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

Planting zone for 78763 — Austin, TX

ZIP code 78763 (Austin, Travis County) is in USDA zone 9a: the coldest winter night averages 20 to 25 °F. The median last spring frost is March 4 and the first fall frost November 24.

Where ZIP 78763 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.

Zone9a20 to 25 °F
Coldest night−6.7 to −3.9 °C
Last frostMar 4
First frostNov 24
2012 zone9a

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 9a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Austin, 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 Austin, TX

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 4median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 23only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 24median — 10% chance by Nov 5
Growing season264 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 21 and returns around December 9.

From the NOAA station Elgin 1 N, TX — 11 miles away, elevation 594 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 78763

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 21 – Feb 4
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 21 – Feb 11
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 24 – Jan 7
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 11 – Feb 25
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 4 – Feb 18
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 11 – Feb 25
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 4 – Feb 18
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 11 – Feb 25
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 7 – Jan 21
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 11 – Mar 25
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 24 – Jan 7
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 18 – Apr 1
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 29 – Oct 13
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 10 – Dec 15
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 4) and first fall frost (Nov 24) 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 78763 came on Jan 30 — 4 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 26).

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 9a in Texas

640 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Texas, and rated by the USDA to survive 20 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 9a. 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 141

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 208

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 196

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 Austin, TX.

Soil in Austin, TX

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 78763 is Houston Black — clay, moderately well drained.

TextureClayholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH7.9alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Houston Black clay, 1 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 78763; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Austin, TX

Summer high96 °Faverage high, August
Winter low39 °Faverage low, January
Hot days117days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights18nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days6,959base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 06 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 11 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation38.7 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 61 °F, low 39 °F 61°39° JanFebruary: average high 64 °F, low 43 °F 64°43° FebMarch: average high 71 °F, low 49 °F 71°49° MarApril: average high 79 °F, low 57 °F 79°57° AprMay: average high 85 °F, low 65 °F 85°65° MayJune: average high 92 °F, low 71 °F 92°71° JunJuly: average high 95 °F, low 73 °F 95°73° JulAugust: average high 96 °F, low 73 °F 96°73° AugSeptember: average high 90 °F, low 68 °F 90°68° SepOctober: average high 81 °F, low 58 °F 81°58° OctNovember: average high 70 °F, low 49 °F 70°49° NovDecember: average high 62 °F, low 41 °F 62°41° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.73 in precipitation 2.7 JanFebruary: 2.11 in precipitation 2.1 FebMarch: 3.15 in precipitation 3.1 MarApril: 2.93 in precipitation 2.9 AprMay: 4.59 in precipitation 4.6 MayJune: 4.01 in precipitation 4.0 JunJuly: 2.25 in precipitation 2.3 JulAugust: 2.90 in precipitation 2.9 AugSeptember: 3.62 in precipitation 3.6 SepOctober: 4.40 in precipitation 4.4 OctNovember: 3.09 in precipitation 3.1 NovDecember: 2.94 in precipitation 2.9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Elgin 1 N, TX (11 mi away); precipitation: Wells Branch 4.2 S, TX (8 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

1 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

786539a
Manor, TX · 2 mi
787249a
Austin, TX · 5 mi
787549a
Austin, TX · 5 mi
786609a
Pflugerville, TX · 7 mi
787539a
Austin, TX · 8 mi
787239a
Austin, TX · 8 mi
787258b
Austin, TX · 8 mi
786919a
Pflugerville, TX · 8 mi

All 73 ZIP codes in Austin → · Texas planting zones →

Questions about 78763

What planting zone is ZIP code 78763?

ZIP code 78763 (Austin, TX) is in USDA hardiness zone 9a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 20 to 25 °F (−6.7 to −3.9 °C).

When is the last frost in Austin, TX?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 78763 is March 4; after March 23 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Elgin 1 N station.

When is the first frost in Austin, TX?

The median first fall frost near 78763 is November 24, giving a median frost-free growing season of 264 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 78763?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 7 – Jan 21 and set transplants outside around Mar 11 – Mar 25, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 78763 get?

About 38.7 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Wells Branch 4.2 S station).

How hot do summers get in Austin, TX?

The average high peaks at 96 °F in August, with about 117 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 78763 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Houston Black at the center of ZIP 78763: clay, moderately well drained, pH about 7.9 (alkaline).

Did spring come early in Austin, TX in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 78763 came on Jan 30 in 2026, 4 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 26), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Austin, TX?

Short-day onions: the longest day near 78763 is 14 h 06 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.