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

Planting zone for 28266 — Charlotte, NC

ZIP code 28266 (Charlotte, Mecklenburg County) is in USDA zone 8a: the coldest winter night averages 10 to 15 °F. The median last spring frost is March 30 and the first fall frost November 3.

Where ZIP 28266 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 30
First frostNov 3
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 Charlotte, 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 Charlotte, NC

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 30median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 14only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 3median — 10% chance by Oct 22
Growing season221 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 17 and returns around November 14.

From the NOAA station Charlotte Douglas Airport, NC — 6 miles away, elevation 728 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 28266

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 16 – Mar 2
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 16 – Mar 9
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 19 – Feb 2
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 9 – Mar 23
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 2 – Mar 16
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 2 – Mar 16
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 2 – Feb 16
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 6 – Apr 20
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 19 – Feb 2
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 13 – Apr 27
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 8 – Sep 22
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 20 – Nov 24
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 30) and first fall frost (Nov 3) 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 28266 came on Feb 19 — 3 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 16).

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 Charlotte, NC.

Soil in Charlotte, NC

The center of ZIP 28266 is mapped as Urban land: built-over ground without natural soil data. Garden soil here is usually imported or disturbed — test before you plant.

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 28266; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Charlotte, NC

Summer high90 °Faverage high, July
Winter low32 °Faverage low, January
Hot days49days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights58nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,035base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 32 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 47 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation43.8 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 52 °F, low 32 °F 52°32° JanFebruary: average high 57 °F, low 35 °F 57°35° FebMarch: average high 64 °F, low 41 °F 64°41° MarApril: average high 73 °F, low 49 °F 73°49° AprMay: average high 80 °F, low 58 °F 80°58° MayJune: average high 87 °F, low 66 °F 87°66° JunJuly: average high 90 °F, low 70 °F 90°70° JulAugust: average high 89 °F, low 69 °F 89°69° AugSeptember: average high 83 °F, low 63 °F 83°63° SepOctober: average high 73 °F, low 50 °F 73°50° OctNovember: average high 63 °F, low 40 °F 63°40° NovDecember: average high 55 °F, low 35 °F 55°35° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.76 in precipitation 3.8 JanFebruary: 3.13 in precipitation 3.1 FebMarch: 3.82 in precipitation 3.8 MarApril: 3.41 in precipitation 3.4 AprMay: 3.37 in precipitation 3.4 MayJune: 4.13 in precipitation 4.1 JunJuly: 3.65 in precipitation 3.6 JulAugust: 3.81 in precipitation 3.8 AugSeptember: 4.22 in precipitation 4.2 SepOctober: 3.39 in precipitation 3.4 OctNovember: 3.39 in precipitation 3.4 NovDecember: 3.74 in precipitation 3.7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Charlotte Douglas Airport, NC (6 mi away); precipitation: Charlotte 3.9 Wnw, NC (3 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 8a.

282338a
Charlotte, NC · <1 mi
282368a
Charlotte, NC · <1 mi
282418a
Charlotte, NC · <1 mi
282438a
Charlotte, NC · <1 mi
282608a
Charlotte, NC · <1 mi
282658a
Charlotte, NC · <1 mi
282728a
Charlotte, NC · <1 mi
282758a
Charlotte, NC · <1 mi

All 73 ZIP codes in Charlotte → · North Carolina planting zones →

Questions about 28266

What planting zone is ZIP code 28266?

ZIP code 28266 (Charlotte, 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 Charlotte, NC?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 28266 is March 30; after April 14 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Charlotte Douglas Airport station.

When is the first frost in Charlotte, NC?

The median first fall frost near 28266 is November 3, giving a median frost-free growing season of 221 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 28266?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 2 – Feb 16 and set transplants outside around Apr 6 – Apr 20, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 28266 get?

About 43.8 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Charlotte 3.9 Wnw station).

How hot do summers get in Charlotte, NC?

The average high peaks at 90 °F in July, with about 49 days a year at 90 °F or more.

Did spring come early in Charlotte, NC in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 28266 came on Feb 19 in 2026, 3 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 16), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Charlotte, NC?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 28266 is 14 h 32 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 28266 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 28266 in zone 7b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 8a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.