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

Planting zone for Clinton, NC

Clinton, NC is in USDA zone 8b across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 26 and the first fall frost November 7.

Clinton 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.

Zone8b15 to 20 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostMar 26
First frostNov 7
Growing season226 days

8b 2 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 Clinton, NC

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 26median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 8only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 7median — 10% chance by Oct 26
Growing season226 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 14 and returns around November 18.

From the NOAA station Clinton 2 Ne, NC, elevation 157 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 Clinton

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 12 – Feb 26
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 12 – Mar 5
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 15 – Jan 29
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 5 – Mar 19
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 29 – Feb 12
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 15 – Jan 29
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 9 – Apr 23
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 12 – Sep 26
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 24 – Nov 28
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 26) and first fall frost (Nov 7) 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 28328 came on Feb 19 — 7 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 12).

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 8b in North Carolina

635 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in North Carolina, and rated by the USDA to survive 15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 8b. 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 141

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 196

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 179

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 Clinton, NC.

Soil in Clinton, NC

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 28328 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 6 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 28328; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Clinton, NC

Summer high90 °Faverage high, July
Winter low32 °Faverage low, January
Hot days49days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights58nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,076base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 31 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 48 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation51 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall2 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 53 °F, low 32 °F 53°32° JanFebruary: average high 56 °F, low 34 °F 56°34° FebMarch: average high 64 °F, low 40 °F 64°40° MarApril: average high 73 °F, low 49 °F 73°49° AprMay: average high 80 °F, low 58 °F 80°58° MayJune: average high 87 °F, low 67 °F 87°67° JunJuly: average high 90 °F, low 71 °F 90°71° JulAugust: average high 88 °F, low 69 °F 88°69° AugSeptember: average high 83 °F, low 63 °F 83°63° SepOctober: average high 74 °F, low 51 °F 74°51° OctNovember: average high 64 °F, low 41 °F 64°41° NovDecember: average high 56 °F, low 35 °F 56°35° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″2″4″6″January: 3.50 in precipitation, 0.8 in snowfall 3.5❄1 JanFebruary: 3.11 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 3.1❄1 FebMarch: 3.68 in precipitation 3.7 MarApril: 3.41 in precipitation 3.4 AprMay: 4.05 in precipitation 4.0 MayJune: 4.62 in precipitation 4.6 JunJuly: 5.83 in precipitation 5.8 JulAugust: 6.01 in precipitation 6.0 AugSeptember: 6.56 in precipitation 6.6 SepOctober: 3.27 in precipitation 3.3 OctNovember: 3.44 in precipitation 3.4 NovDecember: 3.53 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 3.5❄1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Clinton 2 Ne, NC (4 mi away); precipitation: Clinton 2 Ne, NC (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Clinton

283288b
15 to 20 °F
283298b
15 to 20 °F

North Carolina planting zones →

Questions about Clinton

What planting zone is Clinton, NC?

Clinton, NC is in USDA hardiness zone 8b on the 2023 map (8b: 15 to 20 °F).

When is the last frost in Clinton, NC?

The median last spring frost is March 26 and the median first fall frost is November 7 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Clinton 2 Ne station).

When can I plant a garden in Clinton, NC?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 12 – Mar 5; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 2, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Clinton, NC?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 31 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Clinton, NC get?

About 51 inches of precipitation a year and 2 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).