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

Planting zone for Silver Springs, FL

Silver Springs, FL is in USDA zones 9a to 9b across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is February 25 and the first fall frost December 12.

Silver Springs 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.

Zones9a–9b20 to 30 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostFeb 25
First frostDec 12
Growing season293 days

9a 1 ZIP   9b 1 ZIP

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Silver Springs, 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 Silver Springs, FL

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostFebruary 25median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 21only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostDecember 12median — 10% chance by Nov 21
Growing season293 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 4 and returns around January 3.

From the NOAA station Ocala, FL, elevation 75 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 Silver Springs

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 14 – Jan 28
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 14 – Feb 4
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 17 – Dec 31
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 4 – Feb 18
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Jan 28 – Feb 11
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 4 – Feb 18
LettuceSow outdoors · Jan 28 – Feb 11
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 4 – Feb 18
TomatoesStart indoors · Dec 31 – Jan 14
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 4 – Mar 18
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 17 – Dec 31
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 11 – Mar 25
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Oct 17 – Oct 31
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 28 – Jan 2
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Feb 25) and first fall frost (Dec 12) 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 34488 came on Jan 16 — 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 20).

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 Silver Springs, FL.

Soil in Silver Springs, FL

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 34488 is Delks — sand, poorly drained.

TextureSanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.0strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupA/Ddrains fast once dried out; wet otherwise
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Delks sand.

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 34488; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Silver Springs, FL

Summer high92 °Faverage high, July
Winter low46 °Faverage low, January
Hot days110days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights8nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days7,848base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 01 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 16 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation51.6 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

40°50°60°70°80°90°100°January: average high 71 °F, low 46 °F 71°46° JanFebruary: average high 74 °F, low 48 °F 74°48° FebMarch: average high 79 °F, low 52 °F 79°52° MarApril: average high 84 °F, low 57 °F 84°57° AprMay: average high 89 °F, low 64 °F 89°64° MayJune: average high 91 °F, low 70 °F 91°70° JunJuly: average high 92 °F, low 72 °F 92°72° JulAugust: average high 92 °F, low 73 °F 92°73° AugSeptember: average high 90 °F, low 70 °F 90°70° SepOctober: average high 84 °F, low 63 °F 84°63° OctNovember: average high 77 °F, low 54 °F 77°54° NovDecember: average high 72 °F, low 48 °F 72°48° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″8″January: 3.38 in precipitation 3.4 JanFebruary: 2.94 in precipitation 2.9 FebMarch: 3.68 in precipitation 3.7 MarApril: 2.22 in precipitation 2.2 AprMay: 3.53 in precipitation 3.5 MayJune: 7.41 in precipitation 7.4 JunJuly: 6.94 in precipitation 6.9 JulAugust: 7.07 in precipitation 7.1 AugSeptember: 6.49 in precipitation 6.5 SepOctober: 3.21 in precipitation 3.2 OctNovember: 2.09 in precipitation 2.1 NovDecember: 2.68 in precipitation 2.7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Ocala, FL (9 mi away); precipitation: Ocala, FL (9 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Silver Springs

344889b
25 to 30 °F
344899a
20 to 25 °F

Florida planting zones →

Questions about Silver Springs

What planting zone is Silver Springs, FL?

Silver Springs, 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 Silver Springs, FL?

The median last spring frost is February 25 and the median first fall frost is December 12 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Ocala station).

When can I plant a garden in Silver Springs, FL?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Jan 14 – Feb 4; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Mar 4, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Silver Springs, FL?

Short-day onions: the longest day is 14 h 01 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.

How much rain and snow does Silver Springs, FL get?

About 51.6 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).