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

Planting zone for 38188 — Memphis, TN

ZIP code 38188 (Memphis, Shelby County) is in USDA zone 8a: the coldest winter night averages 10 to 15 °F. The median last spring frost is March 16 and the first fall frost November 16.

Where ZIP 38188 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.

Zone8a10 to 15 °F
Coldest night−12.2 to −9.4 °C
Last frostMar 16
First frostNov 16
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 16median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 4only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 16median — 10% chance by Nov 2
Growing season244 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 4 and returns around November 28.

From the NOAA station Memphis Intl Airport, TN — 10 miles away, elevation 253 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 38188

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 2 – Feb 16
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 2 – Feb 23
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 5 – Jan 19
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 23 – Mar 9
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 16 – Mar 2
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 16 – Mar 2
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 19 – Feb 2
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 23 – Apr 6
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 5 – Jan 19
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 30 – Apr 13
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 21 – Oct 5
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 2 – Dec 7
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 16) and first fall frost (Nov 16) 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 38188 came on Feb 17 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 18).

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 38188 is mapped as Graded land, silty materials (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 38188; 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, July
Winter low33 °Faverage low, January
Hot days72days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights44nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,766base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 32 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 47 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation54.8 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 51 °F, low 33 °F 51°33° JanFebruary: average high 56 °F, low 37 °F 56°37° FebMarch: average high 64 °F, low 44 °F 64°44° MarApril: average high 73 °F, low 53 °F 73°53° AprMay: average high 82 °F, low 62 °F 82°62° MayJune: average high 89 °F, low 70 °F 89°70° JunJuly: average high 92 °F, low 74 °F 92°74° JulAugust: average high 92 °F, low 73 °F 92°73° AugSeptember: average high 86 °F, low 66 °F 86°66° SepOctober: average high 75 °F, low 54 °F 75°54° OctNovember: average high 63 °F, low 43 °F 63°43° NovDecember: average high 53 °F, low 36 °F 53°36° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 4.29 in precipitation 4.3 JanFebruary: 4.85 in precipitation 4.8 FebMarch: 5.34 in precipitation 5.3 MarApril: 5.54 in precipitation 5.5 AprMay: 5.54 in precipitation 5.5 MayJune: 4.17 in precipitation 4.2 JunJuly: 4.03 in precipitation 4.0 JulAugust: 3.16 in precipitation 3.2 AugSeptember: 3.44 in precipitation 3.4 SepOctober: 4.01 in precipitation 4.0 OctNovember: 4.73 in precipitation 4.7 NovDecember: 5.66 in precipitation 5.7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Memphis Intl Airport, TN (10 mi away); precipitation: Bartlett 1.3 Ene, TN (9 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 8a.

380838a
Millington, TN · <1 mi
381248a
Memphis, TN · <1 mi
381308a
Memphis, TN · <1 mi
381368a
Memphis, TN · <1 mi
381378a
Memphis, TN · <1 mi
381458a
Memphis, TN · <1 mi
381518a
Memphis, TN · <1 mi
381578a
Memphis, TN · <1 mi

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

Questions about 38188

What planting zone is ZIP code 38188?

ZIP code 38188 (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 38188 is March 16; after April 4 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Memphis Intl Airport station.

When is the first frost in Memphis, TN?

The median first fall frost near 38188 is November 16, giving a median frost-free growing season of 244 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 38188?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 19 – Feb 2 and set transplants outside around Mar 23 – Apr 6, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 38188 get?

About 54.8 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Bartlett 1.3 Ene station).

How hot do summers get in Memphis, TN?

The average high peaks at 92 °F in July, with about 72 days a year at 90 °F or more.

Did spring come early in Memphis, TN in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 38188 came on Feb 17 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 18), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Memphis, TN?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 38188 is 14 h 32 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 38188 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 38188 in zone 7b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 8a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.