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

Planting zone for Galveston, TX

Galveston, TX is in USDA zone 10a across its 6 ZIP codes.

Galveston on the zone map

Outlined: its 4 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.

Zone10a30 to 35 °F
ZIP codes6
Last frostrare
First frostrare
Growing seasonall year

10a 6 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Galveston, TX…

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

A 32 °F frost doesn't happen here in most winters. At the nearest station (NOAA station Galveston, TX, elevation 7 ft) the median growing season is 348 days. When frost does come, it is a midwinter night or two; cover tender plants when a freeze is forecast.

Frost data: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 77551 came on Jan 15 — 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 22).

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 10a in Texas

651 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Texas, and rated by the USDA to survive 30 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 10a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 72

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican beech80 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −44 °FAmerican elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican sycamore100 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −34 °FArizona cypress50 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °FArizona walnut50 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Shrubs 147

alderleaf mountain mahogany15 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −41 °Faloe yucca15 ft · blooms early summer · medium shade tolerance · to −1 °FAmerican beautyberry6 ft · blooms early summer · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °FAmerican holly40 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −20 °FAmerican hornbeam30 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −34 °FAmerican snowbell10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −16 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 212

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine mountainsorrel1 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −43 °FAmerican bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican century plant6 ft · blooms indeterminate · high shade tolerance · to 12 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican licorice4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Grasses 197

alkali sacaton3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican cupscale3 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −18 °FArizona cottontop4 ft · blooms late summer · high shade tolerance · to −13 °FArizona fescue2 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −23 °FArizona threeawn2 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −3 °Fautumn bluegrass1.5 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °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 Galveston, TX.

Soil in Galveston, TX

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 77551 is Galveston — fine sand, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureFine sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH7.4slightly alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter0.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Galveston-Urban land complex, 0 to 3 percent slopes, occasionally flooded, storm surge.

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 77551; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Galveston, TX

Summer high92 °Faverage high, August
Winter low49 °Faverage low, January
Hot days66days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights2nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days8,235base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 01 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 16 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation47.2 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

40°50°60°70°80°90°100°January: average high 63 °F, low 49 °F 63°49° JanFebruary: average high 66 °F, low 52 °F 66°52° FebMarch: average high 72 °F, low 58 °F 72°58° MarApril: average high 78 °F, low 65 °F 78°65° AprMay: average high 84 °F, low 72 °F 84°72° MayJune: average high 90 °F, low 78 °F 90°78° JunJuly: average high 91 °F, low 80 °F 91°80° JulAugust: average high 92 °F, low 80 °F 92°80° AugSeptember: average high 89 °F, low 76 °F 89°76° SepOctober: average high 82 °F, low 69 °F 82°69° OctNovember: average high 72 °F, low 59 °F 72°59° NovDecember: average high 66 °F, low 52 °F 66°52° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″January: 4.30 in precipitation 4.3 JanFebruary: 2.14 in precipitation 2.1 FebMarch: 3.02 in precipitation 3.0 MarApril: 2.06 in precipitation 2.1 AprMay: 3.04 in precipitation 3.0 MayJune: 4.23 in precipitation 4.2 JunJuly: 3.41 in precipitation 3.4 JulAugust: 4.71 in precipitation 4.7 AugSeptember: 6.65 in precipitation 6.7 SepOctober: 5.15 in precipitation 5.2 OctNovember: 4.28 in precipitation 4.3 NovDecember: 4.23 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 4.2 Dec

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

ZIP codes in Galveston

7755010a
30 to 35 °F
7755110a
30 to 35 °F
7755210a
30 to 35 °F
7755310a
30 to 35 °F
7755410a
30 to 35 °F
7755510a
30 to 35 °F

Texas planting zones →

Questions about Galveston

What planting zone is Galveston, TX?

Galveston, TX is in USDA hardiness zone 10a on the 2023 map (10a: 30 to 35 °F).

What kind of onions grow in Galveston, TX?

Short-day onions: the longest day is 14 h 01 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.

How much rain and snow does Galveston, TX get?

About 47.2 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).