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

Planting zone for 27230 — Cedar Falls, NC

ZIP code 27230 (Cedar Falls, Randolph County) is in USDA zone 8a: the coldest winter night averages 10 to 15 °F. The median last spring frost is March 29 and the first fall frost November 6.

Where ZIP 27230 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 frostMar 29
First frostNov 6
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 Cedar Falls, 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 Cedar Falls, NC

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 13only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 6median — 10% chance by Oct 25
Growing season224 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 16 and returns around November 19.

From the NOAA station Randleman, NC — 5 miles away, elevation 810 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 27230

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 11 – Sep 25
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 23 – Nov 27
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 29) and first fall frost (Nov 6) 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 27230 came on Feb 26 — 5 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 21).

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 Cedar Falls, NC.

Soil in Cedar Falls, NC

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 27230 is Georgeville — silty clay loam, well drained.

TextureSilty clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH5.9moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Georgeville silty clay loam, 2 to 8 percent slopes, moderately eroded.

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 27230; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Cedar Falls, NC

Summer high88 °Faverage high, July
Winter low27 °Faverage low, January
Hot days36days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights74nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,377base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 35 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 44 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation45.5 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall5 inper year; 3 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 49 °F, low 27 °F 49°27° JanFebruary: average high 54 °F, low 30 °F 54°30° FebMarch: average high 62 °F, low 36 °F 62°36° MarApril: average high 72 °F, low 46 °F 72°46° AprMay: average high 78 °F, low 55 °F 78°55° MayJune: average high 85 °F, low 64 °F 85°64° JunJuly: average high 88 °F, low 68 °F 88°68° JulAugust: average high 86 °F, low 67 °F 86°67° AugSeptember: average high 81 °F, low 60 °F 81°60° SepOctober: average high 71 °F, low 48 °F 71°48° OctNovember: average high 61 °F, low 37 °F 61°37° NovDecember: average high 52 °F, low 30 °F 52°30° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.68 in precipitation, 2.3 in snowfall 3.7❄2 JanFebruary: 3.05 in precipitation, 1.1 in snowfall 3.0❄1 FebMarch: 4.31 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 4.3❄1 MarApril: 3.93 in precipitation 3.9 AprMay: 3.60 in precipitation 3.6 MayJune: 3.95 in precipitation 4.0 JunJuly: 4.10 in precipitation 4.1 JulAugust: 3.90 in precipitation 3.9 AugSeptember: 4.59 in precipitation 4.6 SepOctober: 3.35 in precipitation 3.4 OctNovember: 3.57 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.6 NovDecember: 3.43 in precipitation, 0.6 in snowfall 3.4❄1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Randleman, NC (5 mi away); precipitation: Randleman, NC (5 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 8a.

273508a
Sophia, NC · <1 mi
273178a
Randleman, NC · 5 mi
273708a
Trinity, NC · 6 mi
272038a
Asheboro, NC · 7 mi
272638a
High Point, NC · 8 mi
272048a
Asheboro, NC · 9 mi
272488a
Franklinville, NC · 9 mi
273138a
Pleasant Garden, NC · 11 mi

North Carolina planting zones →

Questions about 27230

What planting zone is ZIP code 27230?

ZIP code 27230 (Cedar Falls, 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 Cedar Falls, NC?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 27230 is March 29; after April 13 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Randleman station.

When is the first frost in Cedar Falls, NC?

The median first fall frost near 27230 is November 6, giving a median frost-free growing season of 224 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 27230?

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 27230 get?

About 45.5 inches of precipitation a year and 5 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Randleman station).

How hot do summers get in Cedar Falls, NC?

The average high peaks at 88 °F in July, with about 36 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 27230 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Georgeville at the center of ZIP 27230: silty clay loam, well drained, pH about 5.9 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Cedar Falls, NC in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 27230 came on Feb 26 in 2026, 5 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 21), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Cedar Falls, NC?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 27230 is 14 h 35 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 27230 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 27230 in zone 7b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 8a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.