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

Planting zone for 29486 — Summerville, SC

ZIP code 29486 (Summerville, Berkeley County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is March 22 and the first fall frost November 12.

Where ZIP 29486 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.

Zone8b15 to 20 °F
Coldest night−9.4 to −6.7 °C
Last frostMar 22
First frostNov 12
2012 zone8b

Same zone as on the 2012 map. 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 Summerville, 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 Summerville, SC

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 22median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 7only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 12median — 10% chance by Oct 29
Growing season238 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 7 and returns around November 29.

From the NOAA station Summerville 4w, SC — 6 miles away, elevation 66 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 29486

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 8 – Feb 22
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 8 – Mar 1
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 11 – Jan 25
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 1 – Mar 15
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 25 – Feb 8
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 29 – Apr 12
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 11 – Jan 25
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 5 – Apr 19
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 17 – Oct 1
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 29 – Dec 3
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 22) and first fall frost (Nov 12) 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 29486 came on Feb 12 — 10 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 2).

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 Summerville, SC.

Soil in Summerville, SC

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 29486 is Goldsboro — loamy sand, moderately well drained.

TextureLoamy sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH4.6strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Goldsboro loamy sand, 0 to 2 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 29486; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Summerville, SC

Summer high90 °Faverage high, July
Winter low35 °Faverage low, January
Hot days72days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights45nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,590base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 20 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 58 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation52.7 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 58 °F, low 35 °F 58°35° JanFebruary: average high 62 °F, low 37 °F 62°37° FebMarch: average high 69 °F, low 42 °F 69°42° MarApril: average high 76 °F, low 50 °F 76°50° AprMay: average high 82 °F, low 59 °F 82°59° MayJune: average high 87 °F, low 67 °F 87°67° JunJuly: average high 90 °F, low 71 °F 90°71° JulAugust: average high 90 °F, low 70 °F 90°70° AugSeptember: average high 85 °F, low 65 °F 85°65° SepOctober: average high 77 °F, low 53 °F 77°53° OctNovember: average high 68 °F, low 42 °F 68°42° NovDecember: average high 61 °F, low 37 °F 61°37° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″January: 3.63 in precipitation 3.6 JanFebruary: 3.27 in precipitation 3.3 FebMarch: 3.89 in precipitation 3.9 MarApril: 3.45 in precipitation 3.5 AprMay: 3.52 in precipitation 3.5 MayJune: 5.60 in precipitation 5.6 JunJuly: 6.78 in precipitation 6.8 JulAugust: 6.17 in precipitation 6.2 AugSeptember: 5.88 in precipitation 5.9 SepOctober: 4.12 in precipitation 4.1 OctNovember: 2.97 in precipitation 3.0 NovDecember: 3.42 in precipitation 3.4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Summerville 4w, SC (6 mi away); precipitation: Summerville 4w, SC (6 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.

294838b
Summerville, SC · 6 mi
294848b
Summerville, SC · 8 mi
294568b
Ladson, SC · 9 mi
294728b
Ridgeville, SC · 10 mi
294698b
Pinopolis, SC · 10 mi
294618b
Moncks Corner, SC · 10 mi
294858b
Summerville, SC · 12 mi
294209a
North Charleston, SC · 12 mi

All 4 ZIP codes in Summerville → · South Carolina planting zones →

Questions about 29486

What planting zone is ZIP code 29486?

ZIP code 29486 (Summerville, 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 Summerville, SC?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 29486 is March 22; after April 7 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Summerville 4w station.

When is the first frost in Summerville, SC?

The median first fall frost near 29486 is November 12, giving a median frost-free growing season of 238 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 29486?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 25 – Feb 8 and set transplants outside around Mar 29 – Apr 12, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 29486 get?

About 52.7 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Summerville 4w station).

How hot do summers get in Summerville, SC?

The average high peaks at 90 °F in July, with about 72 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 29486 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Goldsboro at the center of ZIP 29486: loamy sand, moderately well drained, pH about 4.6 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Summerville, SC in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 29486 came on Feb 12 in 2026, 10 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 2), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Summerville, SC?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 29486 is 14 h 20 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.