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

Planting zone for 23504 — Norfolk, VA

ZIP code 23504 (Norfolk, Norfolk (city)) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is March 23 and the first fall frost November 16.

Where ZIP 23504 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 23
First frostNov 16
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 Norfolk, 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 Norfolk, VA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 23median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 6only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 16median — 10% chance by Nov 4
Growing season239 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 10 and returns around December 1.

From the NOAA station Norfolk S, VA — 2 miles away, elevation 10 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 23504

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 9 – Feb 23
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 9 – Mar 2
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 12 – Jan 26
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 2 – Mar 16
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 2 – Mar 16
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 2 – Mar 16
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 26 – Feb 9
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 30 – Apr 13
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 12 – Jan 26
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 6 – Apr 20
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 21 – Oct 5
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 2 – Dec 7
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 23) and first fall frost (Nov 16) 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 23504 came on Feb 26 — 10 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 16).

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 Norfolk, VA.

Soil in Norfolk, VA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 23504 is Tomotley — fine sandy loam, poorly drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH4.2strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter3.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupB/Dmoderate when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Tomotley-Urban land complex, 0 to 2 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 23504; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Norfolk, VA

Summer high88 °Faverage high, July
Winter low32 °Faverage low, January
Hot days35days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights51nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,735base 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
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 32 °F 49°32° JanFebruary: average high 52 °F, low 34 °F 52°34° FebMarch: average high 58 °F, low 40 °F 58°40° MarApril: average high 70 °F, low 49 °F 70°49° AprMay: average high 77 °F, low 58 °F 77°58° MayJune: average high 84 °F, low 66 °F 84°66° JunJuly: average high 88 °F, low 71 °F 88°71° JulAugust: average high 86 °F, low 70 °F 86°70° AugSeptember: average high 80 °F, low 65 °F 80°65° SepOctober: average high 71 °F, low 53 °F 71°53° OctNovember: average high 60 °F, low 43 °F 60°43° NovDecember: average high 53 °F, low 36 °F 53°36° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.59 in precipitation 3.6 JanFebruary: 2.75 in precipitation 2.8 FebMarch: 3.51 in precipitation 3.5 MarApril: 3.37 in precipitation 3.4 AprMay: 4.19 in precipitation 4.2 MayJune: 4.87 in precipitation 4.9 JunJuly: 5.65 in precipitation 5.7 JulAugust: 5.80 in precipitation 5.8 AugSeptember: 5.27 in precipitation 5.3 SepOctober: 4.38 in precipitation 4.4 OctNovember: 3.13 in precipitation 3.1 NovDecember: 3.49 in precipitation 3.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Norfolk S, VA (2 mi away); precipitation: Norfolk 5.0 Ssw, VA (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 8b.

235148b
Norfolk, VA · 1 mi
235108b
Norfolk, VA · 1 mi
235178b
Norfolk, VA · 2 mi
235098b
Norfolk, VA · 2 mi
235238b
Norfolk, VA · 2 mi
235078b
Norfolk, VA · 2 mi
237088b
Portsmouth, VA · 2 mi
235138b
Norfolk, VA · 3 mi

All 20 ZIP codes in Norfolk → · Virginia planting zones →

Questions about 23504

What planting zone is ZIP code 23504?

ZIP code 23504 (Norfolk, 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 Norfolk, VA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 23504 is March 23; after April 6 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Norfolk S station.

When is the first frost in Norfolk, VA?

The median first fall frost near 23504 is November 16, giving a median frost-free growing season of 239 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 23504?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 26 – Feb 9 and set transplants outside around Mar 30 – Apr 13, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 23504 get?

About 50 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Norfolk 5.0 Ssw station).

How hot do summers get in Norfolk, VA?

The average high peaks at 88 °F in July, with about 35 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 23504 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Tomotley at the center of ZIP 23504: fine sandy loam, poorly drained, pH about 4.2 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Norfolk, VA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 23504 came on Feb 26 in 2026, 10 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 16), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Norfolk, VA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 23504 is 14 h 41 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 23504 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 23504 in zone 8a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 8b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.