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

Planting zone for Aiken, SC

Aiken, SC is in USDA zone 8b across its 5 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 19 and the first fall frost November 14.

Aiken on the zone map

Outlined: its 3 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 19
First frostNov 14
Growing season241 days

8b 5 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 Aiken, SC

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 19median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 5only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 14median — 10% chance by Nov 1
Growing season241 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 4 and returns around November 30.

From the NOAA station Aiken 2 E, SC, elevation 541 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 Aiken

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 5 – Feb 19
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 5 – Feb 26
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 8 – Jan 22
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 26 – Mar 12
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 22 – Feb 5
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 26 – Apr 9
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 8 – Jan 22
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 2 – Apr 16
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 19 – Oct 3
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 31 – Dec 5
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 19) and first fall frost (Nov 14) 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 29801 came on Feb 14 — 7 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 7).

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 South Carolina

566 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in South 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 82

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 131

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 168

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 164

alkali sacaton3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican 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 °F

Vines 12

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican wisteria50 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °Fcupseed30 ft · blooms late 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 °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 Aiken, SC.

Soil in Aiken, SC

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 29801 is Fuquay — sand, well drained.

TextureSanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH6.1slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.4%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Fuquay sand, 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 29801; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Aiken, SC

Summer high93 °Faverage high, July
Winter low32 °Faverage low, January
Hot days81days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights41nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,678base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 23 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 55 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation47.5 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 58 °F, low 32 °F 58°32° JanFebruary: average high 62 °F, low 36 °F 62°36° FebMarch: average high 68 °F, low 41 °F 68°41° MarApril: average high 77 °F, low 49 °F 77°49° AprMay: average high 86 °F, low 59 °F 86°59° MayJune: average high 90 °F, low 67 °F 90°67° JunJuly: average high 93 °F, low 70 °F 93°70° JulAugust: average high 92 °F, low 69 °F 92°69° AugSeptember: average high 86 °F, low 64 °F 86°64° SepOctober: average high 78 °F, low 52 °F 78°52° OctNovember: average high 67 °F, low 42 °F 67°42° NovDecember: average high 60 °F, low 36 °F 60°36° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.82 in precipitation 3.8 JanFebruary: 3.73 in precipitation 3.7 FebMarch: 4.43 in precipitation 4.4 MarApril: 3.05 in precipitation 3.0 AprMay: 3.45 in precipitation 3.5 MayJune: 5.33 in precipitation 5.3 JunJuly: 4.55 in precipitation 4.5 JulAugust: 4.94 in precipitation 4.9 AugSeptember: 4.11 in precipitation 4.1 SepOctober: 2.90 in precipitation 2.9 OctNovember: 3.15 in precipitation 3.1 NovDecember: 4.00 in precipitation 4.0 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Aiken 2 E, SC (2 mi away); precipitation: Aiken 1.6 Nnw, SC (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Aiken

298018b
15 to 20 °F
298028b
15 to 20 °F
298038b
15 to 20 °F
298048b
15 to 20 °F
298058b
15 to 20 °F

South Carolina planting zones →

Questions about Aiken

What planting zone is Aiken, SC?

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

When is the last frost in Aiken, SC?

The median last spring frost is March 19 and the median first fall frost is November 14 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Aiken 2 E station).

When can I plant a garden in Aiken, SC?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 5 – Feb 26; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Mar 26, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Aiken, SC?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 23 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Aiken, SC get?

About 47.5 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).