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

Planting zone for Rural Hall, NC

Rural Hall, NC is in USDA zone 7b across its 4 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 6 and the first fall frost October 31.

Rural Hall 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.

Zone7b5 to 10 °F
ZIP codes4
Last frostApr 6
First frostOct 31
Growing season209 days

7b 4 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Rural Hall, 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 Rural Hall, NC

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 6median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 21only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 31median — 10% chance by Oct 17
Growing season209 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 25 and returns around November 11.

From the NOAA station Rural Hall, NC, elevation 961 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 Rural Hall

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 23 – Mar 16
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 26 – Feb 9
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 16 – Mar 30
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 16 – Mar 30
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 16 – Mar 30
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 9 – Feb 23
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 13 – Apr 27
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 26 – Feb 9
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 20 – May 4
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 5 – Sep 19
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 17 – Nov 21
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 6) and first fall frost (Oct 31) 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 27094 came on Mar 1 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 28).

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 Rural Hall, NC.

Soil in Rural Hall, NC

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 27094 is Clifford — sandy loam, well drained.

TextureSandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH4.5strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Clifford sandy loam, 2 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 27094; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Rural Hall, NC

Summer high87 °Faverage high, July
Winter low28 °Faverage low, January
Hot days24days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights85nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,086base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 38 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 41 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation47.2 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall6 inper year; 4 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 48 °F, low 28 °F 48°28° JanFebruary: average high 51 °F, low 30 °F 51°30° FebMarch: average high 59 °F, low 36 °F 59°36° MarApril: average high 69 °F, low 45 °F 69°45° AprMay: average high 77 °F, low 54 °F 77°54° MayJune: average high 84 °F, low 63 °F 84°63° JunJuly: average high 87 °F, low 67 °F 87°67° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 65 °F 85°65° AugSeptember: average high 79 °F, low 59 °F 79°59° SepOctober: average high 69 °F, low 47 °F 69°47° OctNovember: average high 59 °F, low 37 °F 59°37° NovDecember: average high 50 °F, low 31 °F 50°31° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.87 in precipitation, 2.5 in snowfall 3.9❄3 JanFebruary: 2.99 in precipitation, 1.8 in snowfall 3.0❄2 FebMarch: 4.00 in precipitation, 0.6 in snowfall 4.0❄1 MarApril: 4.22 in precipitation 4.2 AprMay: 4.25 in precipitation 4.3 MayJune: 4.46 in precipitation 4.5 JunJuly: 4.25 in precipitation 4.3 JulAugust: 4.48 in precipitation 4.5 AugSeptember: 4.46 in precipitation 4.5 SepOctober: 3.23 in precipitation 3.2 OctNovember: 3.25 in precipitation 3.3 NovDecember: 3.78 in precipitation, 1.3 in snowfall 3.8❄1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Rural Hall, NC (within 1 mile); precipitation: King, NC (5 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Rural Hall

270457b
5 to 10 °F
270947b
5 to 10 °F
270987b
5 to 10 °F
270997b
5 to 10 °F

North Carolina planting zones →

Questions about Rural Hall

What planting zone is Rural Hall, NC?

Rural Hall, NC is in USDA hardiness zone 7b on the 2023 map (7b: 5 to 10 °F).

When is the last frost in Rural Hall, NC?

The median last spring frost is April 6 and the median first fall frost is October 31 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Rural Hall station).

When can I plant a garden in Rural Hall, NC?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 23 – Mar 16; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 13, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Rural Hall, NC?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 38 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Rural Hall, NC get?

About 47.2 inches of precipitation a year and 6 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).