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

Planting zone for Kansas City, MO

Kansas City, MO is in USDA zones 6a to 7a across its 71 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 4 and the first fall frost November 2.

Kansas City on the zone map

Outlined: its 50 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.

Zones6a–7a−10 to 5 °F
ZIP codes71
Last frostApr 4
First frostNov 2
Growing season211 days

6a 5 ZIPs   6b 58 ZIPs   7a 8 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Kansas City, 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 Kansas City, MO

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 4median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 20only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 2median — 10% chance by Oct 21
Growing season211 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 26 and returns around November 11.

From the NOAA station Kansas City Downtown Airport, MO, elevation 742 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 Kansas City

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 21 – Mar 14
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 24 – Feb 7
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 14 – Mar 28
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 7 – Feb 21
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 24 – Feb 7
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 18 – May 2
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 7 – Sep 21
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 19 – Nov 23
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 4) and first fall frost (Nov 2) 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 64106 came on Feb 24 — 18 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 14).

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 Missouri

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

Trees 68

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 82

alternateleaf 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 holly40 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −20 °FAmerican hornbeam30 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −34 °FAmerican plum24 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 190

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 155

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 10

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fcatbird grape30 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −13 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Ffrost grape83 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −23 °Fmuscadine30 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −18 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium 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 Kansas City, MO.

Soil in Kansas City, MO

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 64106 is Harvester — silt loam, moderately well drained. Much of the area is built over (urban land); this is the natural soil underneath.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.1strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Urban land, upland, 5 to 9 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 64106; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Kansas City, MO

Summer high90 °Faverage high, July
Winter low22 °Faverage low, January
Hot days47days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights93nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,531base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 55 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 25 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation38.1 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall11 inper year

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 40 °F, low 22 °F 40°22° JanFebruary: average high 45 °F, low 26 °F 45°26° FebMarch: average high 57 °F, low 36 °F 57°36° MarApril: average high 67 °F, low 46 °F 67°46° AprMay: average high 76 °F, low 57 °F 76°57° MayJune: average high 86 °F, low 67 °F 86°67° JunJuly: average high 90 °F, low 72 °F 90°72° JulAugust: average high 89 °F, low 70 °F 89°70° AugSeptember: average high 80 °F, low 61 °F 80°61° SepOctober: average high 68 °F, low 49 °F 68°49° OctNovember: average high 55 °F, low 36 °F 55°36° NovDecember: average high 44 °F, low 27 °F 44°27° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 1.02 in precipitation, 3.4 in snowfall 1.0❄3 JanFebruary: 1.53 in precipitation, 3.2 in snowfall 1.5❄3 FebMarch: 2.08 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 2.1 MarApril: 3.89 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.9 AprMay: 5.10 in precipitation 5.1 MayJune: 5.33 in precipitation 5.3 JunJuly: 4.38 in precipitation 4.4 JulAugust: 4.68 in precipitation 4.7 AugSeptember: 3.78 in precipitation 3.8 SepOctober: 3.24 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 3.2 OctNovember: 1.80 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 1.8 NovDecember: 1.30 in precipitation, 3.5 in snowfall 1.3❄4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Kansas City Downtown Airport, MO (2 mi away); precipitation: Kansas City Downtown Airport, MO (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Kansas City

641017a
0 to 5 °F
641027a
0 to 5 °F
641056b
−5 to 0 °F
641066b
−5 to 0 °F
641087a
0 to 5 °F
641096b
−5 to 0 °F
641106b
−5 to 0 °F
641116b
−5 to 0 °F
641126b
−5 to 0 °F
641136b
−5 to 0 °F
641146b
−5 to 0 °F
641166b
−5 to 0 °F
641176b
−5 to 0 °F
641186b
−5 to 0 °F
641196b
−5 to 0 °F
641206b
−5 to 0 °F
641216b
−5 to 0 °F
641236b
−5 to 0 °F
641246b
−5 to 0 °F
641256b
−5 to 0 °F
641266b
−5 to 0 °F
641276b
−5 to 0 °F
641286b
−5 to 0 °F
641297a
0 to 5 °F
641307a
0 to 5 °F
641316b
−5 to 0 °F
641326b
−5 to 0 °F
641336b
−5 to 0 °F
641346b
−5 to 0 °F
641366b
−5 to 0 °F
641376b
−5 to 0 °F
641386b
−5 to 0 °F
641396b
−5 to 0 °F
641417a
0 to 5 °F
641446b
−5 to 0 °F
641456b
−5 to 0 °F
641466b
−5 to 0 °F
641476b
−5 to 0 °F
641486b
−5 to 0 °F
641496b
−5 to 0 °F
641516b
−5 to 0 °F
641526b
−5 to 0 °F
641536b
−5 to 0 °F
641546b
−5 to 0 °F
641556b
−5 to 0 °F
641566a
−10 to −5 °F
641576a
−10 to −5 °F
641586b
−5 to 0 °F
641616b
−5 to 0 °F
641626b
−5 to 0 °F
641636b
−5 to 0 °F
641646b
−5 to 0 °F
641656a
−10 to −5 °F
641666a
−10 to −5 °F
641676a
−10 to −5 °F
641686b
−5 to 0 °F
641706b
−5 to 0 °F
641716b
−5 to 0 °F
641797a
0 to 5 °F
641806b
−5 to 0 °F
641846b
−5 to 0 °F
641876b
−5 to 0 °F
641886b
−5 to 0 °F
641906b
−5 to 0 °F
641916b
−5 to 0 °F
641956b
−5 to 0 °F
641966b
−5 to 0 °F
641976b
−5 to 0 °F
641986b
−5 to 0 °F
641996b
−5 to 0 °F
649997a
0 to 5 °F

Missouri planting zones →

Questions about Kansas City

What planting zone is Kansas City, MO?

Kansas City, MO is in USDA hardiness zones 6a to 7a on the 2023 map (6a: −10 to −5 °F; 6b: −5 to 0 °F; 7a: 0 to 5 °F).

When is the last frost in Kansas City, MO?

The median last spring frost is April 4 and the median first fall frost is November 2 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Kansas City Downtown Airport station).

When can I plant a garden in Kansas City, MO?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 21 – Mar 14; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 11, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Kansas City, MO?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 55 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Kansas City, MO get?

About 38.1 inches of precipitation a year and 11 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).