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

Planting zone for 27102 — Winston-Salem, NC

ZIP code 27102 (Winston-Salem, Forsyth County) is in USDA zone 8a: the coldest winter night averages 10 to 15 °F. The median last spring frost is April 9 and the first fall frost October 31.

Where ZIP 27102 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.

Zone8a10 to 15 °F
Coldest night−12.2 to −9.4 °C
Last frostApr 9
First frostOct 31
2012 zone7b

Was 7b 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 8a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Winston-Salem, NC…

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 Winston-Salem, NC

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 9median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 23only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 31median — 10% chance by Oct 20
Growing season204 daysfrost-free, median

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

From the NOAA station Pfafftown, NC — 9 miles away, elevation 951 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 27102

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 26 – Mar 19
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 29 – Feb 12
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 19 – Apr 2
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 12 – Feb 26
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 29 – Feb 12
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 23 – May 7
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 5 – Sep 19
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 17 – Nov 21
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 9) and first fall frost (Oct 31) 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 27102 came on Feb 26 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 25).

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 8a in North Carolina

619 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in North Carolina, and rated by the USDA to survive 10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 8a. 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 136

Allegheny serviceberry35 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Faloe yucca15 ft · blooms early summer · medium shade tolerance · to −1 °Falternateleaf dogwood25 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °FAmerican beautyberry6 ft · blooms early summer · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °FAmerican hazelnut10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican holly40 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −20 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 191

American bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °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 °FAmerican spongeplant0.5 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −24 °F

Grasses 173

American beachgrass2.5 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °FAmerican cupscale3 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −18 °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 °FBailey's sedge2.1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °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 Winston-Salem, NC.

Soil in Winston-Salem, NC

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 27102 is Jackland — loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.2slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Jackland fine sandy loam, 2 to 6 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 27102; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Winston-Salem, NC

Summer high88 °Faverage high, July
Winter low26 °Faverage low, January
Hot days43days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights98nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,176base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 37 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 42 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation46.3 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 26 °F 49°26° JanFebruary: average high 53 °F, low 27 °F 53°27° FebMarch: average high 61 °F, low 34 °F 61°34° MarApril: average high 71 °F, low 43 °F 71°43° AprMay: average high 78 °F, low 53 °F 78°53° MayJune: average high 85 °F, low 63 °F 85°63° JunJuly: average high 88 °F, low 68 °F 88°68° JulAugust: average high 87 °F, low 67 °F 87°67° AugSeptember: average high 81 °F, low 59 °F 81°59° SepOctober: average high 71 °F, low 46 °F 71°46° OctNovember: average high 61 °F, low 35 °F 61°35° NovDecember: average high 52 °F, low 28 °F 52°28° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.84 in precipitation 3.8 JanFebruary: 2.57 in precipitation 2.6 FebMarch: 4.03 in precipitation 4.0 MarApril: 3.93 in precipitation 3.9 AprMay: 3.68 in precipitation 3.7 MayJune: 4.09 in precipitation 4.1 JunJuly: 4.23 in precipitation 4.2 JulAugust: 5.10 in precipitation 5.1 AugSeptember: 3.90 in precipitation 3.9 SepOctober: 3.84 in precipitation 3.8 OctNovember: 3.30 in precipitation 3.3 NovDecember: 3.79 in precipitation 3.8 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Pfafftown, NC (9 mi away); precipitation: Lewisville 0.5 W, NC (4 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.

270127b
Clemmons, NC · 2 mi
271037b
Winston-Salem, NC · 5 mi
270237b
Lewisville, NC · 5 mi
271048a
Winston-Salem, NC · 5 mi
271277b
Winston-Salem, NC · 7 mi
270067b
Advance, NC · 7 mi
271067b
Winston-Salem, NC · 9 mi
270407b
Pfafftown, NC · 9 mi

All 25 ZIP codes in Winston-Salem → · North Carolina planting zones →

Questions about 27102

What planting zone is ZIP code 27102?

ZIP code 27102 (Winston-Salem, NC) is in USDA hardiness zone 8a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 10 to 15 °F (−12.2 to −9.4 °C).

When is the last frost in Winston-Salem, NC?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 27102 is April 9; after April 23 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Pfafftown station.

When is the first frost in Winston-Salem, NC?

The median first fall frost near 27102 is October 31, giving a median frost-free growing season of 204 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 27102?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 12 – Feb 26 and set transplants outside around Apr 16 – Apr 30, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 27102 get?

About 46.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lewisville 0.5 W station).

How hot do summers get in Winston-Salem, NC?

The average high peaks at 88 °F in July, with about 43 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 27102 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Jackland at the center of ZIP 27102: loam, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 6.2 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Winston-Salem, NC in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 27102 came on Feb 26 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 25), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Winston-Salem, NC?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 27102 is 14 h 37 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 27102 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 27102 in zone 7b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 8a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.