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

Planting zone for Traverse City, MI

Traverse City, MI is in USDA zones 5b to 6b across its 4 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is May 9 and the first fall frost October 15.

Traverse City on the zone map

Outlined: its 4 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.

Zones5b–6b−15 to 0 °F
ZIP codes4
Last frostMay 9
First frostOct 15
Growing season156 days

5b 1 ZIP   6a 2 ZIPs   6b 1 ZIP

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Traverse City, 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 Traverse City, MI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 9median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 23only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 15median — 10% chance by Oct 1
Growing season156 daysfrost-free, median

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

From the NOAA station Traverse City Munson, MI, elevation 637 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 Traverse City

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 18
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 18 – May 2
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
TomatoesTransplant · May 16 – May 30
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 23 – Jun 6
BeansSow outdoors · May 16 – May 30
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 16 – May 30
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 16 – May 30
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 20 – Sep 3
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 1 – Nov 5
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 9) and first fall frost (Oct 15) 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 49684 came on Apr 18 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 19).

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 5b in Michigan

564 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Michigan, and rated by the USDA to survive −15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5b. 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 103

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 212

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 170

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 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 Traverse City, MI.

Soil in Traverse City, MI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 49684 is Emmet — gravelly sandy loam, well drained.

TextureGravelly sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH6.1slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classFarmland of local importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Emmet gravelly sandy loam, 6 to 12 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 49684; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Traverse City, MI

Summer high79 °Faverage high, July
Winter low14 °Faverage low, February
Hot days6days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights154nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,173base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 35 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 48 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation36.2 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall101 inper year; 103 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 28 °F, low 15 °F 28°15° JanFebruary: average high 30 °F, low 14 °F 30°14° FebMarch: average high 39 °F, low 21 °F 39°21° MarApril: average high 52 °F, low 31 °F 52°31° AprMay: average high 65 °F, low 42 °F 65°42° MayJune: average high 75 °F, low 53 °F 75°53° JunJuly: average high 79 °F, low 58 °F 79°58° JulAugust: average high 78 °F, low 57 °F 78°57° AugSeptember: average high 71 °F, low 50 °F 71°50° SepOctober: average high 57 °F, low 39 °F 57°39° OctNovember: average high 44 °F, low 30 °F 44°30° NovDecember: average high 33 °F, low 22 °F 33°22° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.71 in precipitation, 32.3 in snowfall 2.7❄32 JanFebruary: 2.03 in precipitation, 21.4 in snowfall 2.0❄21 FebMarch: 2.13 in precipitation, 12.3 in snowfall 2.1❄12 MarApril: 3.44 in precipitation, 4.7 in snowfall 3.4❄5 AprMay: 3.45 in precipitation 3.5 MayJune: 2.94 in precipitation 2.9 JunJuly: 2.76 in precipitation 2.8 JulAugust: 3.19 in precipitation 3.2 AugSeptember: 3.61 in precipitation 3.6 SepOctober: 4.08 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 4.1 OctNovember: 3.19 in precipitation, 5.6 in snowfall 3.2❄6 NovDecember: 2.67 in precipitation, 24.6 in snowfall 2.7❄25 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Traverse City Munson, MI (2 mi away); precipitation: Traverse City Munson, MI (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Traverse City

496846a
−10 to −5 °F
496856a
−10 to −5 °F
496866b
−5 to 0 °F
496965b
−15 to −10 °F

Michigan planting zones →

Questions about Traverse City

What planting zone is Traverse City, MI?

Traverse City, MI is in USDA hardiness zones 5b to 6b on the 2023 map (5b: −15 to −10 °F; 6a: −10 to −5 °F; 6b: −5 to 0 °F).

When is the last frost in Traverse City, MI?

The median last spring frost is May 9 and the median first fall frost is October 15 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Traverse City Munson station).

When can I plant a garden in Traverse City, MI?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 28 – Apr 18; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 16, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Traverse City, MI?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 35 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Traverse City, MI get?

About 36.2 inches of precipitation a year and 101 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).