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

Planting zone for Sarasota, FL

Sarasota, FL is in USDA zone 10a across its 17 ZIP codes.

Sarasota on the zone map

Outlined: its 13 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.

Zone10a30 to 35 °F
ZIP codes17
Last frostrare
First frostrare
Growing seasonall year

10a 17 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Sarasota, 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 Sarasota Bradenton 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 34239 came on Jan 12 — 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 15).

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 Sarasota, FL.

Soil in Sarasota, FL

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 34239 is EauGallie — fine sand, poorly drained.

TextureFine sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH4.8strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupB/Dmoderate when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: EauGallie-Myakka fine sands-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 34239; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Sarasota, FL

Summer high92 °Faverage high, August
Winter low52 °Faverage low, January
Hot days85days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights1nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days8,815base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day13 h 52 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 25 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation53.5 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

40°50°60°70°80°90°100°January: average high 73 °F, low 52 °F 73°52° JanFebruary: average high 75 °F, low 55 °F 75°55° FebMarch: average high 78 °F, low 58 °F 78°58° MarApril: average high 83 °F, low 63 °F 83°63° AprMay: average high 88 °F, low 68 °F 88°68° MayJune: average high 90 °F, low 74 °F 90°74° JunJuly: average high 91 °F, low 75 °F 91°75° JulAugust: average high 92 °F, low 75 °F 92°75° AugSeptember: average high 90 °F, low 74 °F 90°74° SepOctober: average high 86 °F, low 68 °F 86°68° OctNovember: average high 80 °F, low 60 °F 80°60° NovDecember: average high 75 °F, low 55 °F 75°55° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″8″10″January: 2.64 in precipitation 2.6 JanFebruary: 2.39 in precipitation 2.4 FebMarch: 2.88 in precipitation 2.9 MarApril: 2.42 in precipitation 2.4 AprMay: 3.11 in precipitation 3.1 MayJune: 7.77 in precipitation 7.8 JunJuly: 7.42 in precipitation 7.4 JulAugust: 9.29 in precipitation 9.3 AugSeptember: 8.53 in precipitation 8.5 SepOctober: 3.02 in precipitation 3.0 OctNovember: 1.54 in precipitation 1.5 NovDecember: 2.45 in precipitation 2.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Sarasota Bradenton Airport, FL (7 mi away); precipitation: Sarasota 5.8 Se, FL (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Sarasota

3423010a
30 to 35 °F
3423110a
30 to 35 °F
3423210a
30 to 35 °F
3423310a
30 to 35 °F
3423410a
30 to 35 °F
3423510a
30 to 35 °F
3423610a
30 to 35 °F
3423710a
30 to 35 °F
3423810a
30 to 35 °F
3423910a
30 to 35 °F
3424010a
30 to 35 °F
3424110a
30 to 35 °F
3424210a
30 to 35 °F
3424310a
30 to 35 °F
3424910a
30 to 35 °F
3427610a
30 to 35 °F
3427710a
30 to 35 °F

Florida planting zones →

Questions about Sarasota

What planting zone is Sarasota, FL?

Sarasota, FL is in USDA hardiness zone 10a on the 2023 map (10a: 30 to 35 °F).

What kind of onions grow in Sarasota, FL?

Short-day onions: the longest day is 13 h 52 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.

How much rain and snow does Sarasota, FL get?

About 53.5 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).