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

Planting zone for Estero, FL

Estero, FL is in USDA zones 10a to 10b across its 2 ZIP codes.

Estero on the zone map

Outlined: its 1 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.

Zones10a–10b30 to 40 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostrare
First frostrare
Growing seasonall year

10a 1 ZIP   10b 1 ZIP

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Estero, 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

A 32 °F frost doesn't happen here in most winters. At the nearest station (NOAA station Ft Myers Sw Fl Regional Airport, FL, elevation 30 ft) the median growing season is 365 days. When frost does come, it is a midwinter night or two; cover tender plants when a freeze is forecast.

Frost data: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 33929 came on Jan 11 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Jan 13).

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 10a in Florida

480 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Florida, and rated by the USDA to survive 30 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 10a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 67

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 116

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 146

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 131

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 Estero, FL.

Soil in Estero, FL

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 33929 is Cocoa — fine sand, moderately well drained.

TextureFine sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.7moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Cocoa fine sand-Urban land complex, 0 to 2 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 33929; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Estero, FL

Summer high91 °Faverage high, July
Winter low54 °Faverage low, January
Hot days119days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights0nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days9,146base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day13 h 48 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 29 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation53.4 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

40°50°60°70°80°90°100°January: average high 75 °F, low 54 °F 75°54° JanFebruary: average high 78 °F, low 56 °F 78°56° FebMarch: average high 80 °F, low 59 °F 80°59° MarApril: average high 85 °F, low 64 °F 85°64° AprMay: average high 88 °F, low 68 °F 88°68° MayJune: average high 90 °F, low 73 °F 90°73° JunJuly: average high 91 °F, low 75 °F 91°75° JulAugust: average high 91 °F, low 76 °F 91°76° AugSeptember: average high 90 °F, low 75 °F 90°75° SepOctober: average high 86 °F, low 70 °F 86°70° OctNovember: average high 81 °F, low 63 °F 81°63° NovDecember: average high 77 °F, low 58 °F 77°58° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″8″10″January: 2.36 in precipitation 2.4 JanFebruary: 1.49 in precipitation 1.5 FebMarch: 1.92 in precipitation 1.9 MarApril: 1.87 in precipitation 1.9 AprMay: 3.02 in precipitation 3.0 MayJune: 10.33 in precipitation 10.3 JunJuly: 8.56 in precipitation 8.6 JulAugust: 8.75 in precipitation 8.8 AugSeptember: 8.49 in precipitation 8.5 SepOctober: 3.11 in precipitation 3.1 OctNovember: 1.89 in precipitation 1.9 NovDecember: 1.60 in precipitation 1.6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Ft Myers Sw Fl Regional Airport, FL (7 mi away); precipitation: Ft Myers Sw Fl Regional Airport, FL (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Estero

3392810a
30 to 35 °F
3392910b
35 to 40 °F

Florida planting zones →

Questions about Estero

What planting zone is Estero, FL?

Estero, FL is in USDA hardiness zones 10a to 10b on the 2023 map (10a: 30 to 35 °F; 10b: 35 to 40 °F).

What kind of onions grow in Estero, FL?

Short-day onions: the longest day is 13 h 48 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.

How much rain and snow does Estero, FL get?

About 53.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).