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

Planting zone for Commerce City, CO

Commerce City, CO is in USDA zone 6a across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is May 3 and the first fall frost October 7.

Commerce City on the zone map

Outlined: its 1 ZIP code areas · 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.

Zone6a−10 to −5 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostMay 3
First frostOct 7
Growing season155 days

6a 2 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

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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 Commerce City, CO

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 3median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 16only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 7median — 10% chance by Sep 26
Growing season155 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 23 and returns around October 16.

From the NOAA station Brighton 3 Se, CO, elevation 5,017 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 Commerce City

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 12
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 12 – Apr 26
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
TomatoesTransplant · May 10 – May 24
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 17 – May 31
BeansSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 12 – Aug 26
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 23 – Oct 28
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 3) and first fall frost (Oct 7) 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 80022 came on Feb 20 — 28 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 20).

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 6a in Colorado

563 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Colorado, and rated by the USDA to survive −10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 28

American elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °Fbalsam poplar80 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −79 °Fblack locust60 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −37 °Fblack walnut100 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °Fblack willow100 ft · blooms early spring · high shade tolerance · to −58 °Fblue spruce100 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Shrubs 104

alderleaf mountain mahogany15 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −41 °Falpine laurel1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −28 °FAmerican black currant3 ft · blooms early spring · to −46 °FAmerican plum24 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Fantelope bitterbrush6 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −36 °FApache plume6 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −23 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 251

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine aster0.3 ft · blooms early summer · medium shade tolerance · to −28 °Falpine bistort1 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine mountainsorrel1 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −43 °FAmerican alpine speedwell1 ft · blooms summer · medium shade tolerance · to −28 °FAmerican bistort1.5 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Grasses 167

Alaska oniongrass3 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Falkali cordgrass3 ft · blooms late summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falkali sacaton3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °FAlpine Meadow-Foxtail0.5 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Falpine timothy1.4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −43 °Fanalogue sedge1.5 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Vines 4

riverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Ftrumpet creeper2 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −13 °FVirginia creeper1 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −28 °Fwestern white clematis1 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °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 Commerce City, CO.

Soil in Commerce City, CO

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 80022 is Nunn — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.2neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classPrime farmland if irrigatedUSDA classification

Map unit: Nunn loam, 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 80022; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Commerce City, CO

Summer high90 °Faverage high, July
Winter low16 °Faverage low, January
Hot days49days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights163nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,923base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 00 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 20 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation14.1 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall35 inper year; 37 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 44 °F, low 16 °F 44°16° JanFebruary: average high 46 °F, low 19 °F 46°19° FebMarch: average high 56 °F, low 27 °F 56°27° MarApril: average high 63 °F, low 34 °F 63°34° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 43 °F 72°43° MayJune: average high 84 °F, low 52 °F 84°52° JunJuly: average high 90 °F, low 58 °F 90°58° JulAugust: average high 88 °F, low 56 °F 88°56° AugSeptember: average high 80 °F, low 47 °F 80°47° SepOctober: average high 66 °F, low 35 °F 66°35° OctNovember: average high 53 °F, low 25 °F 53°25° NovDecember: average high 44 °F, low 16 °F 44°16° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″January: 0.42 in precipitation, 5.2 in snowfall 0.4❄5 JanFebruary: 0.43 in precipitation, 5.3 in snowfall 0.4❄5 FebMarch: 0.98 in precipitation, 6 in snowfall 1.0❄6 MarApril: 1.77 in precipitation, 3.1 in snowfall 1.8❄3 AprMay: 2.35 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 2.4❄1 MayJune: 1.41 in precipitation 1.4 JunJuly: 1.72 in precipitation 1.7 JulAugust: 1.77 in precipitation 1.8 AugSeptember: 1.18 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 1.2 SepOctober: 1.02 in precipitation, 3.2 in snowfall 1.0❄3 OctNovember: 0.69 in precipitation, 5.8 in snowfall 0.7❄6 NovDecember: 0.37 in precipitation, 5.2 in snowfall 0.4❄5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Brighton 3 Se, CO (6 mi away); precipitation: Brighton 3 Se, CO (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Commerce City

800226a
−10 to −5 °F
800376a
−10 to −5 °F

Colorado planting zones →

Questions about Commerce City

What planting zone is Commerce City, CO?

Commerce City, CO is in USDA hardiness zone 6a on the 2023 map (6a: −10 to −5 °F).

When is the last frost in Commerce City, CO?

The median last spring frost is May 3 and the median first fall frost is October 7 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Brighton 3 Se station).

When can I plant a garden in Commerce City, CO?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 22 – Apr 12; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 10, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Commerce City, CO?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 15 h 00 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Commerce City, CO get?

About 14.1 inches of precipitation a year and 35 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).