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

Planting zone for Spartanburg, SC

Spartanburg, SC is in USDA zone 8a across its 8 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 8 and the first fall frost November 1.

Spartanburg on the zone map

Outlined: its 5 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 codes8
Last frostApr 8
First frostNov 1
Growing season206 days

8a 8 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Spartanburg, 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 Spartanburg, SC

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 8median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 23only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 1median — 10% chance by Oct 17
Growing season206 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 24 and returns around November 11.

From the NOAA station Spartanburg 3 Sse, SC, elevation 610 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 Spartanburg

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 25 – Mar 18
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 28 – Feb 11
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 18 – Apr 1
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 11 – Feb 25
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 28 – Feb 11
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 22 – May 6
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 6 – Sep 20
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 18 – Nov 22
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 8) and first fall frost (Nov 1) 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 29305 came on Feb 19 — 4 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 15).

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 Spartanburg, SC.

Soil in Spartanburg, SC

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 29305 is Cecil — sandy loam, well drained. Much of the area is built over (urban land); this is the natural soil underneath.

TextureSandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Urban Land-Cecil complex, 2 to 10 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 29305; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Spartanburg, SC

Summer high90 °Faverage high, July
Winter low32 °Faverage low, January
Hot days57days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights76nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,916base 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
Precipitation50.2 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 54 °F, low 32 °F 54°32° JanFebruary: average high 59 °F, low 34 °F 59°34° FebMarch: average high 66 °F, low 40 °F 66°40° MarApril: average high 75 °F, low 47 °F 75°47° AprMay: average high 81 °F, low 56 °F 81°56° MayJune: average high 87 °F, low 65 °F 87°65° JunJuly: average high 90 °F, low 69 °F 90°69° JulAugust: average high 88 °F, low 68 °F 88°68° AugSeptember: average high 83 °F, low 62 °F 83°62° SepOctober: average high 74 °F, low 49 °F 74°49° OctNovember: average high 64 °F, low 38 °F 64°38° NovDecember: average high 56 °F, low 34 °F 56°34° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 4.34 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 4.3 JanFebruary: 3.77 in precipitation 3.8 FebMarch: 4.81 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 4.8 MarApril: 4.29 in precipitation 4.3 AprMay: 3.92 in precipitation 3.9 MayJune: 4.58 in precipitation 4.6 JunJuly: 3.97 in precipitation 4.0 JulAugust: 4.56 in precipitation 4.6 AugSeptember: 3.65 in precipitation 3.6 SepOctober: 3.93 in precipitation 3.9 OctNovember: 3.72 in precipitation 3.7 NovDecember: 4.70 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 4.7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Spartanburg 3 Sse, SC (3 mi away); precipitation: Spartanburg 3 Sse, SC (3 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Spartanburg

293018a
10 to 15 °F
293028a
10 to 15 °F
293038a
10 to 15 °F
293048a
10 to 15 °F
293058a
10 to 15 °F
293068a
10 to 15 °F
293078a
10 to 15 °F
293198a
10 to 15 °F

South Carolina planting zones →

Questions about Spartanburg

What planting zone is Spartanburg, SC?

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

When is the last frost in Spartanburg, SC?

The median last spring frost is April 8 and the median first fall frost is November 1 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Spartanburg 3 Sse station).

When can I plant a garden in Spartanburg, SC?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 25 – Mar 18; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 15, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Spartanburg, 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 Spartanburg, SC get?

About 50.2 inches of precipitation a year and 1 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).