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

Planting zone for 28768 — Pisgah Forest, NC

ZIP code 28768 (Pisgah Forest, Transylvania County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 19 and the first fall frost October 23.

Where ZIP 28768 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.

Zone7a0 to 5 °F
Coldest night−17.8 to −15 °C
Last frostApr 19
First frostOct 23
2012 zone7a

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 7a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Pisgah Forest, 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 Pisgah Forest, NC

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 19median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 8only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 23median — 10% chance by Oct 9
Growing season186 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 3 and returns around November 1.

From the NOAA station Pisgah Forest 3 Ne, NC — 5 miles away, elevation 2,192 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 28768

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 8 – Mar 29
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 8 – Feb 22
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 29 – Apr 12
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 26 – May 10
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 8 – Feb 22
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 3 – May 17
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 26 – May 10
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 26 – May 10
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 26 – May 10
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 28 – Sep 11
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 9 – Nov 13
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 19) and first fall frost (Oct 23) 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 28768 came on Mar 1 — 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 8).

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 7a in North Carolina

583 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in North Carolina, and rated by the USDA to survive 0 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 7a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 86

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 124

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 183

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 163

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 Pisgah Forest, NC.

Soil in Pisgah Forest, NC

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 28768 is Chestnut — gravelly fine sandy loam, well drained.

TextureGravelly fine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH4.8strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter4%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Chestnut-Edneyville complex, high precipitation, 50 to 95 percent slopes, very stony.

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 28768; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Pisgah Forest, NC

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low26 °Faverage low, January
Hot days10days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights118nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,469base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 33 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 46 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation65 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall7 inper year; 3 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 49 °F, low 26 °F 49°26° JanFebruary: average high 53 °F, low 28 °F 53°28° FebMarch: average high 60 °F, low 34 °F 60°34° MarApril: average high 69 °F, low 41 °F 69°41° AprMay: average high 75 °F, low 50 °F 75°50° MayJune: average high 81 °F, low 58 °F 81°58° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 62 °F 84°62° JulAugust: average high 83 °F, low 61 °F 83°61° AugSeptember: average high 78 °F, low 55 °F 78°55° SepOctober: average high 70 °F, low 43 °F 70°43° OctNovember: average high 61 °F, low 33 °F 61°33° NovDecember: average high 52 °F, low 28 °F 52°28° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″2″4″6″January: 5.93 in precipitation, 2.3 in snowfall 5.9❄2 JanFebruary: 4.95 in precipitation, 0.8 in snowfall 5.0❄1 FebMarch: 5.34 in precipitation, 0.9 in snowfall 5.3❄1 MarApril: 5.32 in precipitation 5.3 AprMay: 5.07 in precipitation 5.1 MayJune: 5.46 in precipitation 5.5 JunJuly: 5.72 in precipitation 5.7 JulAugust: 6.17 in precipitation 6.2 AugSeptember: 5.43 in precipitation 5.4 SepOctober: 4.91 in precipitation 4.9 OctNovember: 4.95 in precipitation 5.0 NovDecember: 5.79 in precipitation, 2.7 in snowfall 5.8❄3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Pisgah Forest 3 Ne, NC (5 mi away); precipitation: Pisgah Forest 3 Ne, NC (5 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

287427a
Horse Shoe, NC · 5 mi
287297b
Etowah, NC · 6 mi
287667b
Penrose, NC · 7 mi
287597b
Mills River, NC · 8 mi
287087a
Balsam Grove, NC · 9 mi
287397b
Hendersonville, NC · 11 mi
287127b
Brevard, NC · 11 mi
287167a
Canton, NC · 11 mi

North Carolina planting zones →

Questions about 28768

What planting zone is ZIP code 28768?

ZIP code 28768 (Pisgah Forest, NC) is in USDA hardiness zone 7a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 0 to 5 °F (−17.8 to −15 °C).

When is the last frost in Pisgah Forest, NC?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 28768 is April 19; after May 8 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Pisgah Forest 3 Ne station.

When is the first frost in Pisgah Forest, NC?

The median first fall frost near 28768 is October 23, giving a median frost-free growing season of 186 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 28768?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 22 – Mar 8 and set transplants outside around Apr 26 – May 10, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 28768 get?

About 65 inches of precipitation a year and 7 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Pisgah Forest 3 Ne station).

How hot do summers get in Pisgah Forest, NC?

The average high peaks at 84 °F in July, with about 10 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 28768 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Chestnut at the center of ZIP 28768: gravelly fine sandy loam, well drained, pH about 4.8 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Pisgah Forest, NC in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 28768 came on Mar 1 in 2026, 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 8), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Pisgah Forest, NC?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 28768 is 14 h 33 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.