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

Planting zone for Clarkston, MI

Clarkston, MI is in USDA zone 6a across its 3 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is May 10 and the first fall frost October 6.

Clarkston on the zone map

Outlined: its 2 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 codes3
Last frostMay 10
First frostOct 6
Growing season148 days

6a 3 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 Clarkston, MI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 10median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 26only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 6median — 10% chance by Sep 24
Growing season148 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 28 and returns around October 19.

From the NOAA station White Lake 4e, MI, elevation 1,053 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 Clarkston

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 19
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 19 – May 3
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
TomatoesTransplant · May 17 – May 31
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 24 – Jun 7
BeansSow outdoors · May 17 – May 31
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 17 – May 31
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 17 – May 31
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 11 – Aug 25
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 22 – Oct 27
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 10) and first fall frost (Oct 6) 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 48346 came on Apr 5 — 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 11).

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 Michigan

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

Trees 58

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 105

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 hornbeam30 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −34 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 220

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine bistort1 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine sweetvetch2 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −62 °FAmerican bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican lotus3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −36 °F

Grasses 174

alpine timothy1.4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −43 °FAmerican 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 °Fbeaked sedge4 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbeaked spikerush3 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °F

Vines 8

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 creeper2 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −13 °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 Clarkston, MI.

Soil in Clarkston, MI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 48346 is Fox — sandy loam, well drained.

TextureSandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH6.3slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Fox sandy loam, till plain, 2 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 48346; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Clarkston, MI

Summer high80 °Faverage high, July
Winter low13 °Faverage low, January
Hot days6days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights151nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,201base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 20 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 02 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation33 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 29 °F, low 13 °F 29°13° JanFebruary: average high 32 °F, low 14 °F 32°14° FebMarch: average high 42 °F, low 23 °F 42°23° MarApril: average high 55 °F, low 33 °F 55°33° AprMay: average high 67 °F, low 44 °F 67°44° MayJune: average high 76 °F, low 53 °F 76°53° JunJuly: average high 80 °F, low 57 °F 80°57° JulAugust: average high 78 °F, low 55 °F 78°55° AugSeptember: average high 71 °F, low 49 °F 71°49° SepOctober: average high 58 °F, low 39 °F 58°39° OctNovember: average high 45 °F, low 29 °F 45°29° NovDecember: average high 33 °F, low 20 °F 33°20° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″January: 2.15 in precipitation 2.1 JanFebruary: 1.74 in precipitation 1.7 FebMarch: 1.99 in precipitation 2.0 MarApril: 2.95 in precipitation 3.0 AprMay: 3.78 in precipitation 3.8 MayJune: 3.43 in precipitation 3.4 JunJuly: 3.26 in precipitation 3.3 JulAugust: 3.40 in precipitation 3.4 AugSeptember: 3.06 in precipitation 3.1 SepOctober: 2.76 in precipitation 2.8 OctNovember: 2.40 in precipitation 2.4 NovDecember: 2.04 in precipitation 2.0 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: White Lake 4e, MI (2 mi away); precipitation: Waterford 2.1 Nw, MI (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Clarkston

483466a
−10 to −5 °F
483476a
−10 to −5 °F
483486a
−10 to −5 °F

Michigan planting zones →

Questions about Clarkston

What planting zone is Clarkston, MI?

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

When is the last frost in Clarkston, MI?

The median last spring frost is May 10 and the median first fall frost is October 6 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, White Lake 4e station).

When can I plant a garden in Clarkston, MI?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 29 – Apr 19; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 17, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Clarkston, MI?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 20 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Clarkston, MI get?

About 33 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).