Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated Oct 29, 2026

Planting zone for 78043 — Laredo, TX

ZIP code 78043 (Laredo, Webb County) is in USDA zone 9b: the coldest winter night averages 25 to 30 °F.

Where ZIP 78043 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.

Zone9b25 to 30 °F

Coldest night−3.9 to −1.1 °C

Last frostrare

First frostrare

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 Laredo, 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

A 32 °F frost doesn't happen here in most winters. At the nearest station (NOAA station Laredo AFB, TX — 11 miles away, elevation 505 ft) the median growing season is 344 days. When frost does come, it is a midwinter night or two; cover tender plants when a freeze is forecast.

Frost data: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 78043 came on Jan 10 — 10 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 20).

average
Jan 202026
Jan 10

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.

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 Laredo, TX.

Soil in Laredo, TX

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 78043 is Copita — fine sandy loam, well drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding

pH8.2alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0

DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class

Organic matter0.75%low — add compost

Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly

Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Copita fine sandy loam, 0 to 3 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 78043; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Laredo, TX

Summer high101 °Faverage high, August

Winter low47 °Faverage low, January

Hot days185days a year at 90 °F or more

Freezing nights2nights a year at 32 °F or less

Growing degree days9,074base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat

Longest day13 h 53 mindaylight on June 21

Shortest day10 h 24 mindaylight on December 21

Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb

Precipitation21.4 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

Precipitation by month inches

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Laredo AFB, TX (11 mi away); precipitation: Laredo AFB, TX (11 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 9b.

Mirando City, TX · 17 mi

783449b

Bruni, TX · 28 mi

All 7 ZIP codes in Laredo → · Texas planting zones →

Questions about 78043

What planting zone is ZIP code 78043?

ZIP code 78043 (Laredo, 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).

How much rain and snow does 78043 get?

About 21.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Laredo AFB station).

How hot do summers get in Laredo, TX?

The average high peaks at 101 °F in August, with about 185 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 78043 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Copita at the center of ZIP 78043: fine sandy loam, well drained, pH about 8.2 (alkaline).

Did spring come early in Laredo, TX in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 78043 came on Jan 10 in 2026, 10 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 20), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Laredo, TX?

Short-day onions: the longest day near 78043 is 13 h 53 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.

Did the zone for 78043 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 78043 in zone 9a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 9b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.