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

Planting zone for 23454 — Virginia Beach, VA

ZIP code 23454 (Virginia Beach, Virginia Beach (city)) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is March 29 and the first fall frost November 12.

Where ZIP 23454 is

Outlined: the ZIP code area · 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.

Zone8b15 to 20 °F
Coldest night−9.4 to −6.7 °C
Last frostMar 29
First frostNov 12
2012 zone8a

Was 8a 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 8b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Virginia Beach, 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 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 — 4 miles away, 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 23454

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 23454 came on Mar 1 — 12 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 17).

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 8b in Virginia

655 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Virginia, and rated by the USDA to survive 15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 8b. 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 139

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 207

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 191

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 23454 is Augusta — loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupB/Dmoderate when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classPrime farmland if drainedUSDA classification

Map unit: Augusta loam.

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 23454; 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
Precipitation51.8 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 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

0″2″4″6″January: 3.55 in precipitation 3.5 JanFebruary: 2.99 in precipitation 3.0 FebMarch: 4.15 in precipitation 4.2 MarApril: 3.62 in precipitation 3.6 AprMay: 4.27 in precipitation 4.3 MayJune: 4.32 in precipitation 4.3 JunJuly: 5.59 in precipitation 5.6 JulAugust: 6.49 in precipitation 6.5 AugSeptember: 5.20 in precipitation 5.2 SepOctober: 4.65 in precipitation 4.7 OctNovember: 3.47 in precipitation 3.5 NovDecember: 3.53 in precipitation 3.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Oceana NAS, VA (4 mi away); precipitation: Virginia Beach 10.6 N, VA (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

234528b
Virginia Beach, VA · 2 mi
234518b
Virginia Beach, VA · 3 mi
234608b
Virginia Beach, VA · 3 mi
234508b
Virginia Beach, VA · 4 mi
234588b
Virginia Beach, VA · 4 mi
234558b
Virginia Beach, VA · 5 mi
234668b
Virginia Beach, VA · 5 mi
234678a
Virginia Beach, VA · 5 mi

All 19 ZIP codes in Virginia Beach → · Virginia planting zones →

Questions about 23454

What planting zone is ZIP code 23454?

ZIP code 23454 (Virginia Beach, VA) is in USDA hardiness zone 8b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 15 to 20 °F (−9.4 to −6.7 °C).

When is the last frost in Virginia Beach, VA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 23454 is March 29; after April 11 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Oceana NAS station.

When is the first frost in Virginia Beach, VA?

The median first fall frost near 23454 is November 12, giving a median frost-free growing season of 230 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 23454?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 1 – Feb 15 and set transplants outside around Apr 5 – Apr 19, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 23454 get?

About 51.8 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Virginia Beach 10.6 N station).

How hot do summers get in Virginia Beach, VA?

The average high peaks at 87 °F in July, with about 32 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 23454 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Augusta at the center of ZIP 23454: loam, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 5.3 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Virginia Beach, VA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 23454 came on Mar 1 in 2026, 12 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 17), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Virginia Beach, VA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 23454 is 14 h 41 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 23454 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 23454 in zone 8a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 8b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.