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

Planting zone for Defuniak Springs, FL

Defuniak Springs, FL is in USDA zones 8b to 9a across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is February 28 and the first fall frost November 28.

Defuniak Springs 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.

Zones8b–9a15 to 25 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostFeb 28
First frostNov 28
Growing season275 days

8b 1 ZIP   9a 1 ZIP

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Defuniak Springs, FL…

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 Defuniak Springs, FL

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostFebruary 28median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 22only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 28median — 10% chance by Nov 8
Growing season275 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 12 and returns around December 16.

From the NOAA station De Funiak Springs 1 E, FL, elevation 246 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 Defuniak Springs

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 17 – Jan 31
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 17 – Feb 7
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 20 – Jan 3
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 7 – Feb 21
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 7 – Feb 21
LettuceSow outdoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 7 – Feb 21
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 3 – Jan 17
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 20 – Jan 3
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 14 – Mar 28
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Oct 3 – Oct 17
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 14 – Dec 19
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Feb 28) and first fall frost (Nov 28) 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 32433 came on Jan 27 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Jan 29).

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 Florida

453 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Florida, and rated by the USDA to survive 15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 8b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 65

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 106

aloe 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 holly40 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −20 °FAmerican hornbeam30 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −34 °FAmerican plum24 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 140

American bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican century plant6 ft · blooms indeterminate · high shade tolerance · to 12 °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 °F

Grasses 124

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 12

American 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 °Fgraybark grape50 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °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 Defuniak Springs, FL.

Soil in Defuniak Springs, FL

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 32433 is Orangeburg — 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 matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Orangeburg sandy loam, 1 to 5 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 32433; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Defuniak Springs, FL

Summer high92 °Faverage high, July
Winter low40 °Faverage low, January
Hot days85days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights26nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days6,671base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 08 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 09 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation64.6 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 62 °F, low 40 °F 62°40° JanFebruary: average high 66 °F, low 43 °F 66°43° FebMarch: average high 73 °F, low 48 °F 73°48° MarApril: average high 79 °F, low 54 °F 79°54° AprMay: average high 86 °F, low 63 °F 86°63° MayJune: average high 90 °F, low 70 °F 90°70° JunJuly: average high 92 °F, low 72 °F 92°72° JulAugust: average high 91 °F, low 72 °F 91°72° AugSeptember: average high 88 °F, low 67 °F 88°67° SepOctober: average high 81 °F, low 57 °F 81°57° OctNovember: average high 71 °F, low 47 °F 71°47° NovDecember: average high 64 °F, low 42 °F 64°42° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″8″January: 5.04 in precipitation 5.0 JanFebruary: 5.07 in precipitation 5.1 FebMarch: 5.18 in precipitation 5.2 MarApril: 4.30 in precipitation 4.3 AprMay: 3.99 in precipitation 4.0 MayJune: 7.10 in precipitation 7.1 JunJuly: 7.50 in precipitation 7.5 JulAugust: 6.95 in precipitation 7.0 AugSeptember: 6.04 in precipitation 6.0 SepOctober: 3.58 in precipitation 3.6 OctNovember: 4.43 in precipitation 4.4 NovDecember: 5.45 in precipitation 5.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: De Funiak Springs 1 E, FL (11 mi away); precipitation: De Funiak Springs 1 E, FL (11 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Defuniak Springs

324338b
15 to 20 °F
324359a
20 to 25 °F

Florida planting zones →

Questions about Defuniak Springs

What planting zone is Defuniak Springs, FL?

Defuniak Springs, FL is in USDA hardiness zones 8b to 9a on the 2023 map (8b: 15 to 20 °F; 9a: 20 to 25 °F).

When is the last frost in Defuniak Springs, FL?

The median last spring frost is February 28 and the median first fall frost is November 28 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, De Funiak Springs 1 E station).

When can I plant a garden in Defuniak Springs, FL?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Jan 17 – Feb 7; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Mar 7, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Defuniak Springs, FL?

Short-day onions: the longest day is 14 h 08 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.

How much rain and snow does Defuniak Springs, FL get?

About 64.6 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).