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

Planting zone for 28775 — Scaly Mountain, NC

ZIP code 28775 (Scaly Mountain, Macon County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 23 and the first fall frost October 17.

Where ZIP 28775 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 23
First frostOct 17
2012 zone6b

Was 6b 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 7a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Scaly Mountain, 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 Scaly Mountain, NC

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 23median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 11only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 17median — 10% chance by Oct 4
Growing season175 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 8 and returns around October 28.

From the NOAA station Coweeta Exp Stn, NC — 7 miles away, elevation 2,247 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 28775

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 12 – Apr 2
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 12 – Feb 26
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 30 – May 14
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 12 – Feb 26
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 7 – May 21
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 30 – May 14
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 30 – May 14
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 30 – May 14
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 22 – Sep 5
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 3 – Nov 7
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 23) and first fall frost (Oct 17) 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 28775 came on Feb 26 — 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 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 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 Scaly Mountain, NC.

Soil in Scaly Mountain, NC

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 28775 is Edneyville — gravelly fine sandy loam, well drained.

TextureGravelly fine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.3strongly 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: Edneyville-Chestnut complex, high precipitation, 30 to 50 percent slopes, 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 28775; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Scaly Mountain, NC

Summer high86 °Faverage high, July
Winter low26 °Faverage low, January
Hot days12days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights103nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,672base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 31 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 48 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation69.5 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 26 °F 52°26° JanFebruary: average high 55 °F, low 29 °F 55°29° FebMarch: average high 62 °F, low 35 °F 62°35° MarApril: average high 71 °F, low 42 °F 71°42° AprMay: average high 78 °F, low 50 °F 78°50° MayJune: average high 83 °F, low 57 °F 83°57° JunJuly: average high 86 °F, low 61 °F 86°61° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 60 °F 85°60° AugSeptember: average high 80 °F, low 54 °F 80°54° SepOctober: average high 72 °F, low 43 °F 72°43° OctNovember: average high 62 °F, low 33 °F 62°33° NovDecember: average high 54 °F, low 28 °F 54°28° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″January: 6.48 in precipitation 6.5 JanFebruary: 5.78 in precipitation 5.8 FebMarch: 5.83 in precipitation 5.8 MarApril: 5.83 in precipitation 5.8 AprMay: 5.25 in precipitation 5.3 MayJune: 6.26 in precipitation 6.3 JunJuly: 5.51 in precipitation 5.5 JulAugust: 6.10 in precipitation 6.1 AugSeptember: 5.46 in precipitation 5.5 SepOctober: 4.90 in precipitation 4.9 OctNovember: 5.62 in precipitation 5.6 NovDecember: 6.46 in precipitation 6.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Coweeta Exp Stn, NC (7 mi away); precipitation: Dillard 0.7 Nnw, GA (5 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

305377b
Dillard, GA · 3 mi
305687b
Rabun Gap, GA · 7 mi
287417a
Highlands, NC · 7 mi
305627b
Mountain City, GA · 8 mi
305257b
Clayton, GA · 8 mi
287637b
Otto, NC · 8 mi
287447b
Franklin, NC · 12 mi
287347b
Franklin, NC · 13 mi

North Carolina planting zones →

Questions about 28775

What planting zone is ZIP code 28775?

ZIP code 28775 (Scaly Mountain, 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 Scaly Mountain, NC?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 28775 is April 23; after May 11 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Coweeta Exp Stn station.

When is the first frost in Scaly Mountain, NC?

The median first fall frost near 28775 is October 17, giving a median frost-free growing season of 175 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 28775?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 26 – Mar 12 and set transplants outside around Apr 30 – May 14, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 28775 get?

About 69.5 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Dillard 0.7 Nnw station).

How hot do summers get in Scaly Mountain, NC?

The average high peaks at 86 °F in July, with about 12 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 28775 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Edneyville at the center of ZIP 28775: gravelly fine sandy loam, well drained, pH about 5.3 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Scaly Mountain, NC in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 28775 came on Feb 26 in 2026, 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 5), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Scaly Mountain, NC?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 28775 is 14 h 31 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 28775 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 28775 in zone 6b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.