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

Planting zone for 79834 — Big Bend National Park, TX

ZIP code 79834 (Big Bend National Park, Brewster County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is March 10 and the first fall frost November 19.

Where ZIP 79834 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 10
First frostNov 19
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 Big Bend National Park, 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 Big Bend National Park, TX

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 10median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 6only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 19median — 10% chance by Oct 29
Growing season252 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 21 and returns around December 2.

From the NOAA station Chisos Basin, TX — 6 miles away, elevation 5,299 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 79834

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 27 – Feb 10
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 27 – Feb 17
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 30 – Jan 13
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 17 – Mar 3
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 10 – Feb 24
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 17 – Mar 3
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 10 – Feb 24
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 17 – Mar 3
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 13 – Jan 27
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 17 – Mar 31
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 30 – Jan 13
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 24 – Apr 7
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 24 – Oct 8
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 5 – Dec 10
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 10) and first fall frost (Nov 19) 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 79834 came on Jan 29 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Jan 28).

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 Big Bend National Park, TX.

Soil in Big Bend National Park, TX

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 79834 is Leyva — very gravelly loam, well drained.

TextureVery gravelly loama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.4slightly alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Leyva-Rock outcrop complex, 10 to 30 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 79834; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Big Bend National Park, TX

Summer high87 °Faverage high, June
Winter low38 °Faverage low, January
Hot days22days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights29nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,153base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 01 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 16 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation18.3 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 58 °F, low 38 °F 58°38° JanFebruary: average high 63 °F, low 41 °F 63°41° FebMarch: average high 69 °F, low 46 °F 69°46° MarApril: average high 76 °F, low 52 °F 76°52° AprMay: average high 83 °F, low 60 °F 83°60° MayJune: average high 87 °F, low 65 °F 87°65° JunJuly: average high 85 °F, low 65 °F 85°65° JulAugust: average high 84 °F, low 65 °F 84°65° AugSeptember: average high 79 °F, low 60 °F 79°60° SepOctober: average high 74 °F, low 54 °F 74°54° OctNovember: average high 65 °F, low 45 °F 65°45° NovDecember: average high 59 °F, low 39 °F 59°39° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″January: 0.58 in precipitation 0.6 JanFebruary: 0.61 in precipitation 0.6 FebMarch: 0.50 in precipitation 0.5 MarApril: 0.59 in precipitation 0.6 AprMay: 1.58 in precipitation 1.6 MayJune: 2.74 in precipitation 2.7 JunJuly: 3.57 in precipitation 3.6 JulAugust: 3.06 in precipitation 3.1 AugSeptember: 2.72 in precipitation 2.7 SepOctober: 1.29 in precipitation 1.3 OctNovember: 0.63 in precipitation 0.6 NovDecember: 0.46 in precipitation 0.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Chisos Basin, TX (6 mi away); precipitation: Chisos Basin, TX (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

798529a
Terlingua, TX · 25 mi
798468b
Redford, TX · 46 mi
798428b
Marathon, TX · 59 mi
798308b
Alpine, TX · 74 mi
798459a
Presidio, TX · 76 mi
798318a
Alpine, TX · 81 mi
798488b
Sanderson, TX · 83 mi
798438a
Marfa, TX · 84 mi

Texas planting zones →

Questions about 79834

What planting zone is ZIP code 79834?

ZIP code 79834 (Big Bend National Park, 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 Big Bend National Park, TX?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 79834 is March 10; after April 6 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Chisos Basin station.

When is the first frost in Big Bend National Park, TX?

The median first fall frost near 79834 is November 19, giving a median frost-free growing season of 252 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 79834?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 13 – Jan 27 and set transplants outside around Mar 17 – Mar 31, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 79834 get?

About 18.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Chisos Basin station).

How hot do summers get in Big Bend National Park, TX?

The average high peaks at 87 °F in June, with about 22 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 79834 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Leyva at the center of ZIP 79834: very gravelly loam, well drained, pH about 7.4 (slightly alkaline).

Did spring come early in Big Bend National Park, TX in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 79834 came on Jan 29 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Jan 28), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Big Bend National Park, TX?

Short-day onions: the longest day near 79834 is 14 h 01 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.