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

Planting zone for 28806 — Asheville, NC

ZIP code 28806 (Asheville, Buncombe County) is in USDA zone 7b: the coldest winter night averages 5 to 10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 12 and the first fall frost October 23.

Where ZIP 28806 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.

Zone7b5 to 10 °F
Coldest night−15 to −12.2 °C
Last frostApr 12
First frostOct 23
2012 zone7a

Was 7a 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 7b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Asheville, 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 Asheville, NC

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 12median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 27only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 23median — 10% chance by Oct 12
Growing season195 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 31 and returns around November 1.

From the NOAA station Enka, NC — 3 miles away, elevation 2,051 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 28806

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 1 – Mar 22
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 1 – Feb 15
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 22 – Apr 5
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 19 – May 3
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 1 – Feb 15
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 26 – May 10
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
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 12) 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 28806 came on Feb 26 — 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 3).

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 7b in North Carolina

596 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in North Carolina, and rated by the USDA to survive 5 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 7b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 89

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 129

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 186

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 165

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 Asheville, NC.

Soil in Asheville, NC

The center of ZIP 28806 is mapped as Urban land: built-over ground without natural soil data. Garden soil here is usually imported or disturbed — test before you plant.

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 28806; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Asheville, NC

Summer high85 °Faverage high, July
Winter low25 °Faverage low, January
Hot days12days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights102nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,680base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 34 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 45 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation46.4 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 48 °F, low 25 °F 48°25° JanFebruary: average high 53 °F, low 28 °F 53°28° FebMarch: average high 59 °F, low 34 °F 59°34° MarApril: average high 69 °F, low 43 °F 69°43° AprMay: average high 76 °F, low 52 °F 76°52° MayJune: average high 82 °F, low 60 °F 82°60° JunJuly: average high 85 °F, low 63 °F 85°63° JulAugust: average high 84 °F, low 63 °F 84°63° AugSeptember: average high 79 °F, low 56 °F 79°56° SepOctober: average high 70 °F, low 44 °F 70°44° OctNovember: average high 59 °F, low 34 °F 59°34° NovDecember: average high 51 °F, low 28 °F 51°28° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.76 in precipitation 3.8 JanFebruary: 3.09 in precipitation 3.1 FebMarch: 3.91 in precipitation 3.9 MarApril: 3.98 in precipitation 4.0 AprMay: 3.92 in precipitation 3.9 MayJune: 4.39 in precipitation 4.4 JunJuly: 4.55 in precipitation 4.5 JulAugust: 4.30 in precipitation 4.3 AugSeptember: 4.32 in precipitation 4.3 SepOctober: 3.16 in precipitation 3.2 OctNovember: 3.39 in precipitation 3.4 NovDecember: 3.62 in precipitation 3.6 Dec

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

Nearby ZIP codes

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

288017b
Asheville, NC · 4 mi
288027b
Asheville, NC · 5 mi
288037b
Asheville, NC · 6 mi
288107b
Asheville, NC · 6 mi
288157b
Asheville, NC · 6 mi
288167b
Asheville, NC · 6 mi
288047b
Asheville, NC · 6 mi
287157a
Candler, NC · 7 mi

All 11 ZIP codes in Asheville → · North Carolina planting zones →

Questions about 28806

What planting zone is ZIP code 28806?

ZIP code 28806 (Asheville, NC) is in USDA hardiness zone 7b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 5 to 10 °F (−15 to −12.2 °C).

When is the last frost in Asheville, NC?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 28806 is April 12; after April 27 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Enka station.

When is the first frost in Asheville, NC?

The median first fall frost near 28806 is October 23, giving a median frost-free growing season of 195 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 28806?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 15 – Mar 1 and set transplants outside around Apr 19 – May 3, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 28806 get?

About 46.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Enka station).

How hot do summers get in Asheville, NC?

The average high peaks at 85 °F in July, with about 12 days a year at 90 °F or more.

Did spring come early in Asheville, NC in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 28806 came on Feb 26 in 2026, 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 3), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Asheville, NC?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 28806 is 14 h 34 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 28806 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 28806 in zone 7a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.