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

Planting zone for Killeen, TX

Killeen, TX is in USDA zone 8b across its 6 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 14 and the first fall frost November 17.

Killeen 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.

Zone8b15 to 20 °F
ZIP codes6
Last frostMar 14
First frostNov 17
Growing season247 days

8b 6 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Killeen, 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 in Killeen, TX

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 14median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 4only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 17median — 10% chance by Nov 1
Growing season247 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 2 and returns around November 30.

From the NOAA station Killeen, TX, elevation 814 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 Killeen

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 31 – Feb 21
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 3 – Jan 17
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 21 – Mar 7
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 17 – Jan 31
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 21 – Apr 4
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 3 – Jan 17
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 28 – Apr 11
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 22 – Oct 6
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 3 – Dec 8
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 14) and first fall frost (Nov 17) 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 76541 came on Jan 30 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Jan 30).

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 8b in Texas

620 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Texas, and rated by the USDA to survive 15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 8b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 70

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 137

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 204

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 188

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 Killeen, TX.

Soil in Killeen, TX

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 76541 is Frio — silty clay, well drained.

TextureSilty clayholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH8.2alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Frio silty clay, 0 to 1 percent slopes, frequently flooded.

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 76541; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Killeen, TX

Summer high97 °Faverage high, August
Winter low36 °Faverage low, January
Hot days105days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights31nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days6,526base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 10 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 08 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation36 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°110°32 °FJanuary: average high 60 °F, low 36 °F 60°36° JanFebruary: average high 63 °F, low 40 °F 63°40° FebMarch: average high 70 °F, low 47 °F 70°47° MarApril: average high 77 °F, low 54 °F 77°54° AprMay: average high 84 °F, low 63 °F 84°63° MayJune: average high 92 °F, low 70 °F 92°70° JunJuly: average high 96 °F, low 72 °F 96°72° JulAugust: average high 97 °F, low 73 °F 97°73° AugSeptember: average high 90 °F, low 67 °F 90°67° SepOctober: average high 80 °F, low 56 °F 80°56° OctNovember: average high 69 °F, low 46 °F 69°46° NovDecember: average high 60 °F, low 38 °F 60°38° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.48 in precipitation 2.5 JanFebruary: 2.35 in precipitation 2.4 FebMarch: 3.12 in precipitation 3.1 MarApril: 2.96 in precipitation 3.0 AprMay: 4.52 in precipitation 4.5 MayJune: 3.39 in precipitation 3.4 JunJuly: 2.21 in precipitation 2.2 JulAugust: 2.53 in precipitation 2.5 AugSeptember: 3.48 in precipitation 3.5 SepOctober: 3.88 in precipitation 3.9 OctNovember: 2.67 in precipitation 2.7 NovDecember: 2.37 in precipitation 2.4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Killeen, TX (4 mi away); precipitation: Killeen 2.9 Ssw, TX (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Killeen

765408b
15 to 20 °F
765418b
15 to 20 °F
765428b
15 to 20 °F
765438b
15 to 20 °F
765478b
15 to 20 °F
765498b
15 to 20 °F

Texas planting zones →

Questions about Killeen

What planting zone is Killeen, TX?

Killeen, TX is in USDA hardiness zone 8b on the 2023 map (8b: 15 to 20 °F).

When is the last frost in Killeen, TX?

The median last spring frost is March 14 and the median first fall frost is November 17 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Killeen station).

When can I plant a garden in Killeen, TX?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Jan 31 – Feb 21; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Mar 21, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Killeen, TX?

Short-day onions: the longest day is 14 h 10 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.

How much rain and snow does Killeen, TX get?

About 36 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).