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

Planting zone for 29240 — Columbia, SC

ZIP code 29240 (Columbia, Richland County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is March 13 and the first fall frost November 19.

Where ZIP 29240 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 13
First frostNov 19
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 13median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 31only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 19median — 10% chance by Nov 5
Growing season253 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 24 and returns around December 4.

From the NOAA station Columbia Owens Dwtn Airport, SC — 3 miles away, elevation 213 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 29240

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 30 – Feb 13
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 30 – Feb 20
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 2 – Jan 16
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 20 – Mar 6
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 16 – Jan 30
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 20 – Apr 3
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 2 – Jan 16
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 27 – Apr 10
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 24 – Oct 8
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 5 – Dec 10
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 13) and first fall frost (Nov 19) 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 29240 came on Feb 15 — 9 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 soil mapped at the center of ZIP 29240 is Vaucluse — loamy sand, well drained.

TextureLoamy sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.5moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Vaucluse loamy sand, 10 to 15 percent slopes.

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 29240; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Columbia, SC

Summer high93 °Faverage high, July
Winter low37 °Faverage low, January
Hot days83days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights33nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days6,149base 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
Precipitation48.7 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 57 °F, low 37 °F 57°37° JanFebruary: average high 61 °F, low 40 °F 61°40° FebMarch: average high 69 °F, low 46 °F 69°46° MarApril: average high 77 °F, low 53 °F 77°53° AprMay: average high 84 °F, low 62 °F 84°62° MayJune: average high 90 °F, low 70 °F 90°70° JunJuly: average high 93 °F, low 73 °F 93°73° JulAugust: average high 91 °F, low 72 °F 91°72° AugSeptember: average high 86 °F, low 67 °F 86°67° SepOctober: average high 77 °F, low 56 °F 77°56° OctNovember: average high 67 °F, low 44 °F 67°44° NovDecember: average high 60 °F, low 39 °F 60°39° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.84 in precipitation 3.8 JanFebruary: 3.64 in precipitation 3.6 FebMarch: 3.95 in precipitation 4.0 MarApril: 3.05 in precipitation 3.0 AprMay: 3.53 in precipitation 3.5 MayJune: 4.94 in precipitation 4.9 JunJuly: 5.56 in precipitation 5.6 JulAugust: 5.36 in precipitation 5.4 AugSeptember: 4.22 in precipitation 4.2 SepOctober: 3.44 in precipitation 3.4 OctNovember: 3.17 in precipitation 3.2 NovDecember: 3.99 in precipitation 4.0 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Columbia Owens Dwtn Airport, SC (3 mi away); precipitation: Columbia 3.1 E, SC (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 8b.

292158b
Columbia, SC · <1 mi
292198b
Columbia, SC · <1 mi
292218b
Columbia, SC · <1 mi
292228b
Columbia, SC · <1 mi
292248b
Columbia, SC · <1 mi
292268b
Columbia, SC · <1 mi
292278b
Columbia, SC · <1 mi
292508b
Columbia, SC · <1 mi

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

Questions about 29240

What planting zone is ZIP code 29240?

ZIP code 29240 (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 29240 is March 13; after March 31 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Columbia Owens Dwtn Airport station.

When is the first frost in Columbia, SC?

The median first fall frost near 29240 is November 19, giving a median frost-free growing season of 253 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 29240?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 16 – Jan 30 and set transplants outside around Mar 20 – Apr 3, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 29240 get?

About 48.7 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Columbia 3.1 E station).

How hot do summers get in Columbia, SC?

The average high peaks at 93 °F in July, with about 83 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 29240 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Vaucluse at the center of ZIP 29240: loamy sand, well drained, pH about 5.5 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Columbia, SC in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 29240 came on Feb 15 in 2026, 9 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 29240 is 14 h 25 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 29240 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 29240 in zone 8a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 8b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.