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

Planting zone for Hilton Head Island, SC

Hilton Head Island, SC is in USDA zones 9a to 9b across its 4 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 3 and the first fall frost December 9.

Hilton Head Island 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.

Zones9a–9b20 to 30 °F
ZIP codes4
Last frostMar 3
First frostDec 9
Growing season282 days

9a 1 ZIP   9b 3 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Hilton Head Island, SC…

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 Hilton Head Island, SC

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 3median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 20only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostDecember 9median — 10% chance by Nov 21
Growing season282 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 9 and returns around December 28.

From the NOAA station Beaufort Wwtp, SC, elevation 26 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 Hilton Head Island

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 20 – Feb 3
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 20 – Feb 10
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 23 – Jan 6
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 10 – Feb 24
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 3 – Feb 17
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 10 – Feb 24
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 3 – Feb 17
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 10 – Feb 24
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 6 – Jan 20
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 10 – Mar 24
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 23 – Jan 6
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 17 – Mar 31
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Oct 14 – Oct 28
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 25 – Dec 30
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 3) and first fall frost (Dec 9) 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 29926 came on Feb 1 — 4 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 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 9a in South Carolina

578 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in South Carolina, and rated by the USDA to survive 20 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 9a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 83

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 133

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 170

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 169

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 Hilton Head Island, SC.

Soil in Hilton Head Island, SC

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 29926 is Ridgeland — fine sand, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureFine sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.1strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter2.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classPrime farmland if irrigatedUSDA classification

Map unit: Ridgeland fine sand.

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 29926; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Hilton Head Island, SC

Summer high91 °Faverage high, July
Winter low41 °Faverage low, January
Hot days58days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights13nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days6,719base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 16 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 02 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation51 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 61 °F, low 41 °F 61°41° JanFebruary: average high 65 °F, low 44 °F 65°44° FebMarch: average high 72 °F, low 49 °F 72°49° MarApril: average high 77 °F, low 56 °F 77°56° AprMay: average high 84 °F, low 66 °F 84°66° MayJune: average high 89 °F, low 72 °F 89°72° JunJuly: average high 91 °F, low 75 °F 91°75° JulAugust: average high 90 °F, low 75 °F 90°75° AugSeptember: average high 86 °F, low 70 °F 86°70° SepOctober: average high 79 °F, low 61 °F 79°61° OctNovember: average high 70 °F, low 51 °F 70°51° NovDecember: average high 62 °F, low 44 °F 62°44° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″8″January: 3.52 in precipitation 3.5 JanFebruary: 3.12 in precipitation 3.1 FebMarch: 3.78 in precipitation 3.8 MarApril: 3.16 in precipitation 3.2 AprMay: 3.33 in precipitation 3.3 MayJune: 5.78 in precipitation 5.8 JunJuly: 5.85 in precipitation 5.8 JulAugust: 7.06 in precipitation 7.1 AugSeptember: 5.23 in precipitation 5.2 SepOctober: 4.30 in precipitation 4.3 OctNovember: 2.47 in precipitation 2.5 NovDecember: 3.36 in precipitation 3.4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Beaufort Wwtp, SC (11 mi away); precipitation: Hilton Head Island 4.0 N, SC (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Hilton Head Island

299259b
25 to 30 °F
299269b
25 to 30 °F
299289b
25 to 30 °F
299389a
20 to 25 °F

South Carolina planting zones →

Questions about Hilton Head Island

What planting zone is Hilton Head Island, SC?

Hilton Head Island, SC is in USDA hardiness zones 9a to 9b on the 2023 map (9a: 20 to 25 °F; 9b: 25 to 30 °F).

When is the last frost in Hilton Head Island, SC?

The median last spring frost is March 3 and the median first fall frost is December 9 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Beaufort Wwtp station).

When can I plant a garden in Hilton Head Island, SC?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Jan 20 – Feb 10; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Mar 10, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Hilton Head Island, SC?

Short-day onions: the longest day is 14 h 16 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.

How much rain and snow does Hilton Head Island, SC get?

About 51 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).