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

Planting zone for Lexington, NC

Lexington, NC is in USDA zones 7b to 8a across its 4 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 11 and the first fall frost October 28.

Lexington 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.

Zones7b–8a5 to 15 °F
ZIP codes4
Last frostApr 11
First frostOct 28
Growing season199 days

7b 1 ZIP   8a 3 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 Lexington, NC

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 11median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 26only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 28median — 10% chance by Oct 14
Growing season199 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 30 and returns around November 5.

From the NOAA station Lexington, NC, elevation 761 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 Lexington

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 21
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 21 – Apr 4
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 18 – May 2
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 25 – May 9
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 2 – Sep 16
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 14 – Nov 18
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 11) and first fall frost (Oct 28) 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 27294 came on Feb 22 — about the same time as 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 7b in North Carolina

596 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in North Carolina, and rated by the USDA to survive 5 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 7b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 89

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 129

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 186

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 165

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 Lexington, NC.

Soil in Lexington, NC

The center of ZIP 27294 is mapped as Urban land: built-over ground without natural soil data. Garden soil here is usually imported or disturbed — test before you plant.

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 27294; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Lexington, NC

Summer high89 °Faverage high, July
Winter low28 °Faverage low, January
Hot days39days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights82nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,507base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 35 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
Precipitation45.5 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall3 inper year

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 52 °F, low 28 °F 52°28° JanFebruary: average high 56 °F, low 31 °F 56°31° FebMarch: average high 64 °F, low 37 °F 64°37° MarApril: average high 73 °F, low 45 °F 73°45° AprMay: average high 80 °F, low 55 °F 80°55° MayJune: average high 86 °F, low 63 °F 86°63° JunJuly: average high 89 °F, low 67 °F 89°67° JulAugust: average high 88 °F, low 66 °F 88°66° AugSeptember: average high 82 °F, low 60 °F 82°60° SepOctober: average high 73 °F, low 47 °F 73°47° OctNovember: average high 62 °F, low 36 °F 62°36° NovDecember: average high 54 °F, low 31 °F 54°31° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.75 in precipitation, 2 in snowfall 3.8❄2 JanFebruary: 3.18 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 3.2 FebMarch: 3.86 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 3.9 MarApril: 3.96 in precipitation 4.0 AprMay: 3.33 in precipitation 3.3 MayJune: 4.18 in precipitation 4.2 JunJuly: 4.68 in precipitation 4.7 JulAugust: 4.44 in precipitation 4.4 AugSeptember: 4.27 in precipitation 4.3 SepOctober: 3.05 in precipitation 3.0 OctNovember: 3.37 in precipitation 3.4 NovDecember: 3.40 in precipitation, 0.6 in snowfall 3.4❄1 Dec

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

ZIP codes in Lexington

272928a
10 to 15 °F
272938a
10 to 15 °F
272948a
10 to 15 °F
272957b
5 to 10 °F

North Carolina planting zones →

Questions about Lexington

What planting zone is Lexington, NC?

Lexington, NC is in USDA hardiness zones 7b to 8a on the 2023 map (7b: 5 to 10 °F; 8a: 10 to 15 °F).

When is the last frost in Lexington, NC?

The median last spring frost is April 11 and the median first fall frost is October 28 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lexington station).

When can I plant a garden in Lexington, NC?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 28 – Mar 21; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 18, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Lexington, NC?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 35 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Lexington, NC get?

About 45.5 inches of precipitation a year and 3 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).