USDA hardiness zone 8a
In zone 8a, the average annual extreme minimum temperature is 10 to 15°F (-12.2 to -9.4°C), based on 1991–2020 data from the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.
What zone 8a means for your garden
A plant labeled "hardy to zone 8a" should survive a typical winter low of 10°F. Most perennials sold at garden centers are rated for this zone or colder; marginal plants rated one zone warmer can survive in sheltered spots. Zone 8b is the warmer half of zone 8.
ZIP codes in zone 8a: 3,421 in contiguous U.S., 9 in Alaska. New to zones? Read how to read your hardiness zone.
Frost dates in zone 8a
Across 33 major cities in zone 8a, the 30%-risk last spring frost ranges from Mar 23 to Apr 9 (median Apr 1), and the first fall frost has a median of Nov 3. Frost timing depends on elevation, latitude and distance from water — a zone does not set a frost date, so check your city page for local dates.
Typical planting calendar for zone 8a
Based on the median frost dates above. For your exact dates, use your city page.
| Crop | Start indoors | Transplant / plant out | Direct sow | Fall crop sow/plant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Feb 4 – Feb 18 | Apr 8 – Apr 22 | — | — |
| Pepper | Jan 21 – Feb 4 | Apr 15 – Apr 29 | — | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 18 – Mar 4 | Mar 18 – Apr 8 | Mar 4 – Apr 15 | Aug 25 – Sep 22 |
| Green Beans | — | — | Apr 8 – May 13 | Aug 11 – Aug 25 |
| Sweet Corn | — | — | Apr 8 – May 6 | — |
| Zucchini & Summer Squash | Mar 4 – Mar 11 | Apr 8 – Apr 22 | Apr 8 – Apr 29 | Aug 11 – Aug 25 |
| Cucumber | Mar 4 – Mar 11 | Apr 15 – Apr 22 | Apr 8 – Apr 29 | Aug 11 – Aug 25 |
| Carrot | — | — | Mar 11 – Apr 15 | Aug 11 – Aug 25 |
| Onion | Jan 7 – Jan 21 | Mar 4 – Mar 18 | — | — |
| Potato | — | Mar 4 – Mar 25 | — | — |
| Basil | Feb 18 – Mar 4 | Apr 15 – Apr 29 | Apr 15 – May 6 | — |
| Spinach | — | — | Feb 18 – Mar 18 | Sep 8 – Oct 6 |
| Kale | Feb 4 – Feb 18 | Mar 4 – Mar 25 | Mar 4 – Mar 25 | Aug 25 – Sep 22 |
| Broccoli | Feb 4 – Feb 18 | Mar 18 – Apr 8 | — | Aug 11 – Aug 25 |
| Peas | — | — | Feb 18 – Mar 11 | Aug 25 – Sep 8 |
| Eggplant | Jan 21 – Feb 4 | Apr 15 – Apr 29 | — | — |
| Cabbage | Feb 4 – Feb 18 | Mar 4 – Mar 18 | — | Aug 11 – Aug 25 |
| Radish | — | — | Feb 25 – Apr 15 | Sep 22 – Oct 20 |
| Strawberry | — | Mar 4 – Mar 25 | — | — |
| Beets | — | — | Mar 11 – Apr 22 | Aug 25 – Sep 8 |
Cities in zone 8a (33)
Major cities whose center falls in zone 8a:
- Charlotte, NC — last frost Apr 5, first frost Oct 30
- Memphis, TN — last frost Mar 24, first frost Nov 9
- Atlanta, GA — last frost Mar 31, first frost Nov 1
- Raleigh, NC — last frost Apr 3, first frost Nov 4
- Greensboro, NC — last frost Apr 5, first frost Oct 31
- Durham, NC — last frost Apr 9, first frost Nov 1
- Winston-Salem, NC — last frost Apr 2, first frost Nov 3
- Chesapeake, VA — last frost Mar 29, first frost Nov 12
- Huntsville, AL — last frost Mar 31, first frost Nov 2
- Fayetteville, NC — last frost Apr 5, first frost Nov 4
- Little Rock, AR — last frost Mar 28, first frost Nov 4
- Birmingham, AL — last frost Mar 30, first frost Nov 6
- Chattanooga, TN — last frost Mar 31, first frost Nov 3
- Newport News, VA — last frost Apr 7, first frost Nov 4
- Cary, NC — last frost Apr 3, first frost Nov 3
- Alexandria, VA — last frost Mar 30, first frost Nov 12
- Abilene, TX — last frost Mar 29, first frost Nov 5
- Athens, GA — last frost Mar 31, first frost Nov 4
- High Point, NC — last frost Apr 5, first frost Oct 31
- Concord, NC — last frost Apr 6, first frost Oct 28
- South Fulton, GA — last frost Mar 23, first frost Nov 13
- Sandy Springs, GA — last frost Apr 1, first frost Nov 2
- Suffolk, VA — last frost Apr 1, first frost Nov 9
- Wichita Falls, TX — last frost Apr 2, first frost Nov 4
- San Angelo, TX — last frost Apr 1, first frost Nov 4
- Bellingham, WA — last frost Apr 8, first frost Oct 26
- Greenville, NC — last frost Apr 2, first frost Nov 3
- Roswell, GA — last frost Apr 1, first frost Nov 2
- Fort Smith, AR — last frost Apr 3, first frost Nov 1
- Gastonia, NC — last frost Apr 1, first frost Nov 3
- Jonesboro, AR — last frost Mar 31, first frost Nov 3
- Johns Creek, GA — last frost Apr 1, first frost Nov 2
- Mableton, GA — last frost Apr 3, first frost Nov 3
← Zone 7b · Zone 8b → · All zones
Zone 8a questions
How cold does it get in zone 8a?
Zone 8a is defined by an average annual extreme minimum temperature of 10 to 15°F (-12.2 to -9.4°C) for 1991–2020 — the average of each year's single coldest night, not the record low. Individual winters can be colder, so plants rated exactly for zone 8a carry some risk in a severe year.
When is the last frost in zone 8a?
It depends far more on the city than on the zone. Among 33 zone 8a cities on this site, the 30%-risk last spring frost runs from Mar 23 in South Fulton, GA to Apr 9 in Durham, NC — 17 days apart (median Apr 1).
Which states have zone 8a?
The 2023 listings put 3,430 ZIP codes in zone 8a, spread over 24 states and territories. The most are in North Carolina (640), Arkansas (372), Georgia (364), Texas (333), Alabama (332).
Did zone 8a grow on the 2023 map?
Yes: 3,406 ZIP codes were in zone 8a on the 2012 map and 3,430 are on the 2023 map (+24). Of today's zone 8a ZIP codes that were also listed in 2012, 65% were in a colder zone then, 34% were already 8a, and 1% were in a warmer zone. What changed in 2023.
Which big cities are in zone 8a?
The largest cities on this site in zone 8a are Charlotte, NC, Memphis, TN, Atlanta, GA; 33 cities in all are listed below.
How long is the growing season in zone 8a?
The median frost-free season across 33 zone 8a cities is 228 days, from 215 days in Concord to 252 days in South Fulton.