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

Planting zone for Phenix City, AL

Phenix City, AL is in USDA zone 8b across its 4 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 5 and the first fall frost November 23.

Phenix City 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.

Zone8b15 to 20 °F
ZIP codes4
Last frostMar 5
First frostNov 23
Growing season265 days

8b 4 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Phenix City, 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 Phenix City, AL

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 5median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 24only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 23median — 10% chance by Nov 7
Growing season265 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 21 and returns around December 12.

From the NOAA station Columbus Metro Airport, GA, elevation 394 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 Phenix City

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 22 – Feb 5
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 22 – Feb 12
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 25 – Jan 8
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 12 – Feb 26
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 5 – Feb 19
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 12 – Feb 26
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 5 – Feb 19
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 12 – Feb 26
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 8 – Jan 22
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 12 – Mar 26
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 25 – Jan 8
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 19 – Apr 2
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 28 – Oct 12
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 9 – Dec 14
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 5) and first fall frost (Nov 23) 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 36868 came on Feb 11 — 8 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 3).

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 8b in Alabama

569 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Alabama, and rated by the USDA to survive 15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 8b. 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 130

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 176

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 157

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 Phenix City, AL.

Soil in Phenix City, AL

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 36868 is Troup — loamy sand, somewhat excessively drained.

TextureLoamy sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat excessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Troup-Springhill-Luverne complex, 10 to 30 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 36868; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Phenix City, AL

Summer high93 °Faverage high, July
Winter low38 °Faverage low, January
Hot days81days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights28nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days6,420base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 17 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 01 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation54.4 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 59 °F, low 38 °F 59°38° JanFebruary: average high 63 °F, low 42 °F 63°42° FebMarch: average high 70 °F, low 47 °F 70°47° MarApril: average high 78 °F, low 54 °F 78°54° AprMay: average high 85 °F, low 63 °F 85°63° MayJune: average high 90 °F, low 71 °F 90°71° JunJuly: average high 93 °F, low 74 °F 93°74° JulAugust: average high 92 °F, low 73 °F 92°73° AugSeptember: average high 87 °F, low 68 °F 87°68° SepOctober: average high 78 °F, low 57 °F 78°57° OctNovember: average high 68 °F, low 46 °F 68°46° NovDecember: average high 61 °F, low 41 °F 61°41° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 4.90 in precipitation 4.9 JanFebruary: 4.90 in precipitation 4.9 FebMarch: 5.85 in precipitation 5.8 MarApril: 4.89 in precipitation 4.9 AprMay: 3.56 in precipitation 3.6 MayJune: 4.51 in precipitation 4.5 JunJuly: 5.37 in precipitation 5.4 JulAugust: 4.25 in precipitation 4.3 AugSeptember: 3.46 in precipitation 3.5 SepOctober: 3.25 in precipitation 3.3 OctNovember: 4.16 in precipitation 4.2 NovDecember: 5.31 in precipitation 5.3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Columbus Metro Airport, GA (6 mi away); precipitation: Phenix City 2.2 Nnw, AL (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Phenix City

368678b
15 to 20 °F
368688b
15 to 20 °F
368698b
15 to 20 °F
368708b
15 to 20 °F

Alabama planting zones →

Questions about Phenix City

What planting zone is Phenix City, AL?

Phenix City, AL is in USDA hardiness zone 8b on the 2023 map (8b: 15 to 20 °F).

When is the last frost in Phenix City, AL?

The median last spring frost is March 5 and the median first fall frost is November 23 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Columbus Metro Airport station).

When can I plant a garden in Phenix City, AL?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Jan 22 – Feb 12; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Mar 12, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Phenix City, AL?

Short-day onions: the longest day is 14 h 17 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.

How much rain and snow does Phenix City, AL get?

About 54.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).