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

Planting zone for Williamsburg, VA

Williamsburg, VA is in USDA zone 8a across its 3 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 31 and the first fall frost November 10.

Williamsburg 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.

Zone8a10 to 15 °F
ZIP codes3
Last frostMar 31
First frostNov 10
Growing season225 days

8a 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 Williamsburg, VA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 31median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 14only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 10median — 10% chance by Oct 29
Growing season225 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 20 and returns around November 23.

From the NOAA station Williamsburg 2 N, VA, elevation 69 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 Williamsburg

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 17 – Mar 3
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 17 – Mar 10
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 20 – Feb 3
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 10 – Mar 24
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 3 – Feb 17
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 7 – Apr 21
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 20 – Feb 3
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 14 – Apr 28
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 15 – Sep 29
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 27 – Dec 1
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 31) and first fall frost (Nov 10) 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 23187 came on Mar 2 — 10 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 20).

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 Williamsburg, VA.

Soil in Williamsburg, VA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 23187 is Kempsville — fine sandy loam, well drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Kempsville-Emporia fine sandy loams, 2 to 6 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 23187; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Williamsburg, VA

Summer high89 °Faverage high, July
Winter low31 °Faverage low, January
Hot days37days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights68nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,664base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 44 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 35 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation50 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 49 °F, low 31 °F 49°31° JanFebruary: average high 52 °F, low 32 °F 52°32° FebMarch: average high 60 °F, low 39 °F 60°39° MarApril: average high 70 °F, low 48 °F 70°48° AprMay: average high 77 °F, low 57 °F 77°57° MayJune: average high 84 °F, low 65 °F 84°65° JunJuly: average high 89 °F, low 70 °F 89°70° JulAugust: average high 87 °F, low 69 °F 87°69° AugSeptember: average high 81 °F, low 63 °F 81°63° SepOctober: average high 71 °F, low 51 °F 71°51° OctNovember: average high 61 °F, low 41 °F 61°41° NovDecember: average high 53 °F, low 34 °F 53°34° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.73 in precipitation 3.7 JanFebruary: 2.87 in precipitation 2.9 FebMarch: 4.04 in precipitation 4.0 MarApril: 3.53 in precipitation 3.5 AprMay: 4.33 in precipitation 4.3 MayJune: 4.81 in precipitation 4.8 JunJuly: 5.11 in precipitation 5.1 JulAugust: 5.24 in precipitation 5.2 AugSeptember: 5.27 in precipitation 5.3 SepOctober: 4.30 in precipitation 4.3 OctNovember: 3.19 in precipitation 3.2 NovDecember: 3.63 in precipitation 3.6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Williamsburg 2 N, VA (2 mi away); precipitation: Williamsburg 3.2 Wnw, VA (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Williamsburg

231858a
10 to 15 °F
231878a
10 to 15 °F
231888a
10 to 15 °F

Virginia planting zones →

Questions about Williamsburg

What planting zone is Williamsburg, VA?

Williamsburg, VA is in USDA hardiness zone 8a on the 2023 map (8a: 10 to 15 °F).

When is the last frost in Williamsburg, VA?

The median last spring frost is March 31 and the median first fall frost is November 10 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Williamsburg 2 N station).

When can I plant a garden in Williamsburg, VA?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 17 – Mar 10; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 7, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Williamsburg, VA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 44 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Williamsburg, VA get?

About 50 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).