Planting zone for 33043 — Big Pine Key, FL
ZIP code 33043 (Big Pine Key, Monroe County) is in USDA zone 11b: the coldest winter night averages 45 to 50 °F.
Where ZIP 33043 is
Outlined: the ZIP code area · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoomNot 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.
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 11b means →
Frost forecast — next 7 nights
live from the National Weather ServiceLoading the forecast for Big Pine Key, FL…
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
A 32 °F frost doesn't happen here in most winters. At the nearest station (NOAA station Royal Palm Rs, FL — 65 miles away, elevation 7 ft) the median growing season is 365 days. When frost does come, it is a midwinter night or two; cover tender plants when a freeze is forecast.
Frost data: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
When spring arrived in 2026
In 2026, spring leaf-out near 33043 came on Jan 9 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Jan 10).
Jan 102026
Jan 9
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 11b in Florida
521 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Florida, and rated by the USDA to survive 45 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 11b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.
Trees 72
Shrubs 134
Wildflowers & perennials 154
Grasses 141
Vines 12
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 Big Pine Key, FL.
Soil in Big Pine Key, FL
The center of ZIP 33043 is mapped as Water: 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 33043; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.
Climate in Big Pine Key, FL
Average high and low, by month
Precipitation by month inches
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Bahia Honda Sp, FL (2 mi away); precipitation: Bahia Honda Sp, FL (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.
Nearby ZIP codes
All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 11b.
Questions about 33043
What planting zone is ZIP code 33043?
ZIP code 33043 (Big Pine Key, FL) is in USDA hardiness zone 11b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 45 to 50 °F (7.2 to 10 °C).
How much rain and snow does 33043 get?
About 46.1 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Bahia Honda Sp station).
How hot do summers get in Big Pine Key, FL?
The average high peaks at 90 °F in July, with about 62 days a year at 90 °F or more.
Did spring come early in Big Pine Key, FL in 2026?
Spring leaf-out near 33043 came on Jan 9 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Jan 10), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.
What kind of onions grow in Big Pine Key, FL?
Short-day onions: the longest day near 33043 is 13 h 40 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.