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

Planting zone for Pensacola, FL

Pensacola, FL is in USDA zones 9a to 9b across its 23 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is February 14 and the first fall frost December 9.

Pensacola on the zone map

Outlined: its 14 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 codes23
Last frostFeb 14
First frostDec 9
Growing season301 days

9a 22 ZIPs   9b 1 ZIP

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Pensacola, 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 Pensacola, FL

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostFebruary 14median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 11only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostDecember 9median — 10% chance by Nov 17
Growing season301 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around January 31 and returns around January 1.

From the NOAA station Pensacola Regional Airport, FL, elevation 112 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 Pensacola

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 3 – Jan 17
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 3 – Jan 24
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 6 – Dec 20
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Jan 24 – Feb 7
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Jan 17 – Jan 31
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Jan 24 – Feb 7
LettuceSow outdoors · Jan 17 – Jan 31
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Jan 24 – Feb 7
TomatoesStart indoors · Dec 20 – Jan 3
TomatoesTransplant · Feb 21 – Mar 7
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 6 – Dec 20
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Feb 28 – Mar 14
BeansSow outdoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Oct 14 – Oct 28
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 25 – Dec 30
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Feb 14) and first fall frost (Dec 9) 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 32505 came on Jan 16 — 9 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 Pensacola, FL.

Soil in Pensacola, FL

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 32505 is Troup — sand, somewhat excessively drained.

TextureSanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.0strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat excessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classFarmland of local importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Troup sand, 0 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 32505; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Pensacola, FL

Summer high92 °Faverage high, July
Winter low44 °Faverage low, January
Hot days68days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights11nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days7,282base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 07 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
Precipitation68.3 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 44 °F 63°44° JanFebruary: average high 66 °F, low 47 °F 66°47° FebMarch: average high 72 °F, low 53 °F 72°53° MarApril: average high 78 °F, low 59 °F 78°59° AprMay: average high 85 °F, low 67 °F 85°67° MayJune: average high 90 °F, low 74 °F 90°74° JunJuly: average high 92 °F, low 75 °F 92°75° JulAugust: average high 91 °F, low 75 °F 91°75° AugSeptember: average high 89 °F, low 72 °F 89°72° SepOctober: average high 81 °F, low 62 °F 81°62° OctNovember: average high 72 °F, low 51 °F 72°51° NovDecember: average high 65 °F, low 46 °F 65°46° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″8″January: 5.03 in precipitation 5.0 JanFebruary: 4.77 in precipitation 4.8 FebMarch: 5.25 in precipitation 5.3 MarApril: 5.52 in precipitation 5.5 AprMay: 3.90 in precipitation 3.9 MayJune: 7.32 in precipitation 7.3 JunJuly: 7.89 in precipitation 7.9 JulAugust: 7.50 in precipitation 7.5 AugSeptember: 6.61 in precipitation 6.6 SepOctober: 4.70 in precipitation 4.7 OctNovember: 4.42 in precipitation 4.4 NovDecember: 5.40 in precipitation 5.4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Pensacola Regional Airport, FL (5 mi away); precipitation: Pensacola Regional Airport, FL (5 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Pensacola

325019a
20 to 25 °F
325029a
20 to 25 °F
325039a
20 to 25 °F
325049a
20 to 25 °F
325059a
20 to 25 °F
325069a
20 to 25 °F
325079a
20 to 25 °F
325089a
20 to 25 °F
325099a
20 to 25 °F
325119a
20 to 25 °F
325129a
20 to 25 °F
325139a
20 to 25 °F
325149a
20 to 25 °F
325169a
20 to 25 °F
325209b
25 to 30 °F
325219a
20 to 25 °F
325229a
20 to 25 °F
325239a
20 to 25 °F
325249a
20 to 25 °F
325269a
20 to 25 °F
325349a
20 to 25 °F
325599a
20 to 25 °F
325919a
20 to 25 °F

Florida planting zones →

Questions about Pensacola

What planting zone is Pensacola, FL?

Pensacola, 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 Pensacola, FL?

The median last spring frost is February 14 and the median first fall frost is December 9 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Pensacola Regional Airport station).

When can I plant a garden in Pensacola, FL?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Jan 3 – Jan 24; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Feb 21, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Pensacola, FL?

Short-day onions: the longest day is 14 h 07 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.

How much rain and snow does Pensacola, FL get?

About 68.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).