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

Planting zone for Opelika, AL

Opelika, AL is in USDA zones 8a to 8b across its 4 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 29 and the first fall frost November 5.

Opelika 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.

Zones8a–8b10 to 20 °F
ZIP codes4
Last frostMar 29
First frostNov 5
Growing season223 days

8a 3 ZIPs   8b 1 ZIP

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Opelika, 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 Opelika, AL

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 29median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 15only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 5median — 10% chance by Oct 22
Growing season223 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 13 and returns around November 18.

From the NOAA station Opelika, AL, elevation 640 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 Opelika

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 15 – Mar 8
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 18 – Feb 1
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 8 – Mar 22
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 1 – Feb 15
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 18 – Feb 1
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 12 – Apr 26
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 10 – Sep 24
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 22 – Nov 26
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 29) and first fall frost (Nov 5) 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 36803 came on Feb 14 — 7 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 7).

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 Opelika, AL.

Soil in Opelika, AL

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 36803 is Pacolet — sandy loam, well drained.

TextureSandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Pacolet-Urban land complex, 1 to 10 percent slopes.

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 36803; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Opelika, AL

Summer high90 °Faverage high, July
Winter low33 °Faverage low, January
Hot days51days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights60nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,180base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 18 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 00 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation55.2 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 56 °F, low 33 °F 56°33° JanFebruary: average high 60 °F, low 36 °F 60°36° FebMarch: average high 67 °F, low 42 °F 67°42° MarApril: average high 74 °F, low 49 °F 74°49° AprMay: average high 81 °F, low 58 °F 81°58° MayJune: average high 87 °F, low 65 °F 87°65° JunJuly: average high 90 °F, low 69 °F 90°69° JulAugust: average high 89 °F, low 69 °F 89°69° AugSeptember: average high 84 °F, low 63 °F 84°63° SepOctober: average high 75 °F, low 51 °F 75°51° OctNovember: average high 66 °F, low 40 °F 66°40° NovDecember: average high 58 °F, low 35 °F 58°35° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 5.05 in precipitation 5.0 JanFebruary: 5.33 in precipitation 5.3 FebMarch: 5.50 in precipitation 5.5 MarApril: 4.79 in precipitation 4.8 AprMay: 4.01 in precipitation 4.0 MayJune: 4.50 in precipitation 4.5 JunJuly: 4.77 in precipitation 4.8 JulAugust: 4.36 in precipitation 4.4 AugSeptember: 3.34 in precipitation 3.3 SepOctober: 3.61 in precipitation 3.6 OctNovember: 4.27 in precipitation 4.3 NovDecember: 5.67 in precipitation 5.7 Dec

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

ZIP codes in Opelika

368018a
10 to 15 °F
368028a
10 to 15 °F
368038a
10 to 15 °F
368048b
15 to 20 °F

Alabama planting zones →

Questions about Opelika

What planting zone is Opelika, AL?

Opelika, AL is in USDA hardiness zones 8a to 8b on the 2023 map (8a: 10 to 15 °F; 8b: 15 to 20 °F).

When is the last frost in Opelika, AL?

The median last spring frost is March 29 and the median first fall frost is November 5 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Opelika station).

When can I plant a garden in Opelika, AL?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 15 – Mar 8; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 5, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Opelika, AL?

Short-day onions: the longest day is 14 h 18 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.

How much rain and snow does Opelika, AL get?

About 55.2 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).