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

Planting zone for Hartsville, SC

Hartsville, SC is in USDA zone 8b across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 30 and the first fall frost November 6.

Hartsville 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.

Zone8b15 to 20 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostMar 30
First frostNov 6
Growing season224 days

8b 2 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 Hartsville, SC

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 13only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 6median — 10% chance by Oct 26
Growing season224 daysfrost-free, median

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

From the NOAA station Hartsville, SC, elevation 184 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 Hartsville

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 11 – Sep 25
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 23 – Nov 27
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 30) and first fall frost (Nov 6) 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 29550 came on Feb 18 — 9 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 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 Hartsville, SC.

Soil in Hartsville, SC

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 29550 is Alpin — sand, excessively drained.

TextureSanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.6moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageExcessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.4%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Alpin sand, 0 to 6 percent slopes, Carolina and Georgia Sandhills.

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 29550; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Hartsville, SC

Summer high92 °Faverage high, July
Winter low32 °Faverage low, January
Hot days74days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights62nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,336base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 27 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 51 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation48.5 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall1 inper year

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 55 °F, low 32 °F 55°32° JanFebruary: average high 59 °F, low 34 °F 59°34° FebMarch: average high 66 °F, low 40 °F 66°40° MarApril: average high 76 °F, low 48 °F 76°48° AprMay: average high 82 °F, low 58 °F 82°58° MayJune: average high 89 °F, low 67 °F 89°67° JunJuly: average high 92 °F, low 70 °F 92°70° JulAugust: average high 90 °F, low 69 °F 90°69° AugSeptember: average high 85 °F, low 63 °F 85°63° SepOctober: average high 76 °F, low 51 °F 76°51° OctNovember: average high 65 °F, low 40 °F 65°40° NovDecember: average high 58 °F, low 35 °F 58°35° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.73 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.7 JanFebruary: 3.35 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 3.4 FebMarch: 3.76 in precipitation 3.8 MarApril: 2.98 in precipitation 3.0 AprMay: 3.90 in precipitation 3.9 MayJune: 4.64 in precipitation 4.6 JunJuly: 5.91 in precipitation 5.9 JulAugust: 5.20 in precipitation 5.2 AugSeptember: 4.92 in precipitation 4.9 SepOctober: 3.41 in precipitation 3.4 OctNovember: 2.91 in precipitation 2.9 NovDecember: 3.81 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.8 Dec

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

ZIP codes in Hartsville

295508b
15 to 20 °F
295518b
15 to 20 °F

South Carolina planting zones →

Questions about Hartsville

What planting zone is Hartsville, SC?

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

When is the last frost in Hartsville, SC?

The median last spring frost is March 30 and the median first fall frost is November 6 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Hartsville station).

When can I plant a garden in Hartsville, SC?

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 Hartsville, SC?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 27 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Hartsville, SC get?

About 48.5 inches of precipitation a year and 1 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).