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

Planting zone for Selma, AL

Selma, AL is in USDA zone 8b across its 3 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 8 and the first fall frost November 18.

Selma 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.

Zone8b15 to 20 °F
ZIP codes3
Last frostMar 8
First frostNov 18
Growing season254 days

8b 3 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Selma, 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 Selma, AL

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 8median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 28only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 18median — 10% chance by Nov 2
Growing season254 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 24 and returns around December 1.

From the NOAA station Selma, AL, elevation 148 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 Selma

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 25 – Feb 8
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 25 – Feb 15
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 28 – Jan 11
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 15 – Mar 1
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 8 – Feb 22
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 8 – Feb 22
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 11 – Jan 25
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 15 – Mar 29
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 28 – Jan 11
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 22 – Apr 5
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 23 – Oct 7
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 4 – Dec 9
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 8) and first fall frost (Nov 18) 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 36702 came on Feb 10 — 7 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 Selma, AL.

Soil in Selma, AL

The center of ZIP 36702 is mapped as Urban land: built-over ground without natural soil data. Garden soil here is usually imported or disturbed — test before you plant.

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 36702; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Selma, AL

Summer high93 °Faverage high, July
Winter low36 °Faverage low, January
Hot days81days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights40nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days6,268base 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
Precipitation54.5 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 36 °F 59°36° JanFebruary: average high 63 °F, low 39 °F 63°39° FebMarch: average high 71 °F, low 46 °F 71°46° MarApril: average high 78 °F, low 52 °F 78°52° AprMay: average high 85 °F, low 61 °F 85°61° MayJune: average high 91 °F, low 69 °F 91°69° JunJuly: average high 93 °F, low 72 °F 93°72° JulAugust: average high 93 °F, low 71 °F 93°71° AugSeptember: average high 89 °F, low 67 °F 89°67° SepOctober: average high 80 °F, low 55 °F 80°55° OctNovember: average high 69 °F, low 43 °F 69°43° NovDecember: average high 61 °F, low 38 °F 61°38° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 5.08 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 5.1 JanFebruary: 5.35 in precipitation 5.3 FebMarch: 5.35 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 5.3 MarApril: 4.56 in precipitation 4.6 AprMay: 4.10 in precipitation 4.1 MayJune: 4.32 in precipitation 4.3 JunJuly: 5.11 in precipitation 5.1 JulAugust: 4.92 in precipitation 4.9 AugSeptember: 3.80 in precipitation 3.8 SepOctober: 2.66 in precipitation 2.7 OctNovember: 4.07 in precipitation 4.1 NovDecember: 5.21 in precipitation 5.2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Selma, AL (within 1 mile); precipitation: Selma, AL (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Selma

367018b
15 to 20 °F
367028b
15 to 20 °F
367038b
15 to 20 °F

Alabama planting zones →

Questions about Selma

What planting zone is Selma, AL?

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

When is the last frost in Selma, AL?

The median last spring frost is March 8 and the median first fall frost is November 18 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Selma station).

When can I plant a garden in Selma, AL?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Jan 25 – Feb 15; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Mar 15, once frost risk has passed.

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

About 54.5 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).