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

Planting zone for Mount Clemens, MI

Mount Clemens, MI is in USDA zone 6b across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 30 and the first fall frost October 24.

Mount Clemens 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.

Zone6b−5 to 0 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostApr 30
First frostOct 24
Growing season174 days

6b 2 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Mount Clemens, 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 Mount Clemens, MI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 30median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 15only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 24median — 10% chance by Oct 7
Growing season174 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 18 and returns around November 3.

From the NOAA station Mt Clemens Ang Base, MI, elevation 581 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 Mount Clemens

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 9
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
TomatoesTransplant · May 7 – May 21
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 14 – May 28
BeansSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 29 – Sep 12
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 10 – Nov 14
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 30) and first fall frost (Oct 24) 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 48043 came on Apr 5 — 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 9).

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 Michigan

582 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Michigan, and rated by the USDA to survive −5 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6b. 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 221

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 175

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 °Fautumn bluegrass1.5 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbeaked sedge4 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °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 Mount Clemens, MI.

Soil in Mount Clemens, MI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 48043 is Locke — sandy loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureSandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH7.0neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter4%moderate
Hydrologic groupB/Dmoderate when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classPrime farmland if drainedUSDA classification

Map unit: Locke sandy loam, 0 to 2 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 48043; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Mount Clemens, MI

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low18 °Faverage low, January
Hot days11days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights129nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,703base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 19 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 03 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation35 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall32 inper year; 43 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 32 °F, low 18 °F 32°18° JanFebruary: average high 34 °F, low 19 °F 34°19° FebMarch: average high 44 °F, low 26 °F 44°26° MarApril: average high 56 °F, low 36 °F 56°36° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 47 °F 68°47° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 57 °F 78°57° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 62 °F 82°62° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 61 °F 80°61° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 53 °F 73°53° SepOctober: average high 61 °F, low 43 °F 61°43° OctNovember: average high 48 °F, low 32 °F 48°32° NovDecember: average high 37 °F, low 24 °F 37°24° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″January: 2.22 in precipitation, 10.6 in snowfall 2.2❄11 JanFebruary: 1.75 in precipitation, 8.5 in snowfall 1.8❄9 FebMarch: 2.45 in precipitation, 5.2 in snowfall 2.5❄5 MarApril: 3.36 in precipitation, 0.7 in snowfall 3.4❄1 AprMay: 3.59 in precipitation 3.6 MayJune: 3.31 in precipitation 3.3 JunJuly: 3.82 in precipitation 3.8 JulAugust: 3.68 in precipitation 3.7 AugSeptember: 3.17 in precipitation 3.2 SepOctober: 2.82 in precipitation 2.8 OctNovember: 2.60 in precipitation, 1.3 in snowfall 2.6❄1 NovDecember: 2.19 in precipitation, 5.9 in snowfall 2.2❄6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Mt Clemens Ang Base, MI (3 mi away); precipitation: Mt Clemens Ang Base, MI (3 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Mount Clemens

480436b
−5 to 0 °F
480466b
−5 to 0 °F

Michigan planting zones →

Questions about Mount Clemens

What planting zone is Mount Clemens, MI?

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

When is the last frost in Mount Clemens, MI?

The median last spring frost is April 30 and the median first fall frost is October 24 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Mt Clemens Ang Base station).

When can I plant a garden in Mount Clemens, MI?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 19 – Apr 9; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 7, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Mount Clemens, MI?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 19 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Mount Clemens, MI get?

About 35 inches of precipitation a year and 32 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).