Your nature year
Wilmington, Delawarethrough the year
When do frost, green-up and fall color come to Wilmington?
For a day trip, Bombay Hook is 33 miles off; its wildflowers is Apr 1–May 31 (local timing). For cherry blossoms, the nearest is Baltimore (Fort McHenry) (65 mi, usually Mar 24–Apr 7). At roughly 4 feet, Wilmington is about as low as towns get. Expect about 211 frost-free days in Wilmington: the last spring frost usually comes around Apr 7, the first fall one around Nov 4, going by NOAA's Wilmington Porter Rsch station 2.7 miles away. Spring takes about 5 weeks to go from leaf to bloom. Spring green-up reaches town around Mar 19, with first blooms around Apr 21. We follow 18 places within 150 miles of Wilmington; the nearest lies 33 miles to the south.
Updated Sep 27. Sources: US Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer (places) ↗ (opens in a new tab), US Census Bureau, city and town population estimates, 2024 ↗ (opens in a new tab), NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (annual/seasonal) ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Wilmington's year at a glance
- Frost possible
- Frost-free, ~Apr 7 to ~Nov 4
- First leaf ~Mar 19
- First bloom ~Apr 21
- Today
Near Wilmington right now
- First fall frost usually around Nov 4 · last spring frost around Apr 7NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Wilmington Porter Rsch (2.7 mi, 50% dates)~5 weeks
- Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens · 95 mi · Local timing: May 21–Sep 30Wildflowers · in its window now
- Fall foliage · Patuxent Research Refuge · 83 miusually Oct 21–31~3 weeks
Wilmington's nature year
- Cherry blossoms · Baltimore (Fort McHenry)Mar–Apr
- Spring green-upMar
- Wildflowers · Bombay HookApr–May
- Last spring frostApr
- Tulips · Washington, DCApr
- Fall foliage · Patuxent Research RefugeOct
- First fall frostNov
Nearby, season by season
Cherry blossoms
- Baltimore (Fort McHenry) · 65 miusually Mar 24–Apr 7~6 months
- US National Arboretum · 96 miusually Mar 1–Apr 30~5 months
- Washington, DC · 100 miusually Mar 25–Apr 7~6 months
Fall foliage
- Patuxent Research Refuge · 83 miusually Oct 21–31~3 weeks
- Delaware Water Gap · 88 miStatewide: usually well under way by late October~3 weeks
- Cherry Valley Refuge · 89 miusually Oct 21–31~3 weeks
Tulips
- Washington, DC · 100 miLocal timing: Apr 1–20~6 months
Wildflowers
- Bombay Hook · 33 miLocal timing: Apr 1–May 31~6 months
- Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens · 95 miLocal timing: May 21–Sep 30
- Catoctin Mountain · 100 miLocal timing: Apr 1–May 31~6 months
Frost and green-up
Last spring frost
Apr 7
Average (50% date)
First fall frost
Nov 4
About 211 days without frost between
Spring green-up
Mar 19
First bloom around Apr 21
Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Wilmington Porter Rsch (2.7 mi from Wilmington), the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not. Green-up: the USA-NPN Spring Index, 1991–2020 average at the town.
Questions people ask
When is the first frost in Wilmington?
On average around Nov 4, and the last spring frost around Apr 7: about 211 days without frost between. These are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals at Wilmington Porter Rsch, 2.7 miles away (the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not).
When does spring green-up reach Wilmington?
The USA-NPN Spring Index puts first leaf around Mar 19 and first bloom around Apr 21, on average for 1991–2020 at the town.
Where can I see cherry blossoms near Wilmington?
Baltimore (Fort McHenry), 65 miles (usually Mar 24–Apr 7); US National Arboretum, 96 miles (usually Mar 1–Apr 30); Washington, DC, 100 miles (usually Mar 25–Apr 7). Distances are straight-line.
Where can I see fall foliage near Wilmington?
Patuxent Research Refuge, 83 miles (usually Oct 21–31); Delaware Water Gap, 88 miles (statewide: usually well under way by late October); Cherry Valley Refuge, 89 miles (usually Oct 21–31). Distances are straight-line.
How we know
US Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer (places) (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27) · US Census Bureau, city and town population estimates, 2024 (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27) · NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (annual/seasonal) (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27) · USA National Phenology Network, Spring Index 1991–2020 averages (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27)