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

Planting zone for 29171 — West Columbia, SC

ZIP code 29171 (West Columbia, Lexington County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is March 25 and the first fall frost November 7.

Where ZIP 29171 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 25
First frostNov 7
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 West Columbia, SC…

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 West Columbia, SC

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 25median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 10only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 7median — 10% chance by Oct 26
Growing season229 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 10 and returns around November 22.

From the NOAA station Columbia, SC — 7 miles away, elevation 230 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 29171

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 11 – Feb 25
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 11 – Mar 4
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 14 – Jan 28
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 4 – Mar 18
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 28 – Feb 11
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 1 – Apr 15
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 14 – Jan 28
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 8 – Apr 22
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 12 – Sep 26
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 24 – Nov 28
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 25) and first fall frost (Nov 7) 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 29171 came on Feb 15 — 7 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 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 8b in South Carolina

566 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in South 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 82

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 131

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 168

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 164

alkali sacaton3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican 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 °F

Vines 12

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican wisteria50 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °Fcupseed30 ft · blooms late 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 °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 West Columbia, SC.

Soil in West Columbia, SC

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 29171 is Lakeland — sand, excessively drained.

TextureSanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.5moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageExcessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Lakeland soils, undulating.

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 29171; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in West Columbia, SC

Summer high93 °Faverage high, July
Winter low35 °Faverage low, January
Hot days81days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights47nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,815base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 25 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 53 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation49.6 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 57 °F, low 35 °F 57°35° JanFebruary: average high 61 °F, low 37 °F 61°37° FebMarch: average high 68 °F, low 44 °F 68°44° MarApril: average high 77 °F, low 52 °F 77°52° AprMay: average high 84 °F, low 61 °F 84°61° MayJune: average high 90 °F, low 69 °F 90°69° JunJuly: average high 93 °F, low 72 °F 93°72° JulAugust: average high 91 °F, low 71 °F 91°71° AugSeptember: average high 86 °F, low 65 °F 86°65° SepOctober: average high 77 °F, low 53 °F 77°53° OctNovember: average high 66 °F, low 42 °F 66°42° NovDecember: average high 59 °F, low 37 °F 59°37° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 4.17 in precipitation 4.2 JanFebruary: 3.65 in precipitation 3.6 FebMarch: 4.19 in precipitation 4.2 MarApril: 3.15 in precipitation 3.1 AprMay: 3.89 in precipitation 3.9 MayJune: 4.75 in precipitation 4.8 JunJuly: 5.51 in precipitation 5.5 JulAugust: 5.11 in precipitation 5.1 AugSeptember: 4.05 in precipitation 4.0 SepOctober: 3.31 in precipitation 3.3 OctNovember: 3.53 in precipitation 3.5 NovDecember: 4.31 in precipitation 4.3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Columbia, SC (7 mi away); precipitation: Lexington 5.9 Sw, SC (3 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 8b.

292288b
Columbia, SC · <1 mi
290738b
Lexington, SC · 2 mi
290718b
Lexington, SC · 4 mi
290728b
Lexington, SC · 5 mi
291708b
West Columbia, SC · 6 mi
290548b
Gilbert, SC · 8 mi
291698b
West Columbia, SC · 10 mi
291728b
West Columbia, SC · 10 mi

All 4 ZIP codes in West Columbia → · South Carolina planting zones →

Questions about 29171

What planting zone is ZIP code 29171?

ZIP code 29171 (West Columbia, SC) 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 West Columbia, SC?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 29171 is March 25; after April 10 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Columbia station.

When is the first frost in West Columbia, SC?

The median first fall frost near 29171 is November 7, giving a median frost-free growing season of 229 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 29171?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 28 – Feb 11 and set transplants outside around Apr 1 – Apr 15, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 29171 get?

About 49.6 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lexington 5.9 Sw station).

How hot do summers get in West Columbia, SC?

The average high peaks at 93 °F in July, with about 81 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 29171 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Lakeland at the center of ZIP 29171: sand, excessively drained, pH about 5.5 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in West Columbia, SC in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 29171 came on Feb 15 in 2026, 7 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 8), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in West Columbia, SC?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 29171 is 14 h 25 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 29171 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 29171 in zone 8a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 8b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.