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

Planting zone for Panama City Beach, FL

Panama City Beach, FL is in USDA zones 9a to 9b across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is February 7 and the first fall frost December 24.

Panama City Beach 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.

Zones9a–9b20 to 30 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostFeb 7
First frostDec 24
Growing season318 days

9a 1 ZIP   9b 1 ZIP

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

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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 Panama City Beach, FL

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostFebruary 7median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 5only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostDecember 24median — 10% chance by Nov 23
Growing season318 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around January 23 and returns around January 5.

From the NOAA station Panama City Bay Co. Airport, FL, elevation 20 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 Panama City Beach

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Dec 27 – Jan 10
SpinachSow outdoors · Dec 27 – Jan 17
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Nov 29 – Dec 13
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Jan 17 – Jan 31
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Jan 10 – Jan 24
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Jan 17 – Jan 31
LettuceSow outdoors · Jan 10 – Jan 24
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Jan 17 – Jan 31
TomatoesStart indoors · Dec 13 – Dec 27
TomatoesTransplant · Feb 14 – Feb 28
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Nov 29 – Dec 13
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Feb 21 – Mar 7
BeansSow outdoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Oct 29 – Nov 12
GarlicPlant cloves · Dec 10 – Jan 14
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Feb 7) and first fall frost (Dec 24) 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 32413 came on Jan 21 — 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 25).

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 9a in Florida

473 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Florida, and rated by the USDA to survive 20 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 9a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 66

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 113

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 143

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 Panama City Beach, FL.

Soil in Panama City Beach, FL

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 32413 is Rutlege — sand, very poorly drained.

TextureSanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH4.8strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageVery poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter6%high
Hydrologic groupA/Ddrains fast once dried out; wet otherwise
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Rutlege sand, 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 32413; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Panama City Beach, FL

Summer high91 °Faverage high, July
Winter low42 °Faverage low, January
Hot days88days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights14nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days6,879base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 06 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 11 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation65.4 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 63 °F, low 42 °F 63°42° JanFebruary: average high 67 °F, low 45 °F 67°45° FebMarch: average high 72 °F, low 50 °F 72°50° MarApril: average high 79 °F, low 56 °F 79°56° AprMay: average high 86 °F, low 63 °F 86°63° MayJune: average high 89 °F, low 71 °F 89°71° JunJuly: average high 91 °F, low 73 °F 91°73° JulAugust: average high 90 °F, low 74 °F 90°74° AugSeptember: average high 88 °F, low 70 °F 88°70° SepOctober: average high 81 °F, low 59 °F 81°59° OctNovember: average high 73 °F, low 48 °F 73°48° NovDecember: average high 66 °F, low 44 °F 66°44° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″8″10″January: 4.99 in precipitation 5.0 JanFebruary: 4.86 in precipitation 4.9 FebMarch: 5.59 in precipitation 5.6 MarApril: 4.77 in precipitation 4.8 AprMay: 3.46 in precipitation 3.5 MayJune: 6.20 in precipitation 6.2 JunJuly: 7.32 in precipitation 7.3 JulAugust: 9.08 in precipitation 9.1 AugSeptember: 6.04 in precipitation 6.0 SepOctober: 3.61 in precipitation 3.6 OctNovember: 4.38 in precipitation 4.4 NovDecember: 5.08 in precipitation 5.1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Nw Florida Beaches Intl Airport, FL (7 mi away); precipitation: Panama City Beach 5.9 Wnw, FL (5 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Panama City Beach

324079b
25 to 30 °F
324139a
20 to 25 °F

Florida planting zones →

Questions about Panama City Beach

What planting zone is Panama City Beach, FL?

Panama City Beach, FL is in USDA hardiness zones 9a to 9b on the 2023 map (9a: 20 to 25 °F; 9b: 25 to 30 °F).

When is the last frost in Panama City Beach, FL?

The median last spring frost is February 7 and the median first fall frost is December 24 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Panama City Bay Co. Airport station).

When can I plant a garden in Panama City Beach, FL?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Dec 27 – Jan 17; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Feb 14, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Panama City Beach, FL?

Short-day onions: the longest day is 14 h 06 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.

How much rain and snow does Panama City Beach, FL get?

About 65.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).