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

Planting zone for 24087 — Elliston, VA

ZIP code 24087 (Elliston, Roanoke County) is in USDA zone 7b: the coldest winter night averages 5 to 10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 24 and the first fall frost October 19.

Where ZIP 24087 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.

Zone7b5 to 10 °F
Coldest night−15 to −12.2 °C
Last frostApr 24
First frostOct 19
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 Elliston, 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 Elliston, VA

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 14only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 19median — 10% chance by Oct 6
Growing season175 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 11 and returns around October 29.

From the NOAA station Blacksburg Nwso, VA — 10 miles away, elevation 2,103 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 24087

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 · Aug 24 – Sep 7
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 5 – Nov 9
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 24) and first fall frost (Oct 19) 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 24087 came on Mar 6 — 4 days earlier than 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 Elliston, VA.

Soil in Elliston, VA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 24087 is Caneyville — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.9moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Caneyville-Opequon-Rock outcrop complex, 25 to 60 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 24087; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Elliston, VA

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low22 °Faverage low, January
Hot days5days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights125nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,974base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 44 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 36 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation41.7 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall18 inper year; 13 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 22 °F 42°22° JanFebruary: average high 45 °F, low 24 °F 45°24° FebMarch: average high 53 °F, low 30 °F 53°30° MarApril: average high 64 °F, low 39 °F 64°39° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 48 °F 72°48° MayJune: average high 79 °F, low 57 °F 79°57° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 61 °F 82°61° JulAugust: average high 81 °F, low 60 °F 81°60° AugSeptember: average high 76 °F, low 53 °F 76°53° SepOctober: average high 66 °F, low 41 °F 66°41° OctNovember: average high 55 °F, low 31 °F 55°31° NovDecember: average high 45 °F, low 25 °F 45°25° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.18 in precipitation, 5.4 in snowfall 3.2❄5 JanFebruary: 2.88 in precipitation, 6 in snowfall 2.9❄6 FebMarch: 3.47 in precipitation, 2.4 in snowfall 3.5❄2 MarApril: 3.55 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 3.5 AprMay: 3.97 in precipitation 4.0 MayJune: 4.20 in precipitation 4.2 JunJuly: 4.42 in precipitation 4.4 JulAugust: 3.19 in precipitation 3.2 AugSeptember: 3.90 in precipitation 3.9 SepOctober: 2.91 in precipitation 2.9 OctNovember: 2.83 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 2.8 NovDecember: 3.19 in precipitation, 3.9 in snowfall 3.2❄4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Blacksburg Nwso, VA (10 mi away); precipitation: Lafayette 1 Ne, VA (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

241627a
Shawsville, VA · 6 mi
240597a
Bent Mountain, VA · 7 mi
241537b
Salem, VA · 9 mi
241117a
Mc Coy, VA · 9 mi
240627a
Blacksburg, VA · 10 mi
240637a
Blacksburg, VA · 10 mi
240607a
Blacksburg, VA · 10 mi
240617a
Blacksburg, VA · 10 mi

Virginia planting zones →

Questions about 24087

What planting zone is ZIP code 24087?

ZIP code 24087 (Elliston, 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 Elliston, VA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 24087 is April 24; after May 14 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Blacksburg Nwso station.

When is the first frost in Elliston, VA?

The median first fall frost near 24087 is October 19, giving a median frost-free growing season of 175 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 24087?

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 24087 get?

About 41.7 inches of precipitation a year and 18 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lafayette 1 Ne station).

How hot do summers get in Elliston, VA?

The average high peaks at 82 °F in July, with about 5 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 24087 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Caneyville at the center of ZIP 24087: silt loam, well drained, pH about 5.9 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Elliston, VA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 24087 came on Mar 6 in 2026, 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 10), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Elliston, VA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 24087 is 14 h 44 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 24087 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 24087 in zone 7a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.