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

Planting zone for Virginia Beach, VA

Virginia Beach, VA is in USDA zones 8a to 8b across its 19 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 29 and the first fall frost November 12.

Virginia Beach on the zone map

Outlined: its 12 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.

Zones8a–8b10 to 20 °F
ZIP codes19
Last frostMar 29
First frostNov 12
Growing season230 days

8a 3 ZIPs   8b 16 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 Virginia Beach, VA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 29median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 11only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 12median — 10% chance by Nov 1
Growing season230 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 14 and returns around November 25.

From the NOAA station Oceana NAS, VA, elevation 23 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 Virginia Beach

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 15 – Mar 8
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 18 – Feb 1
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 8 – Mar 22
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 1 – Feb 15
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 18 – Feb 1
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 12 – Apr 26
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 17 – Oct 1
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 29 – Dec 3
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 29) and first fall frost (Nov 12) 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 23460 came on Mar 2 — 14 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 16).

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 8a in Virginia

646 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Virginia, and rated by the USDA to survive 10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 8a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 92

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 138

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 203

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 187

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 Virginia Beach, VA.

Soil in Virginia Beach, VA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 23460 is Acredale — silt loam, poorly drained. Much of the area is built over (urban land); this is the natural soil underneath.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH4.6strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Urban land.

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 23460; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Virginia Beach, VA

Summer high87 °Faverage high, July
Winter low32 °Faverage low, January
Hot days32days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights50nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,623base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 41 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 38 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation46.6 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall3 inper year; 2 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 50 °F, low 32 °F 50°32° JanFebruary: average high 53 °F, low 33 °F 53°33° FebMarch: average high 59 °F, low 39 °F 59°39° MarApril: average high 69 °F, low 48 °F 69°48° AprMay: average high 76 °F, low 56 °F 76°56° MayJune: average high 83 °F, low 66 °F 83°66° JunJuly: average high 87 °F, low 70 °F 87°70° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 69 °F 85°69° AugSeptember: average high 80 °F, low 64 °F 80°64° SepOctober: average high 71 °F, low 53 °F 71°53° OctNovember: average high 61 °F, low 42 °F 61°42° NovDecember: average high 54 °F, low 35 °F 54°35° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.17 in precipitation, 2.2 in snowfall 3.2❄2 JanFebruary: 2.84 in precipitation, 0.8 in snowfall 2.8❄1 FebMarch: 3.57 in precipitation 3.6 MarApril: 3.37 in precipitation 3.4 AprMay: 3.65 in precipitation 3.6 MayJune: 4.15 in precipitation 4.2 JunJuly: 5.76 in precipitation 5.8 JulAugust: 5.09 in precipitation 5.1 AugSeptember: 4.55 in precipitation 4.5 SepOctober: 4.15 in precipitation 4.2 OctNovember: 3.06 in precipitation 3.1 NovDecember: 3.26 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 3.3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Oceana NAS, VA (within 1 mile); precipitation: Oceana NAS, VA (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Virginia Beach

234508b
15 to 20 °F
234518b
15 to 20 °F
234528b
15 to 20 °F
234538b
15 to 20 °F
234548b
15 to 20 °F
234558b
15 to 20 °F
234568b
15 to 20 °F
234578b
15 to 20 °F
234588b
15 to 20 °F
234598b
15 to 20 °F
234608b
15 to 20 °F
234618b
15 to 20 °F
234628b
15 to 20 °F
234648a
10 to 15 °F
234658a
10 to 15 °F
234668b
15 to 20 °F
234678a
10 to 15 °F
234718b
15 to 20 °F
234798b
15 to 20 °F

Virginia planting zones →

Questions about Virginia Beach

What planting zone is Virginia Beach, VA?

Virginia Beach, VA is in USDA hardiness zones 8a to 8b on the 2023 map (8a: 10 to 15 °F; 8b: 15 to 20 °F).

When is the last frost in Virginia Beach, VA?

The median last spring frost is March 29 and the median first fall frost is November 12 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Oceana NAS station).

When can I plant a garden in Virginia Beach, VA?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 15 – Mar 8; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 5, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Virginia Beach, VA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 41 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Virginia Beach, VA get?

About 46.6 inches of precipitation a year and 3 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).