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

Planting zone for 29616 — Greenville, SC

ZIP code 29616 (Greenville, Greenville County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is March 28 and the first fall frost November 7.

Where ZIP 29616 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 28
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 Greenville, 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 Greenville, SC

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 28median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 12only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 7median — 10% chance by Oct 24
Growing season225 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 16 and returns around November 22.

From the NOAA station Greenville, SC — 2 miles away, elevation 961 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 29616

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 14 – Mar 7
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 17 – Jan 31
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 4 – Apr 18
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 17 – Jan 31
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 11 – Apr 25
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
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 28) 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 29616 came on Feb 19 — 5 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 14).

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 Greenville, SC.

Soil in Greenville, SC

The center of ZIP 29616 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 29616; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Greenville, SC

Summer high87 °Faverage high, July
Winter low30 °Faverage low, January
Hot days24days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights73nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,479base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 30 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 49 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation50.7 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 52 °F, low 30 °F 52°30° JanFebruary: average high 56 °F, low 33 °F 56°33° FebMarch: average high 64 °F, low 39 °F 64°39° MarApril: average high 72 °F, low 47 °F 72°47° AprMay: average high 78 °F, low 56 °F 78°56° MayJune: average high 84 °F, low 65 °F 84°65° JunJuly: average high 87 °F, low 68 °F 87°68° JulAugust: average high 86 °F, low 68 °F 86°68° AugSeptember: average high 80 °F, low 62 °F 80°62° SepOctober: average high 70 °F, low 50 °F 70°50° OctNovember: average high 61 °F, low 39 °F 61°39° NovDecember: average high 54 °F, low 33 °F 54°33° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 4.42 in precipitation 4.4 JanFebruary: 3.54 in precipitation 3.5 FebMarch: 4.30 in precipitation 4.3 MarApril: 4.23 in precipitation 4.2 AprMay: 3.80 in precipitation 3.8 MayJune: 4.42 in precipitation 4.4 JunJuly: 4.61 in precipitation 4.6 JulAugust: 4.37 in precipitation 4.4 AugSeptember: 4.03 in precipitation 4.0 SepOctober: 3.92 in precipitation 3.9 OctNovember: 3.97 in precipitation 4.0 NovDecember: 5.12 in precipitation 5.1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Greenville, SC (2 mi away); precipitation: Greenville, SC (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

296018a
Greenville, SC · <1 mi
296038a
Greenville, SC · 2 mi
296148a
Greenville, SC · 2 mi
296048a
Greenville, SC · 3 mi
296068a
Greenville, SC · 3 mi
296088a
Greenville, SC · 3 mi
296108a
Greenville, SC · 3 mi
296128a
Greenville, SC · 3 mi

All 17 ZIP codes in Greenville → · South Carolina planting zones →

Questions about 29616

What planting zone is ZIP code 29616?

ZIP code 29616 (Greenville, 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 Greenville, SC?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 29616 is March 28; after April 12 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Greenville station.

When is the first frost in Greenville, SC?

The median first fall frost near 29616 is November 7, giving a median frost-free growing season of 225 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 29616?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 31 – Feb 14 and set transplants outside around Apr 4 – Apr 18, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 29616 get?

About 50.7 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Greenville station).

How hot do summers get in Greenville, SC?

The average high peaks at 87 °F in July, with about 24 days a year at 90 °F or more.

Did spring come early in Greenville, SC in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 29616 came on Feb 19 in 2026, 5 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 14), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Greenville, SC?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 29616 is 14 h 30 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 29616 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 29616 in zone 8a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 8b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.