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

Planting zone for Rock Hill, SC

Rock Hill, SC is in USDA zone 8a across its 5 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 27 and the first fall frost November 5.

Rock Hill 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.

Zone8a10 to 15 °F
ZIP codes5
Last frostMar 27
First frostNov 5
Growing season225 days

8a 5 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Rock Hill, 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 Rock Hill, SC

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 27median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 11only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 5median — 10% chance by Oct 24
Growing season225 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 15 and returns around November 18.

From the NOAA station Winthrop Univ, SC, elevation 650 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 Rock Hill

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 13 – Mar 6
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 16 – Jan 30
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 6 – Mar 20
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 30 – Feb 13
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 3 – Apr 17
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 16 – Jan 30
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 10 – Apr 24
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 10 – Sep 24
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 22 – Nov 26
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 27) and first fall frost (Nov 5) 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 29732 came on Feb 20 — 4 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 16).

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 8a in South Carolina

550 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in South Carolina, and rated by the USDA to survive 10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 8a. 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 126

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 163

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 158

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 Rock Hill, SC.

Soil in Rock Hill, SC

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 29732 is Cecil — sandy clay loam, well drained.

TextureSandy clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH5.2strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Cecil sandy clay loam, 2 to 6 percent slopes, moderately eroded.

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 29732; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Rock Hill, SC

Summer high90 °Faverage high, July
Winter low31 °Faverage low, January
Hot days55days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights65nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,934base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 30 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 48 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation42.4 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 52 °F, low 31 °F 52°31° JanFebruary: average high 57 °F, low 34 °F 57°34° FebMarch: average high 64 °F, low 40 °F 64°40° MarApril: average high 74 °F, low 48 °F 74°48° AprMay: average high 80 °F, low 57 °F 80°57° MayJune: average high 87 °F, low 66 °F 87°66° JunJuly: average high 90 °F, low 69 °F 90°69° JulAugust: average high 89 °F, low 68 °F 89°68° AugSeptember: average high 83 °F, low 62 °F 83°62° SepOctober: average high 73 °F, low 49 °F 73°49° OctNovember: average high 63 °F, low 39 °F 63°39° NovDecember: average high 55 °F, low 33 °F 55°33° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.47 in precipitation 3.5 JanFebruary: 3.15 in precipitation 3.1 FebMarch: 3.78 in precipitation 3.8 MarApril: 3.55 in precipitation 3.5 AprMay: 3.16 in precipitation 3.2 MayJune: 3.97 in precipitation 4.0 JunJuly: 4.02 in precipitation 4.0 JulAugust: 3.98 in precipitation 4.0 AugSeptember: 3.42 in precipitation 3.4 SepOctober: 3.01 in precipitation 3.0 OctNovember: 3.25 in precipitation 3.3 NovDecember: 3.62 in precipitation 3.6 Dec

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

ZIP codes in Rock Hill

297308a
10 to 15 °F
297318a
10 to 15 °F
297328a
10 to 15 °F
297338a
10 to 15 °F
297348a
10 to 15 °F

South Carolina planting zones →

Questions about Rock Hill

What planting zone is Rock Hill, SC?

Rock Hill, SC is in USDA hardiness zone 8a on the 2023 map (8a: 10 to 15 °F).

When is the last frost in Rock Hill, SC?

The median last spring frost is March 27 and the median first fall frost is November 5 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Winthrop Univ station).

When can I plant a garden in Rock Hill, SC?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 13 – Mar 6; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 3, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Rock Hill, SC?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 30 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Rock Hill, SC get?

About 42.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).