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

Planting zone for Joplin, MO

Joplin, MO is in USDA zone 7a across its 4 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 9 and the first fall frost October 27.

Joplin 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.

Zone7a0 to 5 °F
ZIP codes4
Last frostApr 9
First frostOct 27
Growing season200 days

7a 4 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Joplin, MO…

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 Joplin, MO

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 9median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 26only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 27median — 10% chance by Oct 12
Growing season200 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 29 and returns around November 4.

From the NOAA station Joplin Regional Airport, MO, elevation 981 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 Joplin

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 26 – Mar 19
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 29 – Feb 12
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 19 – Apr 2
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 12 – Feb 26
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 29 – Feb 12
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 23 – May 7
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 1 – Sep 15
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 13 – Nov 17
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 9) and first fall frost (Oct 27) 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 64802 came on Feb 16 — 16 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 4).

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 7a in Missouri

540 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Missouri, and rated by the USDA to survive 0 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 7a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 72

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 °Fbald cypress130 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −18 °F

Shrubs 85

alternateleaf dogwood25 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °FAmerican beautyberry6 ft · blooms early summer · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °FAmerican black currant3 ft · blooms early spring · to −46 °FAmerican hazelnut10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican holly40 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −20 °FAmerican hornbeam30 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −34 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 195

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high 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 °F

Grasses 163

alkali sacaton3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican cupscale3 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −18 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBicknell's sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbig bluestem6 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −46 °Fblister sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Vines 14

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican wisteria50 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °Fcatbird grape30 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −13 °Fcupseed30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Ffrost grape83 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −23 °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 Joplin, MO.

Soil in Joplin, MO

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 64802 is Newtonia — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.1slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Newtonia-Eldorado silt loams, 1 to 3 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 64802; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Joplin, MO

Summer high90 °Faverage high, July
Winter low25 °Faverage low, January
Hot days53days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights87nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,594base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 43 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 37 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation45.6 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 45 °F, low 25 °F 45°25° JanFebruary: average high 50 °F, low 29 °F 50°29° FebMarch: average high 60 °F, low 37 °F 60°37° MarApril: average high 69 °F, low 47 °F 69°47° AprMay: average high 77 °F, low 56 °F 77°56° MayJune: average high 86 °F, low 65 °F 86°65° JunJuly: average high 90 °F, low 70 °F 90°70° JulAugust: average high 90 °F, low 68 °F 90°68° AugSeptember: average high 82 °F, low 59 °F 82°59° SepOctober: average high 71 °F, low 48 °F 71°48° OctNovember: average high 58 °F, low 37 °F 58°37° NovDecember: average high 48 °F, low 29 °F 48°29° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″January: 1.92 in precipitation 1.9 JanFebruary: 1.98 in precipitation 2.0 FebMarch: 3.29 in precipitation 3.3 MarApril: 4.99 in precipitation 5.0 AprMay: 6.56 in precipitation 6.6 MayJune: 5.60 in precipitation 5.6 JunJuly: 3.97 in precipitation 4.0 JulAugust: 3.36 in precipitation 3.4 AugSeptember: 4.18 in precipitation 4.2 SepOctober: 3.80 in precipitation 3.8 OctNovember: 3.33 in precipitation 3.3 NovDecember: 2.60 in precipitation 2.6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Joplin Regional Airport, MO (4 mi away); precipitation: Joplin Regional Airport, MO (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Joplin

648017a
0 to 5 °F
648027a
0 to 5 °F
648037a
0 to 5 °F
648047a
0 to 5 °F

Missouri planting zones →

Questions about Joplin

What planting zone is Joplin, MO?

Joplin, MO is in USDA hardiness zone 7a on the 2023 map (7a: 0 to 5 °F).

When is the last frost in Joplin, MO?

The median last spring frost is April 9 and the median first fall frost is October 27 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Joplin Regional Airport station).

When can I plant a garden in Joplin, MO?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 26 – Mar 19; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 16, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Joplin, MO?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 43 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Joplin, MO get?

About 45.6 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).