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

Planting zone for 29670 — Pendleton, SC

ZIP code 29670 (Pendleton, Anderson County) is in USDA zone 8a: the coldest winter night averages 10 to 15 °F. The median last spring frost is April 5 and the first fall frost October 30.

Where ZIP 29670 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.

Zone8a10 to 15 °F
Coldest night−12.2 to −9.4 °C
Last frostApr 5
First frostOct 30
2012 zone8a

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 8a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Pendleton, 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 Pendleton, SC

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 5median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 21only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 30median — 10% chance by Oct 17
Growing season207 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 27 and returns around November 9.

From the NOAA station Sandy Springs 2 Ne, SC — 2 miles away, elevation 764 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 29670

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 22 – Mar 15
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 25 – Feb 8
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 15 – Mar 29
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 8 – Feb 22
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 12 – Apr 26
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 25 – Feb 8
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 19 – May 3
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 4 – Sep 18
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 16 – Nov 20
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 5) and first fall frost (Oct 30) 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 29670 came on Feb 18 — 5 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 13).

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 8a in South Carolina

550 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in South Carolina, and rated by the USDA to survive 10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 8a. 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 126

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 163

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 158

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 Pendleton, SC.

Soil in Pendleton, SC

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 29670 is Cataula — clay loam, moderately well drained.

TextureClay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH5.8moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Cataula clay loam, 6 to 10 percent slopes, eroded.

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 29670; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Pendleton, SC

Summer high90 °Faverage high, July
Winter low28 °Faverage low, January
Hot days51days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights75nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,587base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 29 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 50 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation49.8 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 53 °F, low 28 °F 53°28° JanFebruary: average high 57 °F, low 32 °F 57°32° FebMarch: average high 65 °F, low 37 °F 65°37° MarApril: average high 73 °F, low 45 °F 73°45° AprMay: average high 80 °F, low 54 °F 80°54° MayJune: average high 87 °F, low 63 °F 87°63° JunJuly: average high 90 °F, low 67 °F 90°67° JulAugust: average high 89 °F, low 66 °F 89°66° AugSeptember: average high 83 °F, low 60 °F 83°60° SepOctober: average high 74 °F, low 47 °F 74°47° OctNovember: average high 64 °F, low 37 °F 64°37° NovDecember: average high 56 °F, low 32 °F 56°32° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 4.78 in precipitation 4.8 JanFebruary: 4.35 in precipitation 4.3 FebMarch: 4.57 in precipitation 4.6 MarApril: 3.72 in precipitation 3.7 AprMay: 3.73 in precipitation 3.7 MayJune: 3.98 in precipitation 4.0 JunJuly: 4.43 in precipitation 4.4 JulAugust: 4.08 in precipitation 4.1 AugSeptember: 4.10 in precipitation 4.1 SepOctober: 3.50 in precipitation 3.5 OctNovember: 3.82 in precipitation 3.8 NovDecember: 4.71 in precipitation 4.7 Dec

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

Nearby ZIP codes

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

296568a
La France, SC · 3 mi
296778a
Sandy Springs, SC · 4 mi
296318a
Clemson, SC · 6 mi
296258b
Anderson, SC · 7 mi
296348b
Clemson, SC · 7 mi
296328b
Clemson, SC · 7 mi
296338b
Clemson, SC · 7 mi
296308a
Central, SC · 8 mi

South Carolina planting zones →

Questions about 29670

What planting zone is ZIP code 29670?

ZIP code 29670 (Pendleton, SC) is in USDA hardiness zone 8a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 10 to 15 °F (−12.2 to −9.4 °C).

When is the last frost in Pendleton, SC?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 29670 is April 5; after April 21 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Sandy Springs 2 Ne station.

When is the first frost in Pendleton, SC?

The median first fall frost near 29670 is October 30, giving a median frost-free growing season of 207 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 29670?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 8 – Feb 22 and set transplants outside around Apr 12 – Apr 26, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 29670 get?

About 49.8 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Sandy Springs 2 Ne station).

How hot do summers get in Pendleton, SC?

The average high peaks at 90 °F in July, with about 51 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 29670 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Cataula at the center of ZIP 29670: clay loam, moderately well drained, pH about 5.8 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Pendleton, SC in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 29670 came on Feb 18 in 2026, 5 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 13), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Pendleton, SC?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 29670 is 14 h 29 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.