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

Planting zone for Centreville, VA

Centreville, VA is in USDA zone 7a across its 3 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 15 and the first fall frost October 24.

Centreville 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.

Zone7a0 to 5 °F
ZIP codes3
Last frostApr 15
First frostOct 24
Growing season194 days

7a 3 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 Centreville, VA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 15median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 30only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 24median — 10% chance by Oct 10
Growing season194 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 1 and returns around November 4.

From the NOAA station Washington Dc Dulles Airport, VA, elevation 289 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 Centreville

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 25
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 4 – Feb 18
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 25 – Apr 8
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 22 – May 6
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 4 – Feb 18
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 29 – May 13
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 29 – Sep 12
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 10 – Nov 14
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 15) and first fall frost (Oct 24) 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 20121 came on Mar 10 — 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 15).

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 7a in Virginia

618 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Virginia, and rated by the USDA to survive 0 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 7a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 87

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 129

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 197

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 179

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 Centreville, VA.

Soil in Centreville, VA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 20121 is Chantilly — loam, well drained. Much of the area is built over (urban land); this is the natural soil underneath.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH4.5strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Urban land-Chantilly complex.

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 20121; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Centreville, VA

Summer high88 °Faverage high, July
Winter low24 °Faverage low, January
Hot days41days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights94nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,908base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 53 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
Precipitation46.1 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 42 °F, low 24 °F 42°24° JanFebruary: average high 46 °F, low 26 °F 46°26° FebMarch: average high 54 °F, low 32 °F 54°32° MarApril: average high 66 °F, low 43 °F 66°43° AprMay: average high 74 °F, low 54 °F 74°54° MayJune: average high 83 °F, low 64 °F 83°64° JunJuly: average high 88 °F, low 69 °F 88°69° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 67 °F 85°67° AugSeptember: average high 78 °F, low 58 °F 78°58° SepOctober: average high 67 °F, low 46 °F 67°46° OctNovember: average high 56 °F, low 35 °F 56°35° NovDecember: average high 47 °F, low 29 °F 47°29° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.10 in precipitation 3.1 JanFebruary: 2.75 in precipitation 2.8 FebMarch: 3.91 in precipitation 3.9 MarApril: 3.56 in precipitation 3.6 AprMay: 4.67 in precipitation 4.7 MayJune: 4.29 in precipitation 4.3 JunJuly: 4.68 in precipitation 4.7 JulAugust: 4.18 in precipitation 4.2 AugSeptember: 4.27 in precipitation 4.3 SepOctober: 3.93 in precipitation 3.9 OctNovember: 3.25 in precipitation 3.3 NovDecember: 3.55 in precipitation 3.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Manassas, VA (6 mi away); precipitation: Oak Hill 0.3 Wsw, VA (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Centreville

201207a
0 to 5 °F
201217a
0 to 5 °F
201227a
0 to 5 °F

Virginia planting zones →

Questions about Centreville

What planting zone is Centreville, VA?

Centreville, VA is in USDA hardiness zone 7a on the 2023 map (7a: 0 to 5 °F).

When is the last frost in Centreville, VA?

The median last spring frost is April 15 and the median first fall frost is October 24 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Washington Dc Dulles Airport station).

When can I plant a garden in Centreville, VA?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 4 – Mar 25; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 22, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Centreville, 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 Centreville, VA get?

About 46.1 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).