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

Planting zone for Barrington, IL

Barrington, IL is in USDA zone 5b across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 25 and the first fall frost October 19.

Barrington 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.

Zone5b−15 to −10 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostApr 25
First frostOct 19
Growing season177 days

5b 2 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Barrington, IL…

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 Barrington, IL

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 25median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 12only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 19median — 10% chance by Oct 5
Growing season177 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 12 and returns around October 30.

From the NOAA station Barrington 3sw, IL, elevation 876 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 Barrington

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 14 – Apr 4
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 4 – Apr 18
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
TomatoesTransplant · May 2 – May 16
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 9 – May 23
BeansSow outdoors · May 2 – May 16
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 2 – May 16
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 2 – May 16
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 24 – Sep 7
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 5 – Nov 9
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 25) and first fall frost (Oct 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.

Native plants for zone 5b in Illinois

584 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Illinois, and rated by the USDA to survive −15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 77

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican beech80 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −44 °FAmerican chestnut115 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican sycamore100 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −34 °Farborvitae50 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Shrubs 102

alderleaf buckthorn3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAllegheny serviceberry35 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falternateleaf dogwood25 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °FAmerican black currant3 ft · blooms early spring · to −46 °FAmerican hazelnut10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican holly40 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −20 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 210

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican licorice4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican lotus3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −36 °FAmerican pokeweed7 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Grasses 173

American beachgrass2.5 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °Farctic brome3 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBailey's sedge2.1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fbeaked sedge4 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbeaked spikerush3 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °F

Vines 7

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Ffrost grape83 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −23 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Fsummer grape30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °Ftrumpet honeysuckle16 ft · blooms late summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °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 Barrington, IL.

Soil in Barrington, IL

The USDA soil survey has no mapped soil at the center of this ZIP code (water, or an area not yet surveyed).

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 60011; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Barrington, IL

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low16 °Faverage low, January
Hot days11days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights133nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,748base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 16 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 05 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation39.3 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 30 °F, low 16 °F 30°16° JanFebruary: average high 34 °F, low 18 °F 34°18° FebMarch: average high 44 °F, low 27 °F 44°27° MarApril: average high 55 °F, low 35 °F 55°35° AprMay: average high 67 °F, low 47 °F 67°47° MayJune: average high 76 °F, low 57 °F 76°57° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 63 °F 82°63° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 62 °F 80°62° AugSeptember: average high 74 °F, low 54 °F 74°54° SepOctober: average high 61 °F, low 43 °F 61°43° OctNovember: average high 48 °F, low 31 °F 48°31° NovDecember: average high 36 °F, low 22 °F 36°22° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.09 in precipitation 2.1 JanFebruary: 1.95 in precipitation 1.9 FebMarch: 2.45 in precipitation 2.5 MarApril: 3.79 in precipitation 3.8 AprMay: 4.74 in precipitation 4.7 MayJune: 4.39 in precipitation 4.4 JunJuly: 3.78 in precipitation 3.8 JulAugust: 3.95 in precipitation 4.0 AugSeptember: 4.10 in precipitation 4.1 SepOctober: 3.35 in precipitation 3.4 OctNovember: 2.52 in precipitation 2.5 NovDecember: 2.17 in precipitation 2.2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Waukegan, IL (14 mi away); precipitation: Lake Forest 2.1 Nne, IL (12 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Barrington

600105b
−15 to −10 °F
600115b
−15 to −10 °F

Illinois planting zones →

Questions about Barrington

What planting zone is Barrington, IL?

Barrington, IL is in USDA hardiness zone 5b on the 2023 map (5b: −15 to −10 °F).

When is the last frost in Barrington, IL?

The median last spring frost is April 25 and the median first fall frost is October 19 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Barrington 3sw station).

When can I plant a garden in Barrington, IL?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 14 – Apr 4; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 2, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Barrington, IL?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 16 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Barrington, IL get?

About 39.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).