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

Planting zone for 28331 — Cumberland, NC

ZIP code 28331 (Cumberland, Cumberland County) is in USDA zone 8a: the coldest winter night averages 10 to 15 °F. The median last spring frost is March 28 and the first fall frost November 7.

Where ZIP 28331 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 frostMar 28
First frostNov 7
2012 zone8a

Same zone as on the 2012 map. 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 Cumberland, 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 Cumberland, NC

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 28median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 11only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 7median — 10% chance by Oct 26
Growing season226 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 14 and returns around November 19.

From the NOAA station Dunn 4 Nw, NC — 9 miles away, elevation 200 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 28331

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 14 – Mar 7
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 17 – Jan 31
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 4 – Apr 18
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 17 – Jan 31
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 11 – Apr 25
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 12 – Sep 26
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 24 – Nov 28
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 28) and first fall frost (Nov 7) 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 28331 came on Feb 20 — 6 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 14).

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 Cumberland, NC.

Soil in Cumberland, NC

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 28331 is Blaney — loamy sand, well drained.

TextureLoamy sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.5moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Blaney loamy sand, 8 to 15 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 28331; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Cumberland, NC

Summer high92 °Faverage high, July
Winter low32 °Faverage low, January
Hot days49days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights67nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,311base 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
Precipitation48.2 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 55 °F, low 32 °F 55°32° JanFebruary: average high 58 °F, low 34 °F 58°34° FebMarch: average high 66 °F, low 40 °F 66°40° MarApril: average high 75 °F, low 49 °F 75°49° AprMay: average high 82 °F, low 58 °F 82°58° MayJune: average high 89 °F, low 67 °F 89°67° JunJuly: average high 92 °F, low 71 °F 92°71° JulAugust: average high 90 °F, low 69 °F 90°69° AugSeptember: average high 85 °F, low 63 °F 85°63° SepOctober: average high 75 °F, low 51 °F 75°51° OctNovember: average high 66 °F, low 40 °F 66°40° NovDecember: average high 58 °F, low 35 °F 58°35° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.48 in precipitation 3.5 JanFebruary: 3.07 in precipitation 3.1 FebMarch: 3.63 in precipitation 3.6 MarApril: 3.44 in precipitation 3.4 AprMay: 3.67 in precipitation 3.7 MayJune: 4.64 in precipitation 4.6 JunJuly: 4.98 in precipitation 5.0 JulAugust: 5.46 in precipitation 5.5 AugSeptember: 5.29 in precipitation 5.3 SepOctober: 3.77 in precipitation 3.8 OctNovember: 3.29 in precipitation 3.3 NovDecember: 3.48 in precipitation 3.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Dunn 4 Nw, NC (9 mi away); precipitation: Dunn 7.1 Sse, NC (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 8a.

283428a
Falcon, NC · <1 mi
283448a
Godwin, NC · 2 mi
283958a
Wade, NC · 6 mi
283348a
Dunn, NC · 7 mi
283358a
Dunn, NC · 8 mi
283568a
Linden, NC · 8 mi
283398a
Erwin, NC · 9 mi
283918a
Stedman, NC · 12 mi

North Carolina planting zones →

Questions about 28331

What planting zone is ZIP code 28331?

ZIP code 28331 (Cumberland, 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 Cumberland, NC?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 28331 is March 28; after April 11 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Dunn 4 Nw station.

When is the first frost in Cumberland, NC?

The median first fall frost near 28331 is November 7, giving a median frost-free growing season of 226 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 28331?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 31 – Feb 14 and set transplants outside around Apr 4 – Apr 18, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 28331 get?

About 48.2 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Dunn 7.1 Sse station).

How hot do summers get in Cumberland, NC?

The average high peaks at 92 °F in July, with about 49 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 28331 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Blaney at the center of ZIP 28331: loamy sand, well drained, pH about 5.5 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Cumberland, NC in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 28331 came on Feb 20 in 2026, 6 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 14), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Cumberland, NC?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 28331 is 14 h 32 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.