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

Planting zone for 29202 — Columbia, SC

ZIP code 29202 (Columbia, Richland County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is March 16 and the first fall frost November 16.

Where ZIP 29202 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 16
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 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 Columbia, SC

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 16median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 3only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 16median — 10% chance by Nov 2
Growing season245 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 1 and returns around December 2.

From the NOAA station Columbia Univ Of Sc, SC — within 1 mile, elevation 223 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 29202

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 2 – Feb 16
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 2 – Feb 23
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 5 – Jan 19
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 23 – Mar 9
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 16 – Mar 2
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 16 – Mar 2
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 19 – Feb 2
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 23 – Apr 6
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 5 – Jan 19
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 30 – Apr 13
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
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 16) 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 29202 came on Feb 14 — 8 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 6).

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 Columbia, SC.

Soil in Columbia, SC

The center of ZIP 29202 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 29202; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Columbia, SC

Summer high96 °Faverage high, July
Winter low37 °Faverage low, January
Hot days108days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights33nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days6,450base 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
Precipitation48.1 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°110°32 °FJanuary: average high 60 °F, low 37 °F 60°37° JanFebruary: average high 64 °F, low 40 °F 64°40° FebMarch: average high 72 °F, low 46 °F 72°46° MarApril: average high 81 °F, low 54 °F 81°54° AprMay: average high 87 °F, low 62 °F 87°62° MayJune: average high 93 °F, low 69 °F 93°69° JunJuly: average high 96 °F, low 72 °F 96°72° JulAugust: average high 94 °F, low 71 °F 94°71° AugSeptember: average high 89 °F, low 66 °F 89°66° SepOctober: average high 80 °F, low 54 °F 80°54° OctNovember: average high 69 °F, low 44 °F 69°44° NovDecember: average high 61 °F, low 39 °F 61°39° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.84 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 3.8 JanFebruary: 3.54 in precipitation 3.5 FebMarch: 4.11 in precipitation 4.1 MarApril: 2.92 in precipitation 2.9 AprMay: 3.63 in precipitation 3.6 MayJune: 5.41 in precipitation 5.4 JunJuly: 5.17 in precipitation 5.2 JulAugust: 5.01 in precipitation 5.0 AugSeptember: 4.25 in precipitation 4.3 SepOctober: 3.31 in precipitation 3.3 OctNovember: 3.04 in precipitation 3.0 NovDecember: 3.88 in precipitation 3.9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Columbia Univ Of Sc, SC (within 1 mile); precipitation: Columbia Univ Of Sc, SC (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 8b.

292118b
Columbia, SC · <1 mi
292148b
Columbia, SC · <1 mi
292168b
Columbia, SC · <1 mi
292178b
Columbia, SC · <1 mi
292188b
Columbia, SC · <1 mi
292208b
Columbia, SC · <1 mi
292258b
Columbia, SC · <1 mi
292088b
Columbia, SC · <1 mi

All 34 ZIP codes in Columbia → · South Carolina planting zones →

Questions about 29202

What planting zone is ZIP code 29202?

ZIP code 29202 (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 Columbia, SC?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 29202 is March 16; after April 3 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Columbia Univ Of Sc station.

When is the first frost in Columbia, SC?

The median first fall frost near 29202 is November 16, giving a median frost-free growing season of 245 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 29202?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 19 – Feb 2 and set transplants outside around Mar 23 – Apr 6, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 29202 get?

About 48.1 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Columbia Univ Of Sc station).

How hot do summers get in Columbia, SC?

The average high peaks at 96 °F in July, with about 108 days a year at 90 °F or more.

Did spring come early in Columbia, SC in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 29202 came on Feb 14 in 2026, 8 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 6), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Columbia, SC?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 29202 is 14 h 25 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 29202 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 29202 in zone 8a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 8b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.