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

Planting zone for Flint, MI

Flint, MI is in USDA zone 6a across its 17 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is May 6 and the first fall frost October 10.

Flint on the zone map

Outlined: its 7 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 codes17
Last frostMay 6
First frostOct 10
Growing season155 days

6a 17 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Flint, MI…

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 Flint, MI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 6median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 23only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 10median — 10% chance by Sep 26
Growing season155 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 26 and returns around October 23.

From the NOAA station Flint Bishop Intl Airport, MI, elevation 771 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 Flint

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 15
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
TomatoesTransplant · May 13 – May 27
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 20 – Jun 3
BeansSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 15 – Aug 29
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 26 – Oct 31
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 6) and first fall frost (Oct 10) 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 48555 came on Apr 4 — 8 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 12).

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 Flint, MI.

Soil in Flint, MI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 48555 is Udorthents — sandy loam, well drained. Much of the area is built over (urban land); this is the natural soil underneath.

TextureSandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH7.0neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Urban land-Udorthents complex, 0 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 48555; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Flint, MI

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low16 °Faverage low, January
Hot days8days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights148nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,559base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 22 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 00 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation32.9 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall40 inper year; 58 days with snow on the ground

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 33 °F, low 16 °F 33°16° FebMarch: average high 43 °F, low 24 °F 43°24° MarApril: average high 56 °F, low 35 °F 56°35° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 46 °F 68°46° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 56 °F 78°56° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 60 °F 82°60° JulAugust: average high 79 °F, low 59 °F 79°59° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 51 °F 73°51° SepOctober: average high 60 °F, low 40 °F 60°40° OctNovember: average high 47 °F, low 30 °F 47°30° NovDecember: average high 35 °F, low 22 °F 35°22° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″January: 2.15 in precipitation, 13.1 in snowfall 2.1❄13 JanFebruary: 1.67 in precipitation, 10.4 in snowfall 1.7❄10 FebMarch: 1.87 in precipitation, 4.3 in snowfall 1.9❄4 MarApril: 3.41 in precipitation, 1.2 in snowfall 3.4❄1 AprMay: 3.68 in precipitation 3.7 MayJune: 3.06 in precipitation 3.1 JunJuly: 3.35 in precipitation 3.4 JulAugust: 3.34 in precipitation 3.3 AugSeptember: 2.88 in precipitation 2.9 SepOctober: 2.97 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.0 OctNovember: 2.37 in precipitation, 1.7 in snowfall 2.4❄2 NovDecember: 2.13 in precipitation, 9.6 in snowfall 2.1❄10 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Flint 7w, MI (4 mi away); precipitation: Flint 7w, MI (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Flint

485016a
−10 to −5 °F
485026a
−10 to −5 °F
485036a
−10 to −5 °F
485046a
−10 to −5 °F
485056a
−10 to −5 °F
485066a
−10 to −5 °F
485076a
−10 to −5 °F
485316a
−10 to −5 °F
485326a
−10 to −5 °F
485506a
−10 to −5 °F
485516a
−10 to −5 °F
485526a
−10 to −5 °F
485536a
−10 to −5 °F
485546a
−10 to −5 °F
485556a
−10 to −5 °F
485566a
−10 to −5 °F
485576a
−10 to −5 °F

Michigan planting zones →

Questions about Flint

What planting zone is Flint, MI?

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

When is the last frost in Flint, MI?

The median last spring frost is May 6 and the median first fall frost is October 10 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Flint Bishop Intl Airport station).

When can I plant a garden in Flint, MI?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 25 – Apr 15; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 13, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Flint, MI?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 22 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Flint, MI get?

About 32.9 inches of precipitation a year and 40 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).