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

Planting zone for Richmond, VA

Richmond, VA is in USDA zone 7b across its 37 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 3 and the first fall frost November 4.

Richmond on the zone map

Outlined: its 16 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.

Zone7b5 to 10 °F
ZIP codes37
Last frostApr 3
First frostNov 4
Growing season215 days

7b 37 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Richmond, 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 Richmond, VA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 3median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 18only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 4median — 10% chance by Oct 23
Growing season215 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 22 and returns around November 15.

From the NOAA station Richmond Intl Airport, VA, elevation 164 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 Richmond

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 20 – Mar 13
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 23 – Feb 6
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 13 – Mar 27
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 6 – Feb 20
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 10 – Apr 24
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 23 – Feb 6
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 17 – May 1
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 9 – Sep 23
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 21 – Nov 25
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 3) and first fall frost (Nov 4) 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 23218 came on Mar 6 — 5 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 1).

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 Richmond, VA.

Soil in Richmond, VA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 23218 is Atlee — very fine sandy loam, moderately well drained.

TextureVery fine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH4.8strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Atlee-Urban land complex, 0 to 4 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 23218; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Richmond, VA

Summer high90 °Faverage high, July
Winter low29 °Faverage low, January
Hot days45days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights74nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,543base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 45 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 34 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation47.1 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 48 °F, low 29 °F 48°29° JanFebruary: average high 52 °F, low 30 °F 52°30° FebMarch: average high 60 °F, low 37 °F 60°37° MarApril: average high 70 °F, low 46 °F 70°46° AprMay: average high 78 °F, low 56 °F 78°56° MayJune: average high 86 °F, low 65 °F 86°65° JunJuly: average high 90 °F, low 69 °F 90°69° JulAugust: average high 88 °F, low 68 °F 88°68° AugSeptember: average high 81 °F, low 61 °F 81°61° SepOctober: average high 71 °F, low 49 °F 71°49° OctNovember: average high 60 °F, low 39 °F 60°39° NovDecember: average high 52 °F, low 32 °F 52°32° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.49 in precipitation 3.5 JanFebruary: 2.85 in precipitation 2.9 FebMarch: 3.96 in precipitation 4.0 MarApril: 3.50 in precipitation 3.5 AprMay: 4.26 in precipitation 4.3 MayJune: 4.49 in precipitation 4.5 JunJuly: 4.40 in precipitation 4.4 JulAugust: 4.61 in precipitation 4.6 AugSeptember: 4.66 in precipitation 4.7 SepOctober: 3.72 in precipitation 3.7 OctNovember: 3.33 in precipitation 3.3 NovDecember: 3.82 in precipitation 3.8 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Richmond Intl Airport, VA (9 mi away); precipitation: Laurel 0.8 N, VA (9 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Richmond

231737b
5 to 10 °F
232187b
5 to 10 °F
232197b
5 to 10 °F
232207b
5 to 10 °F
232217b
5 to 10 °F
232227b
5 to 10 °F
232237b
5 to 10 °F
232247b
5 to 10 °F
232257b
5 to 10 °F
232267b
5 to 10 °F
232277b
5 to 10 °F
232307b
5 to 10 °F
232327b
5 to 10 °F
232347b
5 to 10 °F
232357b
5 to 10 °F
232367b
5 to 10 °F
232377b
5 to 10 °F
232417b
5 to 10 °F
232497b
5 to 10 °F
232507b
5 to 10 °F
232607b
5 to 10 °F
232617b
5 to 10 °F
232697b
5 to 10 °F
232747b
5 to 10 °F
232767b
5 to 10 °F
232787b
5 to 10 °F
232797b
5 to 10 °F
232827b
5 to 10 °F
232857b
5 to 10 °F
232867b
5 to 10 °F
232897b
5 to 10 °F
232907b
5 to 10 °F
232917b
5 to 10 °F
232927b
5 to 10 °F
232937b
5 to 10 °F
232957b
5 to 10 °F
232977b
5 to 10 °F

Virginia planting zones →

Questions about Richmond

What planting zone is Richmond, VA?

Richmond, VA is in USDA hardiness zone 7b on the 2023 map (7b: 5 to 10 °F).

When is the last frost in Richmond, VA?

The median last spring frost is April 3 and the median first fall frost is November 4 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Richmond Intl Airport station).

When can I plant a garden in Richmond, VA?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 20 – Mar 13; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 10, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Richmond, VA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 45 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Richmond, VA get?

About 47.1 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).