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

Planting zone for 76716 — Waco, TX

ZIP code 76716 (Waco, McLennan County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is March 9 and the first fall frost November 20.

Where ZIP 76716 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.

Zone8b15 to 20 °F
Coldest night−9.4 to −6.7 °C
Last frostMar 9
First frostNov 20
2012 zone8b

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 8b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Waco, 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 Waco, TX

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 9median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 4only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 20median — 10% chance by Nov 2
Growing season256 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 25 and returns around December 3.

From the NOAA station Waco Dam, TX — 3 miles away, elevation 495 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 76716

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 26 – Feb 9
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 26 – Feb 16
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 29 – Jan 12
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 16 – Mar 2
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 9 – Feb 23
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 16 – Mar 2
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 9 – Feb 23
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 16 – Mar 2
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 12 – Jan 26
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 16 – Mar 30
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 29 – Jan 12
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 23 – Apr 6
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 16 – Mar 30
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 16 – Mar 30
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 16 – Mar 30
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 25 – Oct 9
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 6 – Dec 11
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 9) and first fall frost (Nov 20) 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 76716 came on Feb 7 — 5 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 2).

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 Waco, TX.

Soil in Waco, TX

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 76716 is Eddy — 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 matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Eddy-Urban land complex, 3 to 15 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 76716; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Waco, TX

Summer high95 °Faverage high, July
Winter low36 °Faverage low, January
Hot days108days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights38nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days6,532base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 12 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 05 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation38.6 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 36 °F 59°36° JanFebruary: average high 62 °F, low 40 °F 62°40° FebMarch: average high 68 °F, low 48 °F 68°48° MarApril: average high 76 °F, low 54 °F 76°54° AprMay: average high 83 °F, low 64 °F 83°64° MayJune: average high 91 °F, low 72 °F 91°72° JunJuly: average high 95 °F, low 75 °F 95°75° JulAugust: average high 95 °F, low 75 °F 95°75° AugSeptember: average high 89 °F, low 68 °F 89°68° SepOctober: average high 80 °F, low 57 °F 80°57° OctNovember: average high 68 °F, low 46 °F 68°46° NovDecember: average high 60 °F, low 39 °F 60°39° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 2.59 in precipitation 2.6 JanFebruary: 2.63 in precipitation 2.6 FebMarch: 3.48 in precipitation 3.5 MarApril: 3.43 in precipitation 3.4 AprMay: 4.55 in precipitation 4.5 MayJune: 3.55 in precipitation 3.5 JunJuly: 2.07 in precipitation 2.1 JulAugust: 2.21 in precipitation 2.2 AugSeptember: 3.14 in precipitation 3.1 SepOctober: 5.09 in precipitation 5.1 OctNovember: 2.84 in precipitation 2.8 NovDecember: 3.00 in precipitation 3.0 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Waco Dam, TX (3 mi away); precipitation: Waco 1.9 Sw, TX (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 8b.

767038b
Waco, TX · <1 mi
767148b
Waco, TX · <1 mi
767158b
Waco, TX · <1 mi
767978b
Waco, TX · <1 mi
767108b
Waco, TX · 1 mi
767078b
Waco, TX · 3 mi
767998b
Waco, TX · 3 mi
767028b
Waco, TX · 3 mi

All 15 ZIP codes in Waco → · Texas planting zones →

Questions about 76716

What planting zone is ZIP code 76716?

ZIP code 76716 (Waco, 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 Waco, TX?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 76716 is March 9; after April 4 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Waco Dam station.

When is the first frost in Waco, TX?

The median first fall frost near 76716 is November 20, giving a median frost-free growing season of 256 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 76716?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 12 – Jan 26 and set transplants outside around Mar 16 – Mar 30, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 76716 get?

About 38.6 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Waco 1.9 Sw station).

How hot do summers get in Waco, TX?

The average high peaks at 95 °F in July, with about 108 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 76716 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Eddy at the center of ZIP 76716: gravelly clay loam, well drained, pH about 8.2 (alkaline).

Did spring come early in Waco, TX in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 76716 came on Feb 7 in 2026, 5 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 2), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Waco, TX?

Short-day onions: the longest day near 76716 is 14 h 12 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.