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

Planting zone for Clayton, NC

Clayton, NC is in USDA zone 8a across its 3 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 7 and the first fall frost November 3.

Clayton 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.

Zone8a10 to 15 °F
ZIP codes3
Last frostApr 7
First frostNov 3
Growing season211 days

8a 3 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Clayton, NC…

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 Clayton, NC

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 7median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 20only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 3median — 10% chance by Oct 22
Growing season211 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 27 and returns around November 14.

From the NOAA station Clayton Wtp, NC, elevation 299 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 Clayton

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 24 – Mar 17
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 27 – Feb 10
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 17 – Mar 31
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 10 – Feb 24
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 14 – Apr 28
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 27 – Feb 10
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 21 – May 5
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 8 – Sep 22
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 20 – Nov 24
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 7) and first fall frost (Nov 3) 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 27528 came on Feb 22 — 4 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 18).

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 8a in North Carolina

619 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in North Carolina, and rated by the USDA to survive 10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 8a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 92

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 °Farborvitae50 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Shrubs 136

Allegheny serviceberry35 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Faloe 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 hazelnut10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican holly40 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −20 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 191

American bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °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 speedwell0.8 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican spongeplant0.5 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −24 °F

Grasses 173

American beachgrass2.5 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °FAmerican cupscale3 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −18 °FAtlantic mannagrass3 ft · blooms summer · low shade tolerance · to −8 °Fautumn bluegrass1.5 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBailey's sedge2.1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Vines 12

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican wisteria50 ft · blooms 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 °Fheartleaf peppervine2 ft · blooms late spring · low 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 Clayton, NC.

Soil in Clayton, NC

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 27528 is Norfolk — loamy sand, well drained.

TextureLoamy sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH4.8strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Norfolk-Urban land complex, 0 to 3 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 27528; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Clayton, NC

Summer high89 °Faverage high, July
Winter low30 °Faverage low, January
Hot days41days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights77nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,692base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 34 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 44 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation52.1 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall3 inper year; 1 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 52 °F, low 30 °F 52°30° JanFebruary: average high 56 °F, low 31 °F 56°31° FebMarch: average high 63 °F, low 37 °F 63°37° MarApril: average high 73 °F, low 46 °F 73°46° AprMay: average high 79 °F, low 56 °F 79°56° MayJune: average high 86 °F, low 65 °F 86°65° JunJuly: average high 89 °F, low 69 °F 89°69° JulAugust: average high 87 °F, low 68 °F 87°68° AugSeptember: average high 82 °F, low 62 °F 82°62° SepOctober: average high 73 °F, low 49 °F 73°49° OctNovember: average high 63 °F, low 38 °F 63°38° NovDecember: average high 55 °F, low 32 °F 55°32° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″2″4″6″January: 4.28 in precipitation, 2.2 in snowfall 4.3❄2 JanFebruary: 3.07 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.1 FebMarch: 4.10 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 4.1 MarApril: 3.64 in precipitation 3.6 AprMay: 4.06 in precipitation 4.1 MayJune: 4.21 in precipitation 4.2 JunJuly: 6.14 in precipitation 6.1 JulAugust: 5.86 in precipitation 5.9 AugSeptember: 5.89 in precipitation 5.9 SepOctober: 3.47 in precipitation 3.5 OctNovember: 3.59 in precipitation 3.6 NovDecember: 3.82 in precipitation, 0.8 in snowfall 3.8❄1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Clayton Wtp, NC (within 1 mile); precipitation: Clayton Wtp, NC (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Clayton

275208a
10 to 15 °F
275278a
10 to 15 °F
275288a
10 to 15 °F

North Carolina planting zones →

Questions about Clayton

What planting zone is Clayton, NC?

Clayton, NC is in USDA hardiness zone 8a on the 2023 map (8a: 10 to 15 °F).

When is the last frost in Clayton, NC?

The median last spring frost is April 7 and the median first fall frost is November 3 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Clayton Wtp station).

When can I plant a garden in Clayton, NC?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 24 – Mar 17; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 14, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Clayton, NC?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 34 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Clayton, NC get?

About 52.1 inches of precipitation a year and 3 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).