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

Planting zone for Panama City, FL

Panama City, FL is in USDA zones 9a to 9b across its 11 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is February 7 and the first fall frost December 24.

Panama City on the zone map

Outlined: its 6 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 codes11
Last frostFeb 7
First frostDec 24
Growing season318 days

9a 3 ZIPs   9b 8 ZIPs

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, 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

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 32405 came on Jan 17 — 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 24).

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, FL.

Soil in Panama City, FL

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 32405 is Hurricane — sand, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureSanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter1.35%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Hurricane 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 32405; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Panama City, FL

Summer high91 °Faverage high, July
Winter low45 °Faverage low, January
Hot days69days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights9nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days7,344base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 06 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 12 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation61.3 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 45 °F 63°45° JanFebruary: average high 67 °F, low 48 °F 67°48° FebMarch: average high 72 °F, low 53 °F 72°53° MarApril: average high 77 °F, low 60 °F 77°60° AprMay: average high 85 °F, low 67 °F 85°67° MayJune: average high 89 °F, low 74 °F 89°74° JunJuly: average high 91 °F, low 76 °F 91°76° JulAugust: average high 90 °F, low 75 °F 90°75° AugSeptember: average high 89 °F, low 71 °F 89°71° SepOctober: average high 82 °F, low 62 °F 82°62° OctNovember: average high 72 °F, low 52 °F 72°52° NovDecember: average high 66 °F, low 47 °F 66°47° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″8″January: 4.79 in precipitation 4.8 JanFebruary: 4.95 in precipitation 5.0 FebMarch: 5.03 in precipitation 5.0 MarApril: 4.09 in precipitation 4.1 AprMay: 3.31 in precipitation 3.3 MayJune: 5.82 in precipitation 5.8 JunJuly: 7.41 in precipitation 7.4 JulAugust: 7.44 in precipitation 7.4 AugSeptember: 6.98 in precipitation 7.0 SepOctober: 3.45 in precipitation 3.5 OctNovember: 3.70 in precipitation 3.7 NovDecember: 4.30 in precipitation 4.3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Panama City Bay Co. Airport, FL (within 1 mile); precipitation: Panama City 5n, FL (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Panama City

324019b
25 to 30 °F
324029b
25 to 30 °F
324039b
25 to 30 °F
324049a
20 to 25 °F
324059b
25 to 30 °F
324069b
25 to 30 °F
324089b
25 to 30 °F
324099a
20 to 25 °F
324119b
25 to 30 °F
324129a
20 to 25 °F
324179b
25 to 30 °F

Florida planting zones →

Questions about Panama City

What planting zone is Panama City, FL?

Panama City, 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, 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, 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, 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, FL get?

About 61.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).