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

Planting zone for New Bern, NC

New Bern, NC is in USDA zone 8b across its 5 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 23 and the first fall frost November 15.

New Bern 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.

Zone8b15 to 20 °F
ZIP codes5
Last frostMar 23
First frostNov 15
Growing season237 days

8b 5 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for New Bern, 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 New Bern, NC

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 23median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 7only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 15median — 10% chance by Nov 1
Growing season237 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 12 and returns around November 28.

From the NOAA station New Bern Craven Co. Airport, NC, elevation 20 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 New Bern

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 9 – Feb 23
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 9 – Mar 2
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 12 – Jan 26
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 2 – Mar 16
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 2 – Mar 16
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 2 – Mar 16
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 26 – Feb 9
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 30 – Apr 13
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 12 – Jan 26
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 6 – Apr 20
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 20 – Oct 4
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 1 – Dec 6
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 23) and first fall frost (Nov 15) 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 28563 came on Feb 20 — 11 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 9).

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 New Bern, NC.

Soil in New Bern, NC

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 28563 is Arapahoe — fine sandy loam, very poorly drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH4.7strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageVery poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupA/Ddrains fast once dried out; wet otherwise
Farmland classPrime farmland if drainedUSDA classification

Map unit: Arapahoe fine sandy loam.

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 28563; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in New Bern, NC

Summer high90 °Faverage high, July
Winter low34 °Faverage low, January
Hot days48days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights47nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,349base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 31 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 47 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation57 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 55 °F, low 34 °F 55°34° JanFebruary: average high 59 °F, low 36 °F 59°36° FebMarch: average high 65 °F, low 42 °F 65°42° MarApril: average high 74 °F, low 50 °F 74°50° AprMay: average high 80 °F, low 59 °F 80°59° 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 70 °F 88°70° AugSeptember: average high 83 °F, low 65 °F 83°65° SepOctober: average high 75 °F, low 54 °F 75°54° OctNovember: average high 66 °F, low 43 °F 66°43° NovDecember: average high 59 °F, low 37 °F 59°37° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″8″January: 3.81 in precipitation 3.8 JanFebruary: 3.51 in precipitation 3.5 FebMarch: 3.77 in precipitation 3.8 MarApril: 3.60 in precipitation 3.6 AprMay: 4.04 in precipitation 4.0 MayJune: 5.67 in precipitation 5.7 JunJuly: 6.62 in precipitation 6.6 JulAugust: 7.30 in precipitation 7.3 AugSeptember: 6.88 in precipitation 6.9 SepOctober: 4.17 in precipitation 4.2 OctNovember: 3.70 in precipitation 3.7 NovDecember: 3.92 in precipitation 3.9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: New Bern Craven Co. Airport, NC (3 mi away); precipitation: New Bern 1.3 Nne, NC (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in New Bern

285608b
15 to 20 °F
285618b
15 to 20 °F
285628b
15 to 20 °F
285638b
15 to 20 °F
285648b
15 to 20 °F

North Carolina planting zones →

Questions about New Bern

What planting zone is New Bern, NC?

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

When is the last frost in New Bern, NC?

The median last spring frost is March 23 and the median first fall frost is November 15 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, New Bern Craven Co. Airport station).

When can I plant a garden in New Bern, NC?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 9 – Mar 2; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Mar 30, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in New Bern, 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 New Bern, NC get?

About 57 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).