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

Planting zone for Lawrence, KS

Lawrence, KS is in USDA zone 6b across its 5 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 12 and the first fall frost October 28.

Lawrence on the zone map

Outlined: its 5 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.

Zone6b−5 to 0 °F
ZIP codes5
Last frostApr 12
First frostOct 28
Growing season199 days

6b 5 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Lawrence, KS…

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 Lawrence, KS

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 12median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 24only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 28median — 10% chance by Oct 14
Growing season199 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 3 and returns around November 4.

From the NOAA station Lawrence, KS, elevation 1,050 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 Lawrence

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 1 – Mar 22
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 1 – Feb 15
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 22 – Apr 5
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 19 – May 3
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 1 – Feb 15
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 26 – May 10
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 2 – Sep 16
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 14 – Nov 18
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 12) and first fall frost (Oct 28) 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 66045 came on Feb 28 — 18 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 18).

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 6b in Kansas

431 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Kansas, and rated by the USDA to survive −5 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 37

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican sycamore100 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −34 °Fbitternut hickory75 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −47 °Fblack locust60 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −37 °Fblack maple100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °F

Shrubs 64

alderleaf mountain mahogany15 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −41 °FAmerican hazelnut10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican plum24 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Fblack cherry80 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −33 °Fblackhaw16 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fblackjack oak25 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −13 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 176

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium 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 °FAmerican speedwell0.8 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Grasses 134

alkali cordgrass3 ft · blooms late summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falkali sacaton3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbeaked spikerush3 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °FBicknell's sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbig bluestem6 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −46 °F

Vines 11

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 °Fgraybark grape50 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °Fheartleaf peppervine2 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −8 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium 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 Lawrence, KS.

Soil in Lawrence, KS

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 66045 is Oska — silty clay loam, well drained.

TextureSilty clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH6.1slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Oska silty clay loam, 3 to 6 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 66045; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Lawrence, KS

Summer high89 °Faverage high, July
Winter low19 °Faverage low, January
Hot days42days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights104nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,113base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 54 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 26 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation39.4 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall10 inper year; 13 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 38 °F, low 19 °F 38°19° JanFebruary: average high 44 °F, low 23 °F 44°23° FebMarch: average high 55 °F, low 33 °F 55°33° MarApril: average high 65 °F, low 44 °F 65°44° AprMay: average high 74 °F, low 56 °F 74°56° MayJune: average high 84 °F, low 65 °F 84°65° JunJuly: average high 89 °F, low 70 °F 89°70° JulAugust: average high 87 °F, low 68 °F 87°68° AugSeptember: average high 79 °F, low 59 °F 79°59° SepOctober: average high 67 °F, low 47 °F 67°47° OctNovember: average high 54 °F, low 34 °F 54°34° NovDecember: average high 42 °F, low 24 °F 42°24° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 0.96 in precipitation, 2.1 in snowfall 1.0❄2 JanFebruary: 1.54 in precipitation, 3.3 in snowfall 1.5❄3 FebMarch: 2.32 in precipitation, 0.8 in snowfall 2.3❄1 MarApril: 4.13 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 4.1 AprMay: 5.13 in precipitation 5.1 MayJune: 5.69 in precipitation 5.7 JunJuly: 4.28 in precipitation 4.3 JulAugust: 4.63 in precipitation 4.6 AugSeptember: 3.95 in precipitation 4.0 SepOctober: 3.20 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 3.2 OctNovember: 1.96 in precipitation, 0.9 in snowfall 2.0❄1 NovDecember: 1.61 in precipitation, 2.9 in snowfall 1.6❄3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Lawrence, KS (within 1 mile); precipitation: Lawrence, KS (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Lawrence

660446b
−5 to 0 °F
660456b
−5 to 0 °F
660466b
−5 to 0 °F
660476b
−5 to 0 °F
660496b
−5 to 0 °F

Kansas planting zones →

Questions about Lawrence

What planting zone is Lawrence, KS?

Lawrence, KS is in USDA hardiness zone 6b on the 2023 map (6b: −5 to 0 °F).

When is the last frost in Lawrence, KS?

The median last spring frost is April 12 and the median first fall frost is October 28 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lawrence station).

When can I plant a garden in Lawrence, KS?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 1 – Mar 22; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 19, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Lawrence, KS?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 54 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Lawrence, KS get?

About 39.4 inches of precipitation a year and 10 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).