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

Planting zone for 26261 — Richwood, WV

ZIP code 26261 (Richwood, Nicholas County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is April 30 and the first fall frost October 18.

Where ZIP 26261 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.

Zone6b−5 to 0 °F
Coldest night−20.6 to −17.8 °C
Last frostApr 30
First frostOct 18
2012 zone6a

Was 6a 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 6b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Richwood, WV…

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 Richwood, WV

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 30median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 17only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 18median — 10% chance by Oct 1
Growing season171 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 16 and returns around October 29.

From the NOAA station Richwood 1sse, WV — 2 miles away, elevation 3,091 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 26261

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 9
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
TomatoesTransplant · May 7 – May 21
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 14 – May 28
BeansSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 23 – Sep 6
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 4 – Nov 8
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 30) and first fall frost (Oct 18) 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 26261 came on Mar 10 — 17 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 27).

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 6b in West Virginia

506 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in West Virginia, and rated by the USDA to survive −5 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 68

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 102

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 178

American bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican pokeweed7 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican speedwell0.8 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican vetch1.3 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican water horehound1.8 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Grasses 134

arctic brome3 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBailey's sedge2.1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fbeaked spikerush3 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °Fbig bluestem6 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −46 °Fbitter panicgrass5 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −18 °F

Vines 11

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °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 °Fmuscadine30 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −18 °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 Richwood, WV.

Soil in Richwood, WV

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 26261 is Macove — slightly decomposed plant material, well drained.

TextureSlightly decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH4.2strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter69%high
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Macove channery silt loam, 15 to 35 percent slopes, very stony.

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 26261; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Richwood, WV

Summer high78 °Faverage high, July
Winter low20 °Faverage low, January
Hot days0days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights122nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,635base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 49 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 30 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation55.8 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall100 inper year; 61 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 38 °F, low 20 °F 38°20° JanFebruary: average high 41 °F, low 22 °F 41°22° FebMarch: average high 48 °F, low 29 °F 48°29° MarApril: average high 60 °F, low 39 °F 60°39° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 48 °F 68°48° MayJune: average high 74 °F, low 56 °F 74°56° JunJuly: average high 78 °F, low 60 °F 78°60° JulAugust: average high 77 °F, low 59 °F 77°59° AugSeptember: average high 72 °F, low 53 °F 72°53° SepOctober: average high 63 °F, low 43 °F 63°43° OctNovember: average high 51 °F, low 33 °F 51°33° NovDecember: average high 42 °F, low 25 °F 42°25° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 4.32 in precipitation, 26.1 in snowfall 4.3❄26 JanFebruary: 3.95 in precipitation, 21.9 in snowfall 4.0❄22 FebMarch: 5.29 in precipitation, 16 in snowfall 5.3❄16 MarApril: 4.77 in precipitation, 5.3 in snowfall 4.8❄5 AprMay: 5.83 in precipitation 5.8 MayJune: 5.16 in precipitation 5.2 JunJuly: 5.99 in precipitation 6.0 JulAugust: 4.38 in precipitation 4.4 AugSeptember: 4.17 in precipitation 4.2 SepOctober: 3.57 in precipitation, 1.1 in snowfall 3.6❄1 OctNovember: 3.87 in precipitation, 7.5 in snowfall 3.9❄8 NovDecember: 4.54 in precipitation, 22.1 in snowfall 4.5❄22 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Richwood 1sse, WV (2 mi away); precipitation: Richwood 1sse, WV (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

262026b
Fenwick, WV · 7 mi
266766a
Leivasy, WV · 8 mi
249466b
Hillsboro, WV · 10 mi
262066b
Cowen, WV · 10 mi
249666b
Renick, WV · 11 mi
262086b
Camden On Gauley, WV · 12 mi
262056a
Craigsville, WV · 12 mi
266816b
Nettie, WV · 13 mi

West Virginia planting zones →

Questions about 26261

What planting zone is ZIP code 26261?

ZIP code 26261 (Richwood, WV) is in USDA hardiness zone 6b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −5 to 0 °F (−20.6 to −17.8 °C).

When is the last frost in Richwood, WV?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 26261 is April 30; after May 17 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Richwood 1sse station.

When is the first frost in Richwood, WV?

The median first fall frost near 26261 is October 18, giving a median frost-free growing season of 171 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 26261?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 5 – Mar 19 and set transplants outside around May 7 – May 21, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 26261 get?

About 55.8 inches of precipitation a year and 100 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Richwood 1sse station).

How hot do summers get in Richwood, WV?

The average high peaks at 78 °F in July, with about 0 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 26261 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Macove at the center of ZIP 26261: slightly decomposed plant material, well drained, pH about 4.2 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Richwood, WV in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 26261 came on Mar 10 in 2026, 17 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 27), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Richwood, WV?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 26261 is 14 h 49 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 26261 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 26261 in zone 6a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.