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

Planting zone for Memphis, TN

Memphis, TN is in USDA zone 8a across its 60 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 16 and the first fall frost November 16.

Memphis on the zone map

Outlined: its 28 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 codes60
Last frostMar 16
First frostNov 16
Growing season244 days

8a 60 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Memphis, TN…

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 Memphis, TN

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 16median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 4only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 16median — 10% chance by Nov 2
Growing season244 daysfrost-free, median

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

From the NOAA station Memphis Intl Airport, TN, elevation 253 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 Memphis

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 2 – Feb 16
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 2 – Feb 23
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 5 – Jan 19
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 23 – Mar 9
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 16 – Mar 2
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 16 – Mar 2
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 19 – Feb 2
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 23 – Apr 6
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 5 – Jan 19
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 30 – Apr 13
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 21 – Oct 5
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 2 – Dec 7
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 16) and first fall frost (Nov 16) 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 38112 came on Feb 16 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 18).

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 Tennessee

575 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Tennessee, and rated by the USDA to survive 10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 8a. 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 118

alderleaf buckthorn3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAllegheny serviceberry35 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °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 186

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 161

American cupscale3 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −18 °Fautumn bluegrass1.5 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBailey's sedge2.1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fbig bluestem6 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −46 °Fbluejoint5 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Vines 14

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican wisteria50 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °Fcatbird grape30 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −13 °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 °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 Memphis, TN.

Soil in Memphis, TN

The center of ZIP 38112 is mapped as Graded land, silty materials (Udorthent, silty): built-over ground without natural soil data. Garden soil here is usually imported or disturbed — test before you plant.

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 38112; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Memphis, TN

Summer high92 °Faverage high, July
Winter low33 °Faverage low, January
Hot days72days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights44nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,766base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 32 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 47 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation54.9 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall3 inper year; 2 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 51 °F, low 33 °F 51°33° JanFebruary: average high 56 °F, low 37 °F 56°37° FebMarch: average high 64 °F, low 44 °F 64°44° MarApril: average high 73 °F, low 53 °F 73°53° AprMay: average high 82 °F, low 62 °F 82°62° MayJune: average high 89 °F, low 70 °F 89°70° JunJuly: average high 92 °F, low 74 °F 92°74° JulAugust: average high 92 °F, low 73 °F 92°73° AugSeptember: average high 86 °F, low 66 °F 86°66° SepOctober: average high 75 °F, low 54 °F 75°54° OctNovember: average high 63 °F, low 43 °F 63°43° NovDecember: average high 53 °F, low 36 °F 53°36° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 4.14 in precipitation, 0.9 in snowfall 4.1❄1 JanFebruary: 4.55 in precipitation, 1 in snowfall 4.5❄1 FebMarch: 5.74 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 5.7❄1 MarApril: 5.87 in precipitation 5.9 AprMay: 5.27 in precipitation 5.3 MayJune: 3.99 in precipitation 4.0 JunJuly: 4.82 in precipitation 4.8 JulAugust: 3.37 in precipitation 3.4 AugSeptember: 3.03 in precipitation 3.0 SepOctober: 3.98 in precipitation 4.0 OctNovember: 4.69 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 4.7 NovDecember: 5.49 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 5.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Memphis Intl Airport, TN (6 mi away); precipitation: Memphis Intl Airport, TN (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Memphis

375018a
10 to 15 °F
375448a
10 to 15 °F
381018a
10 to 15 °F
381038a
10 to 15 °F
381048a
10 to 15 °F
381058a
10 to 15 °F
381068a
10 to 15 °F
381078a
10 to 15 °F
381088a
10 to 15 °F
381098a
10 to 15 °F
381118a
10 to 15 °F
381128a
10 to 15 °F
381138a
10 to 15 °F
381148a
10 to 15 °F
381158a
10 to 15 °F
381168a
10 to 15 °F
381178a
10 to 15 °F
381188a
10 to 15 °F
381198a
10 to 15 °F
381208a
10 to 15 °F
381228a
10 to 15 °F
381248a
10 to 15 °F
381258a
10 to 15 °F
381268a
10 to 15 °F
381278a
10 to 15 °F
381288a
10 to 15 °F
381308a
10 to 15 °F
381318a
10 to 15 °F
381328a
10 to 15 °F
381338a
10 to 15 °F
381348a
10 to 15 °F
381358a
10 to 15 °F
381368a
10 to 15 °F
381378a
10 to 15 °F
381418a
10 to 15 °F
381458a
10 to 15 °F
381488a
10 to 15 °F
381508a
10 to 15 °F
381518a
10 to 15 °F
381578a
10 to 15 °F
381598a
10 to 15 °F
381618a
10 to 15 °F
381638a
10 to 15 °F
381668a
10 to 15 °F
381678a
10 to 15 °F
381688a
10 to 15 °F
381738a
10 to 15 °F
381748a
10 to 15 °F
381758a
10 to 15 °F
381778a
10 to 15 °F
381818a
10 to 15 °F
381828a
10 to 15 °F
381848a
10 to 15 °F
381868a
10 to 15 °F
381878a
10 to 15 °F
381888a
10 to 15 °F
381908a
10 to 15 °F
381938a
10 to 15 °F
381948a
10 to 15 °F
381978a
10 to 15 °F

Tennessee planting zones →

Questions about Memphis

What planting zone is Memphis, TN?

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

When is the last frost in Memphis, TN?

The median last spring frost is March 16 and the median first fall frost is November 16 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Memphis Intl Airport station).

When can I plant a garden in Memphis, TN?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 2 – Feb 23; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Mar 23, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Memphis, TN?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 32 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Memphis, TN get?

About 54.9 inches of precipitation a year and 3 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).