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

Planting zone for 76116 — Fort Worth, TX

ZIP code 76116 (Fort Worth, Tarrant County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is March 3 and the first fall frost November 27.

Where ZIP 76116 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.

Zone8b15 to 20 °F
Coldest night−9.4 to −6.7 °C
Last frostMar 3
First frostNov 27
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 Fort Worth, TX…

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 Fort Worth, TX

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 3median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 22only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 27median — 10% chance by Nov 6
Growing season270 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 17 and returns around December 12.

From the NOAA station Ft Worth NAS, TX — 3 miles away, elevation 607 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 76116

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 20 – Feb 3
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 20 – Feb 10
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 23 – Jan 6
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 10 – Feb 24
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 3 – Feb 17
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 10 – Feb 24
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 3 – Feb 17
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 10 – Feb 24
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 6 – Jan 20
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 10 – Mar 24
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 23 – Jan 6
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 17 – Mar 31
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Oct 2 – Oct 16
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 13 – Dec 18
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 3) and first fall frost (Nov 27) 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 76116 came on Feb 8 — 4 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 4).

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 Texas

620 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Texas, and rated by the USDA to survive 15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 8b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 70

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican beech80 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −44 °FAmerican elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican sycamore100 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −34 °FArizona cypress50 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °FArizona walnut50 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Shrubs 137

alderleaf mountain mahogany15 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −41 °Faloe yucca15 ft · blooms early summer · medium shade tolerance · to −1 °FAmerican beautyberry6 ft · blooms early summer · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °FAmerican holly40 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −20 °FAmerican hornbeam30 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −34 °FAmerican snowbell10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −16 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 204

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine mountainsorrel1 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −43 °FAmerican bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican century plant6 ft · blooms indeterminate · high shade tolerance · to 12 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican licorice4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Grasses 188

alkali sacaton3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican cupscale3 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −18 °FArizona cottontop4 ft · blooms late summer · high shade tolerance · to −13 °FArizona fescue2 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −23 °FArizona threeawn2 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −3 °Fautumn bluegrass1.5 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °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 Fort Worth, TX.

Soil in Fort Worth, TX

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 76116 is Aledo — gravelly clay loam, well drained.

TextureGravelly clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH8.2alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Aledo-Urban land complex, 1 to 8 percent slopes.

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 76116; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Fort Worth, TX

Summer high97 °Faverage high, July
Winter low37 °Faverage low, January
Hot days114days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights26nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days6,949base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 18 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 00 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation37.6 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°110°32 °FJanuary: average high 59 °F, low 37 °F 59°37° JanFebruary: average high 63 °F, low 41 °F 63°41° FebMarch: average high 70 °F, low 49 °F 70°49° MarApril: average high 78 °F, low 56 °F 78°56° AprMay: average high 85 °F, low 65 °F 85°65° MayJune: average high 92 °F, low 73 °F 92°73° JunJuly: average high 97 °F, low 77 °F 97°77° JulAugust: average high 97 °F, low 76 °F 97°76° AugSeptember: average high 90 °F, low 70 °F 90°70° SepOctober: average high 79 °F, low 58 °F 79°58° OctNovember: average high 68 °F, low 48 °F 68°48° NovDecember: average high 60 °F, low 40 °F 60°40° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.20 in precipitation 2.2 JanFebruary: 2.59 in precipitation 2.6 FebMarch: 3.56 in precipitation 3.6 MarApril: 3.08 in precipitation 3.1 AprMay: 4.40 in precipitation 4.4 MayJune: 3.93 in precipitation 3.9 JunJuly: 2.12 in precipitation 2.1 JulAugust: 2.70 in precipitation 2.7 AugSeptember: 3.54 in precipitation 3.5 SepOctober: 4.30 in precipitation 4.3 OctNovember: 2.74 in precipitation 2.7 NovDecember: 2.46 in precipitation 2.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Ft Worth NAS, TX (3 mi away); precipitation: Benbrook 2.1 N, TX (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 8b.

761098b
Fort Worth, TX · 4 mi
761278b
Naval Air Station Jrb, TX · 4 mi
761328b
Fort Worth, TX · 4 mi
761078b
Fort Worth, TX · 4 mi
761148b
Fort Worth, TX · 4 mi
761338b
Fort Worth, TX · 6 mi
761268b
Fort Worth, TX · 6 mi
761108b
Fort Worth, TX · 6 mi

All 54 ZIP codes in Fort Worth → · Texas planting zones →

Questions about 76116

What planting zone is ZIP code 76116?

ZIP code 76116 (Fort Worth, TX) 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 Fort Worth, TX?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 76116 is March 3; after March 22 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Ft Worth NAS station.

When is the first frost in Fort Worth, TX?

The median first fall frost near 76116 is November 27, giving a median frost-free growing season of 270 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 76116?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 6 – Jan 20 and set transplants outside around Mar 10 – Mar 24, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 76116 get?

About 37.6 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Benbrook 2.1 N station).

How hot do summers get in Fort Worth, TX?

The average high peaks at 97 °F in July, with about 114 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 76116 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Aledo at the center of ZIP 76116: gravelly clay loam, well drained, pH about 8.2 (alkaline).

Did spring come early in Fort Worth, TX in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 76116 came on Feb 8 in 2026, 4 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 4), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Fort Worth, TX?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 76116 is 14 h 18 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 76116 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 76116 in zone 8a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 8b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.