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

Planting zone for Arlington, VA

Arlington, VA is in USDA zones 7b to 8a across its 27 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 9 and the first fall frost October 31.

Arlington on the zone map

Outlined: its 10 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 codes27
Last frostApr 9
First frostOct 31
Growing season202 days

7b 13 ZIPs   8a 14 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Arlington, VA…

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 Arlington, VA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 9median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 26only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 31median — 10% chance by Oct 16
Growing season202 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 30 and returns around November 9.

From the NOAA station Dalecarlia Rsvr, MD, 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 Arlington

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 26 – Mar 19
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 29 – Feb 12
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 19 – Apr 2
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 12 – Feb 26
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 29 – Feb 12
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 23 – May 7
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 5 – Sep 19
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 17 – Nov 21
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 9) and first fall frost (Oct 31) 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 22226 came on Mar 10 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Mar 9).

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 Arlington, VA.

Soil in Arlington, VA

The center of ZIP 22226 is mapped as Urban land-Udorthents complex, 2 to 15 percent slopes: 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 22226; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Arlington, VA

Summer high88 °Faverage high, July
Winter low26 °Faverage low, January
Hot days44days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights96nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,035base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 54 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 26 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation47.3 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 43 °F, low 26 °F 43°26° JanFebruary: average high 46 °F, low 27 °F 46°27° FebMarch: average high 55 °F, low 34 °F 55°34° MarApril: average high 68 °F, low 44 °F 68°44° AprMay: average high 76 °F, low 54 °F 76°54° MayJune: average high 84 °F, low 63 °F 84°63° JunJuly: average high 88 °F, low 68 °F 88°68° JulAugust: average high 86 °F, low 66 °F 86°66° AugSeptember: average high 79 °F, low 59 °F 79°59° SepOctober: average high 68 °F, low 47 °F 68°47° OctNovember: average high 56 °F, low 36 °F 56°36° NovDecember: average high 47 °F, low 30 °F 47°30° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.18 in precipitation 3.2 JanFebruary: 2.74 in precipitation 2.7 FebMarch: 3.94 in precipitation 3.9 MarApril: 3.65 in precipitation 3.6 AprMay: 4.64 in precipitation 4.6 MayJune: 4.44 in precipitation 4.4 JunJuly: 4.82 in precipitation 4.8 JulAugust: 3.82 in precipitation 3.8 AugSeptember: 4.97 in precipitation 5.0 SepOctober: 4.00 in precipitation 4.0 OctNovember: 3.25 in precipitation 3.3 NovDecember: 3.80 in precipitation 3.8 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Dalecarlia Rsvr, MD (4 mi away); precipitation: Mclean 2.3 Se, VA (3 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Arlington

222017b
5 to 10 °F
222028a
10 to 15 °F
222037b
5 to 10 °F
222047b
5 to 10 °F
222057b
5 to 10 °F
222068a
10 to 15 °F
222077b
5 to 10 °F
222098a
10 to 15 °F
222107b
5 to 10 °F
222128a
10 to 15 °F
222137b
5 to 10 °F
222148a
10 to 15 °F
222158a
10 to 15 °F
222167b
5 to 10 °F
222177b
5 to 10 °F
222198a
10 to 15 °F
222257b
5 to 10 °F
222267b
5 to 10 °F
222278a
10 to 15 °F
222307b
5 to 10 °F
222408a
10 to 15 °F
222417b
5 to 10 °F
222428a
10 to 15 °F
222438a
10 to 15 °F
222448a
10 to 15 °F
222458a
10 to 15 °F
222468a
10 to 15 °F

Virginia planting zones →

Questions about Arlington

What planting zone is Arlington, VA?

Arlington, 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 Arlington, VA?

The median last spring frost is April 9 and the median first fall frost is October 31 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Dalecarlia Rsvr station).

When can I plant a garden in Arlington, VA?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 26 – Mar 19; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 16, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Arlington, VA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 54 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Arlington, VA get?

About 47.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).