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

Planting zone for Springfield, MO

Springfield, MO is in USDA zones 6b to 7a across its 16 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 4 and the first fall frost October 27.

Springfield on the zone map

Outlined: its 9 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.

Zones6b–7a−5 to 5 °F
ZIP codes16
Last frostApr 4
First frostOct 27
Growing season204 days

6b 8 ZIPs   7a 8 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Springfield, 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 Springfield, 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 frostOctober 27median — 10% chance by Oct 15
Growing season204 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 27 and returns around November 7.

From the NOAA station Springfield Wbo, MO, elevation 1,326 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 Springfield

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 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 4) 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 65898 came on Feb 19 — 19 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 10).

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 Missouri

525 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Missouri, and rated by the USDA to survive −5 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 70

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 83

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 192

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 157

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 12

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 °Fgraybark grape50 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °Fheartleaf peppervine2 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −8 °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 Springfield, MO.

Soil in Springfield, MO

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 65898 is Viraton — silt loam, moderately well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.5neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter4.8%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Viraton silt loam, 2 to 5 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 65898; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Springfield, MO

Summer high88 °Faverage high, July
Winter low23 °Faverage low, January
Hot days38days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights89nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,179base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 43 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 36 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation46.5 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 43 °F, low 23 °F 43°23° JanFebruary: average high 48 °F, low 26 °F 48°26° FebMarch: average high 58 °F, low 35 °F 58°35° MarApril: average high 67 °F, low 44 °F 67°44° AprMay: average high 75 °F, low 56 °F 75°56° MayJune: average high 84 °F, low 64 °F 84°64° JunJuly: average high 88 °F, low 68 °F 88°68° JulAugust: average high 88 °F, low 67 °F 88°67° AugSeptember: average high 81 °F, low 58 °F 81°58° SepOctober: average high 69 °F, low 46 °F 69°46° OctNovember: average high 57 °F, low 35 °F 57°35° NovDecember: average high 46 °F, low 27 °F 46°27° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″January: 2.44 in precipitation 2.4 JanFebruary: 2.42 in precipitation 2.4 FebMarch: 3.72 in precipitation 3.7 MarApril: 5.20 in precipitation 5.2 AprMay: 6.05 in precipitation 6.0 MayJune: 4.94 in precipitation 4.9 JunJuly: 3.87 in precipitation 3.9 JulAugust: 3.57 in precipitation 3.6 AugSeptember: 4.45 in precipitation 4.5 SepOctober: 3.60 in precipitation 3.6 OctNovember: 3.61 in precipitation 3.6 NovDecember: 2.64 in precipitation 2.6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Springfield Wbo, MO (within 1 mile); precipitation: Springfield Wbo, MO (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Springfield

658017a
0 to 5 °F
658027a
0 to 5 °F
658036b
−5 to 0 °F
658046b
−5 to 0 °F
658057a
0 to 5 °F
658066b
−5 to 0 °F
658076b
−5 to 0 °F
658087a
0 to 5 °F
658096b
−5 to 0 °F
658106b
−5 to 0 °F
658146b
−5 to 0 °F
658176b
−5 to 0 °F
658907a
0 to 5 °F
658977a
0 to 5 °F
658987a
0 to 5 °F
658997a
0 to 5 °F

Missouri planting zones →

Questions about Springfield

What planting zone is Springfield, MO?

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

When is the last frost in Springfield, MO?

The median last spring frost is April 4 and the median first fall frost is October 27 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Springfield Wbo station).

When can I plant a garden in Springfield, 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 Springfield, 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 Springfield, MO get?

About 46.5 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).