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

Planting zone for Alexandria, VA

Alexandria, VA is in USDA zones 7b to 8a across its 21 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 24 and the first fall frost November 18.

Alexandria on the zone map

Outlined: its 14 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.

Zones7b–8a5 to 15 °F
ZIP codes21
Last frostMar 24
First frostNov 18
Growing season241 days

7b 9 ZIPs   8a 12 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

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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 Alexandria, VA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 24median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 6only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 18median — 10% chance by Nov 5
Growing season241 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 12 and returns around December 3.

From the NOAA station Washington Reagan Airport, VA, elevation 10 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 Alexandria

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 10 – Feb 24
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 10 – Mar 3
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 13 – Jan 27
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 3 – Mar 17
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 27 – Feb 10
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 31 – Apr 14
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 13 – Jan 27
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 7 – Apr 21
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 23 – Oct 7
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 4 – Dec 9
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 24) and first fall frost (Nov 18) 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 22303 came on Mar 9 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Mar 8).

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 7b in Virginia

629 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Virginia, and rated by the USDA to survive 5 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 7b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 89

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 133

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 black currant3 ft · blooms early spring · to −46 °FAmerican hazelnut10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 200

American bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican licorice4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °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 °F

Grasses 181

American beachgrass2.5 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °FAmerican cupscale3 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −18 °Farctic brome3 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °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 °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 °Fheartleaf peppervine2 ft · blooms late spring · low 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 Alexandria, VA.

Soil in Alexandria, VA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 22303 is Sassafras — sandy loam, well drained.

TextureSandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH4.6strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Sassafras-Marumsco complex, 15 to 25 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 22303; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Alexandria, VA

Summer high90 °Faverage high, July
Winter low30 °Faverage low, January
Hot days40days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights60nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,709base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 53 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 27 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation47.2 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 45 °F, low 30 °F 45°30° JanFebruary: average high 48 °F, low 32 °F 48°32° FebMarch: average high 57 °F, low 39 °F 57°39° MarApril: average high 68 °F, low 48 °F 68°48° AprMay: average high 77 °F, low 58 °F 77°58° MayJune: average high 85 °F, low 68 °F 85°68° JunJuly: average high 90 °F, low 72 °F 90°72° JulAugust: average high 88 °F, low 71 °F 88°71° AugSeptember: average high 81 °F, low 64 °F 81°64° SepOctober: average high 69 °F, low 52 °F 69°52° OctNovember: average high 58 °F, low 42 °F 58°42° NovDecember: average high 49 °F, low 35 °F 49°35° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.06 in precipitation 3.1 JanFebruary: 2.77 in precipitation 2.8 FebMarch: 4.00 in precipitation 4.0 MarApril: 3.41 in precipitation 3.4 AprMay: 4.53 in precipitation 4.5 MayJune: 5.17 in precipitation 5.2 JunJuly: 4.75 in precipitation 4.8 JulAugust: 4.09 in precipitation 4.1 AugSeptember: 4.49 in precipitation 4.5 SepOctober: 3.92 in precipitation 3.9 OctNovember: 3.22 in precipitation 3.2 NovDecember: 3.76 in precipitation 3.8 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Washington Reagan Airport, VA (4 mi away); precipitation: Alexandria 5.6 Ssw, VA (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Alexandria

223018a
10 to 15 °F
223028a
10 to 15 °F
223038a
10 to 15 °F
223047b
5 to 10 °F
223058a
10 to 15 °F
223067b
5 to 10 °F
223078a
10 to 15 °F
223088a
10 to 15 °F
223097b
5 to 10 °F
223107b
5 to 10 °F
223117b
5 to 10 °F
223127b
5 to 10 °F
223138a
10 to 15 °F
223148a
10 to 15 °F
223157b
5 to 10 °F
223208a
10 to 15 °F
223318a
10 to 15 °F
223328a
10 to 15 °F
223337b
5 to 10 °F
223348a
10 to 15 °F
223507b
5 to 10 °F

Virginia planting zones →

Questions about Alexandria

What planting zone is Alexandria, VA?

Alexandria, VA is in USDA hardiness zones 7b to 8a on the 2023 map (7b: 5 to 10 °F; 8a: 10 to 15 °F).

When is the last frost in Alexandria, VA?

The median last spring frost is March 24 and the median first fall frost is November 18 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Washington Reagan Airport station).

When can I plant a garden in Alexandria, VA?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 10 – Mar 3; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Mar 31, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Alexandria, VA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 53 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Alexandria, VA get?

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