Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for Decatur, AL

Decatur, AL is in USDA zone 8a across its 5 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 26 and the first fall frost November 7.

Decatur on the zone map

Outlined: its 2 ZIP code areas · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zone8a10 to 15 °F
ZIP codes5
Last frostMar 26
First frostNov 7
Growing season228 days

8a 5 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Decatur, AL…

Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in Decatur, AL

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 26median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 9only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 7median — 10% chance by Oct 26
Growing season228 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 12 and returns around November 19.

From the NOAA station Decatur 4se, AL, elevation 551 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in Decatur

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 12 – Feb 26
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 12 – Mar 5
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 15 – Jan 29
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 5 – Mar 19
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 29 – Feb 12
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 15 – Jan 29
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 9 – Apr 23
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 12 – Sep 26
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 24 – Nov 28
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 26) and first fall frost (Nov 7) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 35602 came on Feb 15 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 15).

JanFebMarAprMayJun

The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).

Native plants for zone 8a in Alabama

550 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Alabama, and rated by the USDA to survive 10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 8a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 83

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican beech80 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −44 °FAmerican chestnut115 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican sycamore100 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −34 °FAtlantic white cedar50 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −36 °F

Shrubs 125

Allegheny serviceberry35 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Faloe yucca15 ft · blooms early summer · medium shade tolerance · to −1 °Falternateleaf dogwood25 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °FAmerican beautyberry6 ft · blooms early summer · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °FAmerican hazelnut10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican holly40 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −20 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 171

American bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican lotus3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −36 °FAmerican pokeweed7 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican spongeplant0.5 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −24 °FAmerican water horehound1.8 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Grasses 148

American cupscale3 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −18 °Fautumn bluegrass1.5 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbeaked spikerush3 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °Fbig bluestem6 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −46 °Fbig cordgrass8 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −3 °F

Vines 13

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican wisteria50 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °Fcatbird grape30 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −13 °Fcupseed30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Ffrost grape83 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −23 °F

Source: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov), National Plant Data Team — state distribution, native status and the “Temperature, Minimum” characteristic. Check light, moisture and soil needs before buying; local nurseries and your state native plant society can confirm what thrives in Decatur, AL.

Soil in Decatur, AL

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 35602 is Ooltewah — silt loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupB/Dmoderate when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Ooltewah silt loam.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 35602; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Decatur, AL

Summer high89 °Faverage high, July
Winter low31 °Faverage low, January
Hot days41days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights52nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,071base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 28 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 50 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation58 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 52 °F, low 31 °F 52°31° JanFebruary: average high 57 °F, low 34 °F 57°34° FebMarch: average high 65 °F, low 41 °F 65°41° MarApril: average high 74 °F, low 49 °F 74°49° AprMay: average high 80 °F, low 58 °F 80°58° MayJune: average high 87 °F, low 66 °F 87°66° JunJuly: average high 89 °F, low 69 °F 89°69° JulAugust: average high 89 °F, low 68 °F 89°68° AugSeptember: average high 84 °F, low 62 °F 84°62° SepOctober: average high 74 °F, low 50 °F 74°50° OctNovember: average high 63 °F, low 40 °F 63°40° NovDecember: average high 55 °F, low 34 °F 55°34° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 5.44 in precipitation 5.4 JanFebruary: 5.56 in precipitation 5.6 FebMarch: 5.40 in precipitation 5.4 MarApril: 5.22 in precipitation 5.2 AprMay: 4.86 in precipitation 4.9 MayJune: 4.55 in precipitation 4.5 JunJuly: 4.84 in precipitation 4.8 JulAugust: 3.88 in precipitation 3.9 AugSeptember: 3.91 in precipitation 3.9 SepOctober: 3.92 in precipitation 3.9 OctNovember: 4.42 in precipitation 4.4 NovDecember: 5.97 in precipitation 6.0 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Decatur 4se, AL (4 mi away); precipitation: Decatur 4se, AL (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Decatur

356018a
10 to 15 °F
356028a
10 to 15 °F
356038a
10 to 15 °F
356098a
10 to 15 °F
356998a
10 to 15 °F

Alabama planting zones →

Questions about Decatur

What planting zone is Decatur, AL?

Decatur, AL is in USDA hardiness zone 8a on the 2023 map (8a: 10 to 15 °F).

When is the last frost in Decatur, AL?

The median last spring frost is March 26 and the median first fall frost is November 7 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Decatur 4se station).

When can I plant a garden in Decatur, AL?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 12 – Mar 5; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 2, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Decatur, AL?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 28 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Decatur, AL get?

About 58 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).