When to plant tulip bulbs in North Carolina

Fall planting in Charlotte

Oct 20–Nov 24

Across North Carolina the window opens between October 11 and November 6. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average first fall frost.

Fall planting, Charlotte: Oct 20–Nov 24
Last frost, Charlotte: Mar 30

Plant from 2 weeks before to 3 weeks after the first fall frost. Plant once the soil has cooled below 60°F. Bulbs need 12–14 weeks of cold to flower in spring.

Tulip bulbs planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

CharlotteOct 20–Nov 24

RaleighOct 25–Nov 29

GreensboroOct 21–Nov 25

DurhamOct 21–Nov 25

Winston-SalemOct 26–Nov 30

FayettevilleOct 27–Dec 1

CaryOct 25–Nov 29

WilmingtonNov 6–Dec 11

High PointOct 22–Nov 26

ConcordOct 19–Nov 23

GreenvilleOct 25–Nov 29

AshevilleOct 17–Nov 21

GastoniaOct 26–Nov 30

ApexOct 25–Nov 29

JacksonvilleNov 2–Dec 7

HuntersvilleOct 20–Nov 24

Chapel HillOct 22–Nov 26

KannapolisOct 19–Nov 23

BurlingtonOct 26–Nov 30

Wake ForestOct 21–Nov 25

MooresvilleOct 14–Nov 18

Rocky MountOct 24–Nov 28

Holly SpringsOct 20–Nov 24

WilsonOct 29–Dec 3

Fuquay-VarinaOct 18–Nov 22

HickoryOct 21–Nov 25

Indian TrailOct 22–Nov 26

MonroeOct 18–Nov 22

GarnerOct 18–Nov 22

SalisburyOct 16–Nov 20

All 52 cities

City	Fall planting	Last frost
Charlotte	Oct 20 to Nov 24	Mar 30
Raleigh	Oct 25 to Nov 29	Mar 28
Greensboro	Oct 21 to Nov 25	Apr 1
Durham	Oct 21 to Nov 25	Apr 2
Winston-Salem	Oct 26 to Nov 30	Mar 26
Fayetteville	Oct 27 to Dec 1	Mar 30
Cary	Oct 25 to Nov 29	Mar 27
Wilmington	Nov 6 to Dec 11	Mar 19
High Point	Oct 22 to Nov 26	Mar 30
Concord	Oct 19 to Nov 23	Apr 1
Greenville	Oct 25 to Nov 29	Mar 27
Asheville	Oct 17 to Nov 21	Apr 6
Gastonia	Oct 26 to Nov 30	Mar 27
Apex	Oct 25 to Nov 29	Mar 27
Jacksonville	Nov 2 to Dec 7	Mar 23
Huntersville	Oct 20 to Nov 24	Mar 30
Chapel Hill	Oct 22 to Nov 26	Mar 29
Kannapolis	Oct 19 to Nov 23	Apr 1
Burlington	Oct 26 to Nov 30	Mar 29
Wake Forest	Oct 21 to Nov 25	Apr 4
Mooresville	Oct 14 to Nov 18	Apr 9
Rocky Mount	Oct 24 to Nov 28	Mar 31
Holly Springs	Oct 20 to Nov 24	Apr 6
Wilson	Oct 29 to Dec 3	Mar 22
Fuquay-Varina	Oct 18 to Nov 22	Apr 1
Hickory	Oct 21 to Nov 25	Mar 31
Indian Trail	Oct 22 to Nov 26	Mar 31
Monroe	Oct 18 to Nov 22	Apr 3
Garner	Oct 18 to Nov 22	Apr 1
Salisbury	Oct 16 to Nov 20	Apr 6
Leland	Nov 6 to Dec 11	Mar 19
Cornelius	Oct 19 to Nov 23	Apr 1
Goldsboro	Nov 4 to Dec 9	Mar 15
New Bern	Nov 1 to Dec 6	Mar 23
Sanford	Oct 16 to Nov 20	Apr 10
Matthews	Oct 22 to Nov 26	Mar 31
Clayton	Oct 20 to Nov 24	Apr 7
Morrisville	Oct 21 to Nov 25	Mar 31
Statesville	Oct 11 to Nov 15	Apr 16
Mint Hill	Oct 22 to Nov 26	Mar 31
Kernersville	Oct 22 to Nov 26	Mar 30
Asheboro	Oct 17 to Nov 21	Apr 5
Thomasville	Oct 22 to Nov 26	Mar 30
Shelby	Oct 11 to Nov 15	Apr 12
Knightdale	Oct 20 to Nov 24	Apr 7
Waxhaw	Oct 22 to Nov 26	Mar 31
Clemmons	Oct 17 to Nov 21	Apr 9
Mebane	Oct 20 to Nov 24	Apr 4
Carrboro	Oct 20 to Nov 24	Mar 31
Harrisburg	Oct 19 to Nov 23	Apr 1
Lexington	Oct 14 to Nov 18	Apr 11
Graham	Oct 20 to Nov 24	Apr 4

Questions

When should I plant tulip bulbs in North Carolina?

In Charlotte, fall planting from October 20 to November 24. Across North Carolina the window opens between October 11 and November 6, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Plant from 2 weeks before to 3 weeks after the first fall frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.