The　initial　frosting　phenomenon　is　a　spatially　discontinuous　phase　transformation　and　nucleation　process.　The　cold　surface　temperature　and　characteristics　have　a　direct　and　significant　impact　on　the　frosting　phenomenon.　It　has　been　shown　that　the　effect　of　a　superhydrophobic　surface　on　frost　formation　on　a　cryogenic　cold　surface　is　much　less　obvious　than　that　on　a　general　cold　surface.　To　understand　the　influences　of　surface　characteristics　on　frost　formation　at　−190∼　−30◦C,　the　growth　and　morphological　characteristics　of　frost　crystals　on　hydrophilic　and　superhydrophobic　surfaces　at　the　initial　stage　of　frost　formation　are　experimentally　studied.　Four　frost　formation　patterns　are　observed:　cold　surface　condensation　frosting,　air　boundary　layer　condensation　frosting,　cold　surface　sublimation　frosting,　and　air　boundary　layer　sublimation　frosting.　The　four　frost　formation　modes　appear　independently　or　co-exist　on　cold　surfaces　of　different　temperatures,　and　have　important　effects　on　the　morphology　of　frost　crystals.　The　cold　surface　properties　(contact　angles)　have　a　significant　effect　on　frost　formation　patterns　within　a　specific　range.　The　cold　surface　condensation　frosting　mode　is　only　observed　on　hydrophilic　surfaces　at　−30◦C.　The　liquid　air　is　only　observed　on　superhydrophobic　surfaces　at　−190◦C.　The　initial　frost　crystal　morphology　changes　with　the　cold　surface　temperature,　frost　formation　mode,　and　surface　properties,　and　it　can　be　roughly　divided　into　four　forms:　hexagonal,　pine　needle,　cluster,　and　flocculant.　©　2025　Science　Press.　All　rights　reserved.