, which varies within a zone. 619 locations on this site fall in zone 8a (Abbeville, SC, Abilene, TX, Acme, WA, Acorn, AR, Addison, AL, Ahoskie, NC, Alamo, NV, Albany, TX, and 611 more); open one to see its frost dates, growing-season length, and a printable per-crop planting calendar.

Locations in zone 8a — 60 of 619

Same zone, different frost calendars — open one for its full planner. A spread across the zone is shown; browse a state for its full list.
Location	Last frost	First frost	Season (days)
Abbeville, SC	Mar 27	Nov 7	226
Albuquerque, NM	Apr 6	Nov 3	208
Anniston, AL	Mar 23	Nov 9	231
Athens-Clarke County, GA	Mar 23	Nov 10	232
Balmorhea, TX	Mar 29	Nov 9	228
Bessemer, AL	Mar 23	Nov 10	231
Booneville, AR	Apr 4	Nov 1	210
Brownsville, TN	Mar 29	Nov 5	221
Calhoun, GA	Mar 29	Nov 3	219
Carthage, AR	Apr 2	Nov 2	215
Charlotte, NC	Mar 31	Nov 5	220
Chesapeake, VA	Mar 17	Nov 23	252
Clarksville, AR	Mar 24	Nov 10	233
Comer, GA	Mar 29	Nov 7	224
Dahlonega, GA	Apr 11	Oct 28	197
Dell, TX	Apr 17	Oct 25	189
Duncan, OK	Mar 25	Nov 7	225
Edgewater, MD	Mar 27	Nov 13	234
Estacada, OR	Mar 27	Nov 14	230
Fluvanna, TX	Mar 29	Nov 10	225
Gaffney, SC	Apr 20	Oct 24	186
Gaston, NC	Mar 31	Nov 6	221
Goldsboro, NC	Mar 28	Nov 12	231
Greenview, CA	May 20	Oct 5	135
Guy, AR	Apr 9	Oct 25	198
Harpersville, AL	Mar 31	Nov 2	216
Hermleigh, TX	Mar 27	Nov 10	227
Holloman AFB, NM	Apr 22	Oct 22	183
Huntsville, AL	Mar 24	Nov 8	229
Ingram, TX	Apr 3	Nov 1	211
Joanna, SC	Mar 31	Nov 7	223
Kosciusko, MS	Mar 18	Nov 11	239
Lake Lure, NC	Apr 5	Oct 30	207
Laurinburg, NC	Mar 21	Nov 14	239
Little Rock, AR	Mar 16	Nov 16	245
Lytle Creek, CA	May 16	Oct 13	151
Marianna, AR	Mar 18	Nov 11	238
McDonough, GA	Mar 31	Nov 6	220
Midway, AR	Mar 24	Nov 9	230
Monument, NM	Mar 28	Nov 13	230
Mount Olive, NC	Mar 28	Nov 7	226
Newport, AR	Mar 18	Nov 11	240
Onalaska, WA	Apr 5	Oct 25	196
Pageland, SC	Mar 27	Nov 8	228
Pine Valley, CA	Apr 19	Oct 27	190
Prospect, OR	May 19	Oct 3	136
Red Springs, NC	Mar 25	Nov 8	228
Roanoke, AL	Apr 2	Nov 3	216
Rolesville, NC	Apr 11	Oct 29	201
Salem, SC	Apr 15	Oct 26	193
Shady Side, MD	Apr 9	Oct 29	203
Smithfield, NC	Mar 29	Nov 5	220
Spindale, NC	Apr 11	Oct 27	198
Stevensville, MD	Mar 29	Nov 12	228
Talent, OR	May 6	Oct 8	154
Trail, OR	Apr 29	Oct 17	171
Valentine, TX	Apr 11	Oct 30	199
Walhalla, SC	Apr 11	Oct 30	203
Water Valley, MS	Apr 1	Nov 3	219
Williamston, NC	Mar 20	Nov 12	239

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.

What zone 8a means for your garden

A plant rated "hardy to zone 8a" can be expected to survive a winter whose coldest night lands in the 10 to 15 °F range — the metric the USDA map is built on. That governs perennials, shrubs, and trees. For annual vegetables, what matters is the frost calendar: the dates of the average last spring and first fall freeze, which set when it is safe to plant and how long the season runs. Those come from the individual location pages above.

Zones are from the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023, matched to each location's ZIP — see the methodology page. Browse all hardiness zones or crop-by-crop timing.

Frequently asked questions

What temperature range is USDA zone 8a?: Zone 8a covers areas whose average annual extreme minimum winter temperature is 10 to 15 °F. Each numbered zone is a 10°F band; the "a" and "b" half-zones split it into 5°F steps.
Does zone 8a tell me when to plant?: No — the hardiness zone tells you which perennials survive winter, not when to sow annual vegetables. Planting dates depend on your local last and first frost, which can vary within a single zone. Open one of the sample locations in zone 8a to see its frost calendar and per-crop planting windows.
What can I grow in zone 8a?: Almost any common vegetable can be grown in zone 8a; what changes with zone and local climate is the timing and the length of the season. Cold-hardy crops (peas, spinach, lettuce) go out earliest, tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the last frost. Use each location's calendar for exact dates.