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

Planting zone for Madison, AL

Madison, AL is in USDA zone 8a across its 3 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 24 and the first fall frost November 8.

Madison on the zone map

Outlined: its 3 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 codes3
Last frostMar 24
First frostNov 8
Growing season229 days

8a 3 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Madison, 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 Madison, AL

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 24median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 8only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 8median — 10% chance by Oct 27
Growing season229 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 10 and returns around November 20.

From the NOAA station Huntsville Intl Airport, AL, elevation 623 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 Madison

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 10 – Feb 24
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 10 – Mar 3
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 13 – Jan 27
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 3 – Mar 17
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 27 – Feb 10
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 31 – Apr 14
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 13 – Jan 27
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 7 – Apr 21
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 13 – Sep 27
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 25 – Nov 29
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 24) and first fall frost (Nov 8) 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 35758 came on Feb 18 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 17).

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 Madison, AL.

Soil in Madison, AL

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 35758 is Cumberland — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Cumberland loam, eroded, undulating.

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 35758; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Madison, 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
Precipitation59.3 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″2″4″6″January: 5.57 in precipitation 5.6 JanFebruary: 5.80 in precipitation 5.8 FebMarch: 5.75 in precipitation 5.8 MarApril: 5.28 in precipitation 5.3 AprMay: 4.79 in precipitation 4.8 MayJune: 4.44 in precipitation 4.4 JunJuly: 4.80 in precipitation 4.8 JulAugust: 4.05 in precipitation 4.0 AugSeptember: 4.15 in precipitation 4.2 SepOctober: 3.78 in precipitation 3.8 OctNovember: 4.60 in precipitation 4.6 NovDecember: 6.24 in precipitation 6.2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Huntsville Intl Airport, AL (5 mi away); precipitation: Madison 1.7 N, AL (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Madison

357568a
10 to 15 °F
357578a
10 to 15 °F
357588a
10 to 15 °F

Alabama planting zones →

Questions about Madison

What planting zone is Madison, AL?

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

When is the last frost in Madison, AL?

The median last spring frost is March 24 and the median first fall frost is November 8 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Huntsville Intl Airport station).

When can I plant a garden in Madison, AL?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 10 – Mar 3; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Mar 31, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Madison, 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 Madison, AL get?

About 59.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).