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

Planting zone for 28594 — Emerald Isle, NC

ZIP code 28594 (Emerald Isle, Carteret County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is March 26 and the first fall frost November 16.

Where ZIP 28594 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.

Zone8b15 to 20 °F
Coldest night−9.4 to −6.7 °C
Last frostMar 26
First frostNov 16
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 Emerald Isle, 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 Emerald Isle, NC

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 26median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 9only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 16median — 10% chance by Nov 2
Growing season236 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 12 and returns around November 29.

From the NOAA station Newport/Morehead City WFO, NC — 7 miles away, elevation 30 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 28594

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 12 – Feb 26
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 12 – Mar 5
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 15 – Jan 29
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 5 – Mar 19
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 29 – Feb 12
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 15 – Jan 29
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 9 – Apr 23
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 21 – Oct 5
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 2 – Dec 7
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 26) and first fall frost (Nov 16) 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 28594 came on Feb 20 — 13 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 7).

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 Emerald Isle, NC.

Soil in Emerald Isle, NC

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 28594 is Carteret — sand, very poorly drained.

TextureSanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH7.0neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageVery poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter4.25%moderate
Hydrologic groupA/Ddrains fast once dried out; wet otherwise
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Carteret sand, low, frequently flooded.

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 28594; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Emerald Isle, NC

Summer high87 °Faverage high, July
Winter low34 °Faverage low, January
Hot days18days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights53nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,114base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 29 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 49 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation61.6 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 54 °F, low 34 °F 54°34° JanFebruary: average high 57 °F, low 36 °F 57°36° FebMarch: average high 63 °F, low 41 °F 63°41° MarApril: average high 71 °F, low 50 °F 71°50° AprMay: average high 78 °F, low 59 °F 78°59° MayJune: average high 84 °F, low 67 °F 84°67° JunJuly: average high 87 °F, low 71 °F 87°71° JulAugust: average high 87 °F, low 70 °F 87°70° AugSeptember: average high 82 °F, low 65 °F 82°65° SepOctober: average high 74 °F, low 54 °F 74°54° OctNovember: average high 65 °F, low 43 °F 65°43° NovDecember: average high 59 °F, low 37 °F 59°37° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″8″10″January: 4.31 in precipitation 4.3 JanFebruary: 3.84 in precipitation 3.8 FebMarch: 3.72 in precipitation 3.7 MarApril: 3.83 in precipitation 3.8 AprMay: 4.01 in precipitation 4.0 MayJune: 5.23 in precipitation 5.2 JunJuly: 6.20 in precipitation 6.2 JulAugust: 7.43 in precipitation 7.4 AugSeptember: 9.60 in precipitation 9.6 SepOctober: 4.77 in precipitation 4.8 OctNovember: 4.17 in precipitation 4.2 NovDecember: 4.46 in precipitation 4.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Newport/Morehead City WFO, NC (7 mi away); precipitation: Swansboro 3.0 Ne, NC (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 8b.

285848b
Swansboro, NC · 7 mi
285708b
Newport, NC · 7 mi
285128b
Atlantic Beach, NC · 10 mi
285828b
Stella, NC · 11 mi
285578b
Morehead City, NC · 13 mi
285338b
Cherry Point, NC · 14 mi
285398b
Hubert, NC · 15 mi
285328b
Havelock, NC · 15 mi

North Carolina planting zones →

Questions about 28594

What planting zone is ZIP code 28594?

ZIP code 28594 (Emerald Isle, 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 Emerald Isle, NC?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 28594 is March 26; after April 9 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Newport/Morehead City WFO station.

When is the first frost in Emerald Isle, NC?

The median first fall frost near 28594 is November 16, giving a median frost-free growing season of 236 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 28594?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 29 – Feb 12 and set transplants outside around Apr 2 – Apr 16, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 28594 get?

About 61.6 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Swansboro 3.0 Ne station).

How hot do summers get in Emerald Isle, NC?

The average high peaks at 87 °F in July, with about 18 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 28594 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Carteret at the center of ZIP 28594: sand, very poorly drained, pH about 7.0 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Emerald Isle, NC in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 28594 came on Feb 20 in 2026, 13 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 7), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Emerald Isle, NC?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 28594 is 14 h 29 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 28594 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 28594 in zone 8a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 8b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.