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

Planting zone for 77243 — Houston, TX

ZIP code 77243 (Houston, Harris County) is in USDA zone 9b: the coldest winter night averages 25 to 30 °F. The median last spring frost is February 13 and the first fall frost December 9.

Where ZIP 77243 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.

Zone9b25 to 30 °F
Coldest night−3.9 to −1.1 °C
Last frostFeb 13
First frostDec 9
2012 zone9a

Was 9a 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 9b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Houston, 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 Houston, TX

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostFebruary 13median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 12only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostDecember 9median — 10% chance by Nov 17
Growing season300 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around January 27 and returns around January 2.

From the NOAA station Houston Intercont Airport, TX — 11 miles away, elevation 95 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 77243

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 2 – Jan 16
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 2 – Jan 23
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 5 – Dec 19
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Jan 23 – Feb 6
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Jan 16 – Jan 30
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Jan 23 – Feb 6
LettuceSow outdoors · Jan 16 – Jan 30
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Jan 23 – Feb 6
TomatoesStart indoors · Dec 19 – Jan 2
TomatoesTransplant · Feb 20 – Mar 6
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 5 – Dec 19
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Feb 27 – Mar 13
BeansSow outdoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Oct 14 – Oct 28
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 25 – Dec 30
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Feb 13) and first fall frost (Dec 9) 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 77243 came on Jan 10 — 12 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 22).

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 9b in Texas

646 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Texas, and rated by the USDA to survive 25 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 9b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 72

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 142

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 212

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 197

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 Houston, TX.

Soil in Houston, TX

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 77243 is Gessner — loam, poorly drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.3slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupB/Dmoderate when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Gessner occasionally ponded-Urban land complex, 0 to 1 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 77243; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Houston, TX

Summer high95 °Faverage high, July
Winter low44 °Faverage low, January
Hot days111days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights10nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days7,657base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 04 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 13 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation54.5 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 64 °F, low 44 °F 64°44° JanFebruary: average high 68 °F, low 48 °F 68°48° FebMarch: average high 74 °F, low 54 °F 74°54° MarApril: average high 80 °F, low 60 °F 80°60° AprMay: average high 87 °F, low 68 °F 87°68° MayJune: average high 92 °F, low 74 °F 92°74° JunJuly: average high 95 °F, low 76 °F 95°76° JulAugust: average high 95 °F, low 75 °F 95°75° AugSeptember: average high 90 °F, low 71 °F 90°71° SepOctober: average high 83 °F, low 61 °F 83°61° OctNovember: average high 73 °F, low 52 °F 73°52° NovDecember: average high 65 °F, low 46 °F 65°46° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.93 in precipitation 3.9 JanFebruary: 3.08 in precipitation 3.1 FebMarch: 3.49 in precipitation 3.5 MarApril: 4.16 in precipitation 4.2 AprMay: 5.24 in precipitation 5.2 MayJune: 5.21 in precipitation 5.2 JunJuly: 4.49 in precipitation 4.5 JulAugust: 5.32 in precipitation 5.3 AugSeptember: 5.66 in precipitation 5.7 SepOctober: 5.23 in precipitation 5.2 OctNovember: 4.40 in precipitation 4.4 NovDecember: 4.30 in precipitation 4.3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Houston Intercont Airport, TX (11 mi away); precipitation: Houston 4.7 Wnw, TX (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 9b.

772029b
Houston, TX · <1 mi
772059b
Houston, TX · <1 mi
772069b
Houston, TX · <1 mi
772079b
Houston, TX · <1 mi
772139b
Houston, TX · <1 mi
772159b
Houston, TX · <1 mi
772169b
Houston, TX · <1 mi
772179b
Houston, TX · <1 mi

All 178 ZIP codes in Houston → · Texas planting zones →

Questions about 77243

What planting zone is ZIP code 77243?

ZIP code 77243 (Houston, TX) is in USDA hardiness zone 9b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 25 to 30 °F (−3.9 to −1.1 °C).

When is the last frost in Houston, TX?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 77243 is February 13; after March 12 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Houston Intercont Airport station.

When is the first frost in Houston, TX?

The median first fall frost near 77243 is December 9, giving a median frost-free growing season of 300 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 77243?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Dec 19 – Jan 2 and set transplants outside around Feb 20 – Mar 6, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 77243 get?

About 54.5 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Houston 4.7 Wnw station).

How hot do summers get in Houston, TX?

The average high peaks at 95 °F in July, with about 111 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 77243 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Gessner at the center of ZIP 77243: loam, poorly drained, pH about 6.3 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Houston, TX in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 77243 came on Jan 10 in 2026, 12 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 22), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Houston, TX?

Short-day onions: the longest day near 77243 is 14 h 04 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.

Did the zone for 77243 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 77243 in zone 9a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 9b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.