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

Planting zone for Charleston, WV

Charleston, WV is in USDA zone 7a across its 44 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 16 and the first fall frost October 26.

Charleston on the zone map

Outlined: its 11 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 codes44
Last frostApr 16
First frostOct 26
Growing season192 days

7a 44 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Charleston, WV…

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 Charleston, WV

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 16median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 5only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 26median — 10% chance by Oct 13
Growing season192 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 1 and returns around November 5.

From the NOAA station Charleston Yeager Airport, WV, elevation 909 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 Charleston

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 5 – Mar 26
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 5 – Feb 19
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 26 – Apr 9
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 23 – May 7
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 5 – Feb 19
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 30 – May 14
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 23 – May 7
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 23 – May 7
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 23 – May 7
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 31 – Sep 14
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 12 – Nov 16
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 16) and first fall frost (Oct 26) 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 25317 came on Mar 7 — 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 12).

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 West Virginia

515 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in West 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 69

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 103

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 black currant3 ft · blooms early spring · to −46 °FAmerican hazelnut10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican holly40 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −20 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 181

American bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican pokeweed7 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican speedwell0.8 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican vetch1.3 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican water horehound1.8 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Grasses 137

arctic brome3 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBailey's sedge2.1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fbeaked spikerush3 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °Fbig bluestem6 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −46 °Fbitter panicgrass5 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −18 °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 Charleston, WV.

Soil in Charleston, WV

The center of ZIP 25317 is mapped as Urban land: 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 25317; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Charleston, WV

Summer high86 °Faverage high, July
Winter low26 °Faverage low, January
Hot days24days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights94nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,950base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 50 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 29 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation46.2 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall32 inper year; 19 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 44 °F, low 26 °F 44°26° JanFebruary: average high 48 °F, low 29 °F 48°29° FebMarch: average high 57 °F, low 35 °F 57°35° MarApril: average high 69 °F, low 45 °F 69°45° AprMay: average high 76 °F, low 53 °F 76°53° MayJune: average high 83 °F, low 62 °F 83°62° JunJuly: average high 86 °F, low 66 °F 86°66° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 64 °F 85°64° AugSeptember: average high 80 °F, low 57 °F 80°57° SepOctober: average high 69 °F, low 45 °F 69°45° OctNovember: average high 57 °F, low 36 °F 57°36° NovDecember: average high 48 °F, low 30 °F 48°30° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.27 in precipitation, 10.3 in snowfall 3.3❄10 JanFebruary: 3.36 in precipitation, 7.7 in snowfall 3.4❄8 FebMarch: 4.14 in precipitation, 5.9 in snowfall 4.1❄6 MarApril: 3.56 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 3.6❄1 AprMay: 4.93 in precipitation 4.9 MayJune: 4.72 in precipitation 4.7 JunJuly: 5.38 in precipitation 5.4 JulAugust: 3.75 in precipitation 3.8 AugSeptember: 3.46 in precipitation 3.5 SepOctober: 2.91 in precipitation, 0.6 in snowfall 2.9❄1 OctNovember: 3.20 in precipitation, 1.5 in snowfall 3.2❄2 NovDecember: 3.56 in precipitation, 5 in snowfall 3.6❄5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Charleston Yeager Airport, WV (3 mi away); precipitation: Charleston Yeager Airport, WV (3 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Charleston

253017a
0 to 5 °F
253027a
0 to 5 °F
253047a
0 to 5 °F
253067a
0 to 5 °F
253117a
0 to 5 °F
253127a
0 to 5 °F
253137a
0 to 5 °F
253147a
0 to 5 °F
253157a
0 to 5 °F
253177a
0 to 5 °F
253207a
0 to 5 °F
253217a
0 to 5 °F
253227a
0 to 5 °F
253237a
0 to 5 °F
253247a
0 to 5 °F
253257a
0 to 5 °F
253267a
0 to 5 °F
253277a
0 to 5 °F
253287a
0 to 5 °F
253297a
0 to 5 °F
253307a
0 to 5 °F
253317a
0 to 5 °F
253327a
0 to 5 °F
253337a
0 to 5 °F
253347a
0 to 5 °F
253357a
0 to 5 °F
253367a
0 to 5 °F
253377a
0 to 5 °F
253387a
0 to 5 °F
253397a
0 to 5 °F
253507a
0 to 5 °F
253567a
0 to 5 °F
253577a
0 to 5 °F
253587a
0 to 5 °F
253607a
0 to 5 °F
253617a
0 to 5 °F
253627a
0 to 5 °F
253647a
0 to 5 °F
253657a
0 to 5 °F
253757a
0 to 5 °F
253877a
0 to 5 °F
253897a
0 to 5 °F
253927a
0 to 5 °F
253967a
0 to 5 °F

West Virginia planting zones →

Questions about Charleston

What planting zone is Charleston, WV?

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

When is the last frost in Charleston, WV?

The median last spring frost is April 16 and the median first fall frost is October 26 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Charleston Yeager Airport station).

When can I plant a garden in Charleston, WV?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 5 – Mar 26; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 23, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Charleston, WV?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 50 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Charleston, WV get?

About 46.2 inches of precipitation a year and 32 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).