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

Planting zone for Huntsville, AL

Huntsville, AL is in USDA zone 8a across its 23 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 4 and the first fall frost October 30.

Huntsville on the zone map

Outlined: its 11 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 codes23
Last frostApr 4
First frostOct 30
Growing season210 days

8a 23 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Huntsville, 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 Huntsville, AL

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 4median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 20only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 30median — 10% chance by Oct 17
Growing season210 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 24 and returns around November 8.

From the NOAA station Owens Cross Roads 3s, AL, elevation 591 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 Huntsville

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 21 – Mar 14
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 24 – Feb 7
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 14 – Mar 28
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 7 – Feb 21
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 24 – Feb 7
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 18 – May 2
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 4 – Sep 18
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 16 – Nov 20
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 4) and first fall frost (Oct 30) 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 35804 came on Feb 15 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 16).

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 Huntsville, AL.

Soil in Huntsville, AL

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 35804 is Decatur — silty clay loam, well drained.

TextureSilty clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH6.5neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Decatur silty clay loam, 2 to 6 percent slopes, eroded.

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 35804; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Huntsville, AL

Summer high92 °Faverage high, July
Winter low33 °Faverage low, January
Hot days62days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights56nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,547base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 29 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 49 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation54.2 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 33 °F 52°33° JanFebruary: average high 57 °F, low 36 °F 57°36° FebMarch: average high 66 °F, low 43 °F 66°43° MarApril: average high 75 °F, low 51 °F 75°51° AprMay: average high 83 °F, low 60 °F 83°60° MayJune: average high 89 °F, low 68 °F 89°68° JunJuly: average high 92 °F, low 71 °F 92°71° JulAugust: average high 91 °F, low 70 °F 91°70° AugSeptember: average high 87 °F, low 63 °F 87°63° SepOctober: average high 76 °F, low 52 °F 76°52° OctNovember: average high 64 °F, low 41 °F 64°41° NovDecember: average high 55 °F, low 36 °F 55°36° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 4.77 in precipitation 4.8 JanFebruary: 4.25 in precipitation 4.3 FebMarch: 5.52 in precipitation 5.5 MarApril: 5.24 in precipitation 5.2 AprMay: 4.63 in precipitation 4.6 MayJune: 3.93 in precipitation 3.9 JunJuly: 4.71 in precipitation 4.7 JulAugust: 3.65 in precipitation 3.6 AugSeptember: 4.77 in precipitation 4.8 SepOctober: 2.81 in precipitation 2.8 OctNovember: 4.04 in precipitation 4.0 NovDecember: 5.87 in precipitation 5.9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Huntsville Intl Airport, AL (13 mi away); precipitation: Huntsville 3.7 Ene, AL (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Huntsville

358018a
10 to 15 °F
358028a
10 to 15 °F
358038a
10 to 15 °F
358048a
10 to 15 °F
358058a
10 to 15 °F
358068a
10 to 15 °F
358078a
10 to 15 °F
358088a
10 to 15 °F
358098a
10 to 15 °F
358108a
10 to 15 °F
358118a
10 to 15 °F
358128a
10 to 15 °F
358138a
10 to 15 °F
358148a
10 to 15 °F
358158a
10 to 15 °F
358168a
10 to 15 °F
358248a
10 to 15 °F
358938a
10 to 15 °F
358948a
10 to 15 °F
358958a
10 to 15 °F
358968a
10 to 15 °F
358978a
10 to 15 °F
358998a
10 to 15 °F

Alabama planting zones →

Questions about Huntsville

What planting zone is Huntsville, AL?

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

When is the last frost in Huntsville, AL?

The median last spring frost is April 4 and the median first fall frost is October 30 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Owens Cross Roads 3s station).

When can I plant a garden in Huntsville, AL?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 21 – Mar 14; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 11, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Huntsville, AL?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 29 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Huntsville, AL get?

About 54.2 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).