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

Planting zone for 22161 — Springfield, VA

ZIP code 22161 (Springfield, Fairfax County) is in USDA zone 7b: the coldest winter night averages 5 to 10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 14 and the first fall frost October 29.

Where ZIP 22161 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.

Zone7b5 to 10 °F
Coldest night−15 to −12.2 °C
Last frostApr 14
First frostOct 29
2012 zone7a

Was 7a 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 7b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Springfield, 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 Springfield, VA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 14median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 28only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 29median — 10% chance by Oct 17
Growing season198 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 2 and returns around November 8.

From the NOAA station Vienna, VA — 9 miles away, elevation 417 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 22161

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 3 – Mar 24
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 3 – Feb 17
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 24 – Apr 7
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 17 – Mar 3
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 21 – May 5
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 3 – Feb 17
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 28 – May 12
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 3 – Sep 17
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 15 – Nov 19
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 14) and first fall frost (Oct 29) 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 22161 came on Mar 10 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Mar 10).

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 Springfield, VA.

Soil in Springfield, VA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 22161 is Kingstowne — sandy clay loam, well drained.

TextureSandy clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH4.8strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Kingstowne-Sassafras-Neabsco complex, 2 to 7 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 22161; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Springfield, VA

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low23 °Faverage low, January
Hot days13days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights99nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,472base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 53 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 27 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation47.3 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall13 inper year; 12 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 42 °F, low 23 °F 42°23° JanFebruary: average high 45 °F, low 24 °F 45°24° FebMarch: average high 53 °F, low 32 °F 53°32° MarApril: average high 65 °F, low 41 °F 65°41° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 52 °F 72°52° MayJune: average high 80 °F, low 61 °F 80°61° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 67 °F 84°67° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 65 °F 82°65° AugSeptember: average high 76 °F, low 57 °F 76°57° SepOctober: average high 65 °F, low 45 °F 65°45° OctNovember: average high 56 °F, low 35 °F 56°35° NovDecember: average high 46 °F, low 28 °F 46°28° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.10 in precipitation, 4.8 in snowfall 3.1❄5 JanFebruary: 2.83 in precipitation, 3.5 in snowfall 2.8❄4 FebMarch: 3.82 in precipitation, 2.8 in snowfall 3.8❄3 MarApril: 3.69 in precipitation 3.7 AprMay: 4.44 in precipitation 4.4 MayJune: 4.67 in precipitation 4.7 JunJuly: 4.55 in precipitation 4.5 JulAugust: 3.94 in precipitation 3.9 AugSeptember: 4.95 in precipitation 5.0 SepOctober: 4.20 in precipitation 4.2 OctNovember: 3.31 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.3 NovDecember: 3.80 in precipitation, 2.2 in snowfall 3.8❄2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Vienna, VA (9 mi away); precipitation: Franconia 1.3 Sse, VA (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7b.

221507b
Springfield, VA · 1 mi
221517b
Springfield, VA · 2 mi
221527b
Springfield, VA · 3 mi
223127b
Alexandria, VA · 3 mi
223157b
Alexandria, VA · 3 mi
220037b
Annandale, VA · 3 mi
223107b
Alexandria, VA · 4 mi
221227b
Newington, VA · 4 mi

All 9 ZIP codes in Springfield → · Virginia planting zones →

Questions about 22161

What planting zone is ZIP code 22161?

ZIP code 22161 (Springfield, VA) is in USDA hardiness zone 7b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 5 to 10 °F (−15 to −12.2 °C).

When is the last frost in Springfield, VA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 22161 is April 14; after April 28 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Vienna station.

When is the first frost in Springfield, VA?

The median first fall frost near 22161 is October 29, giving a median frost-free growing season of 198 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 22161?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 17 – Mar 3 and set transplants outside around Apr 21 – May 5, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 22161 get?

About 47.3 inches of precipitation a year and 13 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Franconia 1.3 Sse station).

How hot do summers get in Springfield, VA?

The average high peaks at 84 °F in July, with about 13 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 22161 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Kingstowne at the center of ZIP 22161: sandy clay loam, well drained, pH about 4.8 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Springfield, VA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 22161 came on Mar 10 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Mar 10), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Springfield, VA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 22161 is 14 h 53 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 22161 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 22161 in zone 7a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.