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

Planting zone for 28404 — Wilmington, NC

ZIP code 28404 (Wilmington, Brunswick County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is March 19 and the first fall frost November 20.

Where ZIP 28404 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.

Zone8b15 to 20 °F
Coldest night−9.4 to −6.7 °C
Last frostMar 19
First frostNov 20
2012 zone8a

Was 8a 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 8b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Wilmington, 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 Wilmington, NC

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 19median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 4only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 20median — 10% chance by Nov 5
Growing season247 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 2 and returns around December 3.

From the NOAA station Wilmington Intl Airport, NC — 4 miles away, elevation 33 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 28404

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 5 – Feb 19
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 5 – Feb 26
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 8 – Jan 22
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 26 – Mar 12
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 22 – Feb 5
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 26 – Apr 9
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 8 – Jan 22
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 2 – Apr 16
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 25 – Oct 9
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 6 – Dec 11
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 19) and first fall frost (Nov 20) 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 28404 came on Feb 16 — 11 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 5).

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 8b in North Carolina

635 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in North Carolina, and rated by the USDA to survive 15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 8b. 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 141

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 196

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 179

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 Wilmington, NC.

Soil in Wilmington, NC

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 28404 is Baymeade — fine sand, well drained.

TextureFine 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 matter0.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Baymeade-Urban land complex 1 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 28404; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Wilmington, NC

Summer high90 °Faverage high, July
Winter low36 °Faverage low, January
Hot days45days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights37nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,793base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 26 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 52 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation60.1 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall1 inper year; 1 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 57 °F, low 36 °F 57°36° JanFebruary: average high 60 °F, low 38 °F 60°38° FebMarch: average high 67 °F, low 44 °F 67°44° MarApril: average high 75 °F, low 53 °F 75°53° AprMay: average high 81 °F, low 61 °F 81°61° MayJune: average high 87 °F, low 69 °F 87°69° JunJuly: average high 90 °F, low 73 °F 90°73° JulAugust: average high 88 °F, low 72 °F 88°72° AugSeptember: average high 84 °F, low 67 °F 84°67° SepOctober: average high 76 °F, low 56 °F 76°56° OctNovember: average high 67 °F, low 45 °F 67°45° NovDecember: average high 60 °F, low 39 °F 60°39° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″2″4″6″8″January: 3.81 in precipitation, 0.7 in snowfall 3.8❄1 JanFebruary: 3.47 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 3.5 FebMarch: 3.97 in precipitation 4.0 MarApril: 3.07 in precipitation 3.1 AprMay: 4.54 in precipitation 4.5 MayJune: 5.67 in precipitation 5.7 JunJuly: 6.86 in precipitation 6.9 JulAugust: 8.16 in precipitation 8.2 AugSeptember: 8.69 in precipitation 8.7 SepOctober: 4.66 in precipitation 4.7 OctNovember: 3.56 in precipitation 3.6 NovDecember: 3.69 in precipitation 3.7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Wilmington Intl Airport, NC (4 mi away); precipitation: Wilmington Intl Airport, NC (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 8b.

284088b
Wilmington, NC · <1 mi
284038b
Wilmington, NC · 4 mi
284018b
Wilmington, NC · 5 mi
284058b
Wilmington, NC · 5 mi
284128b
Wilmington, NC · 6 mi
284098b
Wilmington, NC · 7 mi
284808b
Wrightsville Beach, NC · 8 mi
284028b
Wilmington, NC · 8 mi

All 12 ZIP codes in Wilmington → · North Carolina planting zones →

Questions about 28404

What planting zone is ZIP code 28404?

ZIP code 28404 (Wilmington, NC) is in USDA hardiness zone 8b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 15 to 20 °F (−9.4 to −6.7 °C).

When is the last frost in Wilmington, NC?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 28404 is March 19; after April 4 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Wilmington Intl Airport station.

When is the first frost in Wilmington, NC?

The median first fall frost near 28404 is November 20, giving a median frost-free growing season of 247 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 28404?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 22 – Feb 5 and set transplants outside around Mar 26 – Apr 9, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 28404 get?

About 60.1 inches of precipitation a year and 1 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Wilmington Intl Airport station).

How hot do summers get in Wilmington, NC?

The average high peaks at 90 °F in July, with about 45 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 28404 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Baymeade at the center of ZIP 28404: fine sand, well drained, pH about 5.5 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Wilmington, NC in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 28404 came on Feb 16 in 2026, 11 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 5), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Wilmington, NC?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 28404 is 14 h 26 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 28404 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 28404 in zone 8a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 8b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.