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

Planting zone for High Point, NC

High Point, NC is in USDA zone 8a across its 7 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 30 and the first fall frost November 5.

High Point on the zone map

Outlined: its 5 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 codes7
Last frostMar 30
First frostNov 5
Growing season220 days

8a 7 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for High Point, 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 High Point, NC

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 30median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 15only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 5median — 10% chance by Oct 21
Growing season220 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 18 and returns around November 16.

From the NOAA station High Pt, NC, elevation 899 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 High Point

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 16 – Mar 2
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 16 – Mar 9
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 19 – Feb 2
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 9 – Mar 23
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 2 – Mar 16
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 2 – Mar 16
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 2 – Feb 16
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 6 – Apr 20
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 19 – Feb 2
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 13 – Apr 27
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 10 – Sep 24
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 22 – Nov 26
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 30) and first fall frost (Nov 5) 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 27265 came on Feb 26 — 3 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 23).

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 High Point, NC.

Soil in High Point, NC

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 27265 is Wilkes — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.5moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Wilkes-Poindexter-Wynott complex, 15 to 45 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 27265; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in High Point, NC

Summer high89 °Faverage high, July
Winter low32 °Faverage low, January
Hot days45days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights69nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,964base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 36 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 43 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation48.3 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall2 inper year

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 52 °F, low 32 °F 52°32° JanFebruary: average high 56 °F, low 34 °F 56°34° FebMarch: average high 64 °F, low 41 °F 64°41° MarApril: average high 74 °F, low 49 °F 74°49° AprMay: average high 80 °F, low 58 °F 80°58° MayJune: average high 87 °F, low 66 °F 87°66° JunJuly: average high 89 °F, low 69 °F 89°69° JulAugust: average high 88 °F, low 68 °F 88°68° AugSeptember: average high 82 °F, low 62 °F 82°62° SepOctober: average high 73 °F, low 50 °F 73°50° OctNovember: average high 62 °F, low 41 °F 62°41° NovDecember: average high 54 °F, low 34 °F 54°34° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.83 in precipitation, 1.3 in snowfall 3.8❄1 JanFebruary: 3.17 in precipitation 3.2 FebMarch: 4.09 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 4.1 MarApril: 4.05 in precipitation 4.0 AprMay: 3.76 in precipitation 3.8 MayJune: 4.37 in precipitation 4.4 JunJuly: 4.56 in precipitation 4.6 JulAugust: 5.06 in precipitation 5.1 AugSeptember: 4.79 in precipitation 4.8 SepOctober: 3.27 in precipitation 3.3 OctNovember: 3.57 in precipitation 3.6 NovDecember: 3.75 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 3.8❄1 Dec

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

ZIP codes in High Point

272608a
10 to 15 °F
272618a
10 to 15 °F
272628a
10 to 15 °F
272638a
10 to 15 °F
272648a
10 to 15 °F
272658a
10 to 15 °F
272688a
10 to 15 °F

North Carolina planting zones →

Questions about High Point

What planting zone is High Point, NC?

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

When is the last frost in High Point, NC?

The median last spring frost is March 30 and the median first fall frost is November 5 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, High Pt station).

When can I plant a garden in High Point, NC?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 16 – Mar 9; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 6, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in High Point, NC?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 36 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does High Point, NC get?

About 48.3 inches of precipitation a year and 2 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).