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

Planting zone for 15265 — Pittsburgh, PA

ZIP code 15265 (Pittsburgh, Allegheny County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 24 and the first fall frost October 27.

Where ZIP 15265 is

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
Coldest night−17.8 to −15 °C
Last frostApr 24
First frostOct 27
2012 zone6b

Was 6b on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 7a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Pittsburgh, PA…

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 Pittsburgh, PA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 24median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 11only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 27median — 10% chance by Oct 13
Growing season186 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 12 and returns around November 5.

From the NOAA station Emsworth L/D Ohio Rvr, PA — 6 miles away, elevation 719 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 15265

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 13 – Apr 3
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 3 – Apr 17
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
TomatoesTransplant · May 1 – May 15
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 8 – May 22
BeansSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 1 – Sep 15
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 13 – Nov 17
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 24) and first fall frost (Oct 27) 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 15265 came on Mar 10 — 16 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 26).

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 Pennsylvania

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

Trees 78

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 123

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 212

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican 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 °F

Grasses 181

American beachgrass2.5 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °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 °FBailey's sedge2.1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Vines 11

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 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °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 Pittsburgh, PA.

Soil in Pittsburgh, PA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 15265 is Guernsey — silt loam, moderately well drained. Much of the area is built over (urban land); this is the natural soil underneath.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.0slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Urban land-Guernsey complex, moderately steep.

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 15265; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Pittsburgh, PA

Summer high85 °Faverage high, July
Winter low21 °Faverage low, January
Hot days20days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights107nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,337base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 04 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 17 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation38.3 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 39 °F, low 21 °F 39°21° JanFebruary: average high 42 °F, low 22 °F 42°22° FebMarch: average high 51 °F, low 29 °F 51°29° MarApril: average high 64 °F, low 39 °F 64°39° AprMay: average high 74 °F, low 50 °F 74°50° MayJune: average high 81 °F, low 59 °F 81°59° JunJuly: average high 85 °F, low 64 °F 85°64° JulAugust: average high 84 °F, low 62 °F 84°62° AugSeptember: average high 78 °F, low 55 °F 78°55° SepOctober: average high 66 °F, low 44 °F 66°44° OctNovember: average high 54 °F, low 33 °F 54°33° NovDecember: average high 43 °F, low 26 °F 43°26° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″January: 3.36 in precipitation 3.4 JanFebruary: 2.78 in precipitation 2.8 FebMarch: 3.18 in precipitation 3.2 MarApril: 3.22 in precipitation 3.2 AprMay: 3.52 in precipitation 3.5 MayJune: 3.53 in precipitation 3.5 JunJuly: 3.64 in precipitation 3.6 JulAugust: 3.25 in precipitation 3.3 AugSeptember: 3.19 in precipitation 3.2 SepOctober: 2.80 in precipitation 2.8 OctNovember: 2.83 in precipitation 2.8 NovDecember: 3.02 in precipitation 3.0 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Emsworth L/D Ohio Rvr, PA (6 mi away); precipitation: Emsworth L/D Ohio Rvr, PA (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

4 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

152306b
Pittsburgh, PA · <1 mi
152406b
Pittsburgh, PA · <1 mi
152426b
Pittsburgh, PA · <1 mi
152446b
Pittsburgh, PA · <1 mi
152507a
Pittsburgh, PA · <1 mi
152517a
Pittsburgh, PA · <1 mi
152527a
Pittsburgh, PA · <1 mi
152537a
Pittsburgh, PA · <1 mi

All 72 ZIP codes in Pittsburgh → · Pennsylvania planting zones →

Questions about 15265

What planting zone is ZIP code 15265?

ZIP code 15265 (Pittsburgh, PA) is in USDA hardiness zone 7a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 0 to 5 °F (−17.8 to −15 °C).

When is the last frost in Pittsburgh, PA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 15265 is April 24; after May 11 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Emsworth L/D Ohio Rvr station.

When is the first frost in Pittsburgh, PA?

The median first fall frost near 15265 is October 27, giving a median frost-free growing season of 186 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 15265?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 27 – Mar 13 and set transplants outside around May 1 – May 15, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 15265 get?

About 38.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Emsworth L/D Ohio Rvr station).

How hot do summers get in Pittsburgh, PA?

The average high peaks at 85 °F in July, with about 20 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 15265 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Guernsey at the center of ZIP 15265: silt loam, moderately well drained, pH about 6.0 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Pittsburgh, PA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 15265 came on Mar 10 in 2026, 16 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 26), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Pittsburgh, PA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 15265 is 15 h 04 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 15265 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 15265 in zone 6b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.