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

Planting zone for 38141 — Memphis, TN

ZIP code 38141 (Memphis, Shelby County) is in USDA zone 8a: the coldest winter night averages 10 to 15 °F. The median last spring frost is March 26 and the first fall frost November 6.

Where ZIP 38141 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 frostMar 26
First frostNov 6
2012 zone7b

Was 7b 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 8a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Memphis, TN…

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 Memphis, TN

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 26median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 11only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 6median — 10% chance by Oct 25
Growing season227 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 14 and returns around November 17.

From the NOAA station Olive Branch, MS — 4 miles away, elevation 384 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 38141

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 12 – Feb 26
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 12 – Mar 5
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 15 – Jan 29
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 5 – Mar 19
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 29 – Feb 12
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 15 – Jan 29
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 9 – Apr 23
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 11 – Sep 25
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 23 – Nov 27
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 26) and first fall frost (Nov 6) 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 38141 came on Feb 16 — 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 19).

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 Tennessee

575 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Tennessee, and rated by the USDA to survive 10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 8a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 83

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 118

alderleaf buckthorn3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAllegheny serviceberry35 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °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 186

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 161

American cupscale3 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −18 °Fautumn bluegrass1.5 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBailey's sedge2.1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fbig bluestem6 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −46 °Fbluejoint5 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Vines 14

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican wisteria50 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °Fcatbird grape30 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −13 °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 °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 Memphis, TN.

Soil in Memphis, TN

The center of ZIP 38141 is mapped as Gullied land, silty (Udorthent, silty): 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 38141; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Memphis, TN

Summer high92 °Faverage high, August
Winter low31 °Faverage low, January
Hot days71days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights72nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,344base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 31 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 48 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation57.8 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 50 °F, low 31 °F 50°31° JanFebruary: average high 55 °F, low 34 °F 55°34° FebMarch: average high 64 °F, low 41 °F 64°41° MarApril: average high 73 °F, low 50 °F 73°50° AprMay: average high 82 °F, low 60 °F 82°60° MayJune: average high 89 °F, low 68 °F 89°68° JunJuly: average high 91 °F, low 72 °F 91°72° JulAugust: average high 92 °F, low 70 °F 92°70° AugSeptember: average high 85 °F, low 63 °F 85°63° SepOctober: average high 75 °F, low 50 °F 75°50° OctNovember: average high 63 °F, low 40 °F 63°40° NovDecember: average high 53 °F, low 34 °F 53°34° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 4.16 in precipitation 4.2 JanFebruary: 4.65 in precipitation 4.7 FebMarch: 5.95 in precipitation 6.0 MarApril: 5.84 in precipitation 5.8 AprMay: 5.62 in precipitation 5.6 MayJune: 4.69 in precipitation 4.7 JunJuly: 5.07 in precipitation 5.1 JulAugust: 3.43 in precipitation 3.4 AugSeptember: 3.44 in precipitation 3.4 SepOctober: 4.55 in precipitation 4.5 OctNovember: 4.65 in precipitation 4.7 NovDecember: 5.71 in precipitation 5.7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Olive Branch, MS (4 mi away); precipitation: Memphis 12.0 Se, TN (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 8a.

381158a
Memphis, TN · 3 mi
381258a
Memphis, TN · 4 mi
381188a
Memphis, TN · 4 mi
381198a
Memphis, TN · 4 mi
381388a
Germantown, TN · 6 mi
386548a
Olive Branch, MS · 6 mi
381398a
Germantown, TN · 7 mi
381178a
Memphis, TN · 7 mi

All 60 ZIP codes in Memphis → · Tennessee planting zones →

Questions about 38141

What planting zone is ZIP code 38141?

ZIP code 38141 (Memphis, TN) 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 Memphis, TN?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 38141 is March 26; after April 11 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Olive Branch station.

When is the first frost in Memphis, TN?

The median first fall frost near 38141 is November 6, giving a median frost-free growing season of 227 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 38141?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 29 – Feb 12 and set transplants outside around Apr 2 – Apr 16, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 38141 get?

About 57.8 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Memphis 12.0 Se station).

How hot do summers get in Memphis, TN?

The average high peaks at 92 °F in August, with about 71 days a year at 90 °F or more.

Did spring come early in Memphis, TN in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 38141 came on Feb 16 in 2026, 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 19), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Memphis, TN?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 38141 is 14 h 31 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 38141 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 38141 in zone 7b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 8a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.