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

Planting zone for 28159 — Spencer, NC

ZIP code 28159 (Spencer, Rowan County) is in USDA zone 8a: the coldest winter night averages 10 to 15 °F. The median last spring frost is April 6 and the first fall frost October 30.

Where ZIP 28159 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.

Zone8a10 to 15 °F
Coldest night−12.2 to −9.4 °C
Last frostApr 6
First frostOct 30
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 Spencer, 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 Spencer, NC

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 6median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 27only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 30median — 10% chance by Oct 19
Growing season208 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 25 and returns around November 8.

From the NOAA station Salisbury, NC — 2 miles away, elevation 699 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 28159

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 23 – Mar 16
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 26 – Feb 9
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 16 – Mar 30
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 16 – Mar 30
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 16 – Mar 30
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 9 – Feb 23
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 13 – Apr 27
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 26 – Feb 9
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 20 – May 4
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 4 – Sep 18
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 16 – Nov 20
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 6) and first fall frost (Oct 30) 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 28159 came on Feb 22 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 22).

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 Spencer, NC.

Soil in Spencer, NC

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 28159 is Cecil — sandy clay loam, well drained.

TextureSandy clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH5.5moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Cecil-Urban land complex, 2 to 8 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 28159; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Spencer, NC

Summer high88 °Faverage high, July
Winter low29 °Faverage low, January
Hot days37days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights71nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,528base 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
Precipitation43.7 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall2 inper year; 1 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 50 °F, low 29 °F 50°29° JanFebruary: average high 54 °F, low 32 °F 54°32° FebMarch: average high 62 °F, low 38 °F 62°38° MarApril: average high 72 °F, low 48 °F 72°48° AprMay: average high 78 °F, low 56 °F 78°56° MayJune: average high 85 °F, low 65 °F 85°65° JunJuly: average high 88 °F, low 69 °F 88°69° JulAugust: average high 86 °F, low 67 °F 86°67° AugSeptember: average high 81 °F, low 61 °F 81°61° SepOctober: average high 72 °F, low 48 °F 72°48° OctNovember: average high 61 °F, low 37 °F 61°37° NovDecember: average high 53 °F, low 32 °F 53°32° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.46 in precipitation, 1.4 in snowfall 3.5❄1 JanFebruary: 2.97 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.0 FebMarch: 4.09 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 4.1 MarApril: 3.69 in precipitation 3.7 AprMay: 3.43 in precipitation 3.4 MayJune: 4.28 in precipitation 4.3 JunJuly: 4.59 in precipitation 4.6 JulAugust: 3.74 in precipitation 3.7 AugSeptember: 3.83 in precipitation 3.8 SepOctober: 2.97 in precipitation 3.0 OctNovember: 3.13 in precipitation 3.1 NovDecember: 3.50 in precipitation, 0.8 in snowfall 3.5❄1 Dec

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

Nearby ZIP codes

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

280398a
East Spencer, NC · <1 mi
281448a
Salisbury, NC · 2 mi
281457b
Salisbury, NC · 2 mi
272998a
Linwood, NC · 5 mi
281468a
Salisbury, NC · 6 mi
280727b
Granite Quarry, NC · 6 mi
281477b
Salisbury, NC · 7 mi
280417b
Faith, NC · 8 mi

North Carolina planting zones →

Questions about 28159

What planting zone is ZIP code 28159?

ZIP code 28159 (Spencer, 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 Spencer, NC?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 28159 is April 6; after April 27 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Salisbury station.

When is the first frost in Spencer, NC?

The median first fall frost near 28159 is October 30, giving a median frost-free growing season of 208 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 28159?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 9 – Feb 23 and set transplants outside around Apr 13 – Apr 27, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 28159 get?

About 43.7 inches of precipitation a year and 2 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Salisbury station).

How hot do summers get in Spencer, NC?

The average high peaks at 88 °F in July, with about 37 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 28159 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Cecil at the center of ZIP 28159: sandy clay loam, well drained, pH about 5.5 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Spencer, NC in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 28159 came on Feb 22 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 22), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Spencer, NC?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 28159 is 14 h 35 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 28159 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 28159 in zone 7b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 8a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.