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

Planting zone for Magnolia, TX

Magnolia, TX is in USDA zone 9a across its 3 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is February 19 and the first fall frost December 3.

Magnolia on the zone map

Outlined: its 2 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.

Zone9a20 to 25 °F
ZIP codes3
Last frostFeb 19
First frostDec 3
Growing season290 days

9a 3 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Magnolia, 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 Magnolia, TX

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostFebruary 19median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 15only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostDecember 3median — 10% chance by Nov 13
Growing season290 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around January 31 and returns around December 29.

From the NOAA station Houston Hooks Mem Airport, TX, elevation 151 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 Magnolia

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 8 – Jan 22
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 8 – Jan 29
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 11 – Dec 25
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Jan 29 – Feb 12
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Jan 22 – Feb 5
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Jan 29 – Feb 12
LettuceSow outdoors · Jan 22 – Feb 5
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Jan 29 – Feb 12
TomatoesStart indoors · Dec 25 – Jan 8
TomatoesTransplant · Feb 26 – Mar 12
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 11 – Dec 25
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 5 – Mar 19
BeansSow outdoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Oct 8 – Oct 22
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 19 – Dec 24
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Feb 19) and first fall frost (Dec 3) 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 77353 came on Jan 15 — 10 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 25).

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 9a in Texas

640 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Texas, and rated by the USDA to survive 20 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 9a. 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 141

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 208

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 196

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 Magnolia, TX.

Soil in Magnolia, TX

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 77353 is Katy — fine sandy loam, moderately well drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.1strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.1%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Katy fine sandy loam, 0 to 1 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 77353; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Magnolia, TX

Summer high95 °Faverage high, August
Winter low43 °Faverage low, January
Hot days111days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights14nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days7,443base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 06 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 12 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation48.5 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 63 °F, low 43 °F 63°43° JanFebruary: average high 68 °F, low 47 °F 68°47° FebMarch: average high 74 °F, low 53 °F 74°53° MarApril: average high 80 °F, low 59 °F 80°59° AprMay: average high 87 °F, low 67 °F 87°67° MayJune: average high 92 °F, low 73 °F 92°73° JunJuly: average high 94 °F, low 75 °F 94°75° JulAugust: average high 95 °F, low 74 °F 95°74° AugSeptember: average high 91 °F, low 70 °F 91°70° SepOctober: average high 82 °F, low 60 °F 82°60° OctNovember: average high 72 °F, low 50 °F 72°50° NovDecember: average high 65 °F, low 44 °F 65°44° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.73 in precipitation 3.7 JanFebruary: 3.03 in precipitation 3.0 FebMarch: 3.26 in precipitation 3.3 MarApril: 3.58 in precipitation 3.6 AprMay: 4.91 in precipitation 4.9 MayJune: 4.70 in precipitation 4.7 JunJuly: 3.20 in precipitation 3.2 JulAugust: 4.63 in precipitation 4.6 AugSeptember: 4.01 in precipitation 4.0 SepOctober: 5.02 in precipitation 5.0 OctNovember: 4.54 in precipitation 4.5 NovDecember: 3.93 in precipitation 3.9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Houston Hooks Mem Airport, TX (15 mi away); precipitation: Tomball 6.2 W, TX (9 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Magnolia

773539a
20 to 25 °F
773549a
20 to 25 °F
773559a
20 to 25 °F

Texas planting zones →

Questions about Magnolia

What planting zone is Magnolia, TX?

Magnolia, TX is in USDA hardiness zone 9a on the 2023 map (9a: 20 to 25 °F).

When is the last frost in Magnolia, TX?

The median last spring frost is February 19 and the median first fall frost is December 3 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Houston Hooks Mem Airport station).

When can I plant a garden in Magnolia, TX?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Jan 8 – Jan 29; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Feb 26, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Magnolia, TX?

Short-day onions: the longest day is 14 h 06 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.

How much rain and snow does Magnolia, TX get?

About 48.5 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).