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

Planting zone for Bozeman, MT

Bozeman, MT is in USDA zone 5a across its 5 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is May 26 and the first fall frost September 22.

Bozeman 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.

Zone5a−20 to −15 °F
ZIP codes5
Last frostMay 26
First frostSep 22
Growing season116 days

5a 5 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Bozeman, MT…

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 Bozeman, MT

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 26median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 14only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 22median — 10% chance by Sep 5
Growing season116 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 8 and returns around October 3.

From the NOAA station Bozeman Montana State Univ, MT, elevation 4,915 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 Bozeman

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 14 – May 5
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · May 5 – May 19
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 28 – May 12
PotatoesPlant outdoors · May 5 – May 19
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 28 – May 12
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · May 5 – May 19
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
TomatoesTransplant · Jun 2 – Jun 16
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 9 – Jun 23
BeansSow outdoors · Jun 2 – Jun 16
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Jun 2 – Jun 16
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Jun 2 – Jun 16
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Jul 28 – Aug 11
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 8 – Oct 13
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 26) and first fall frost (Sep 22) 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 59772 came on Mar 19 — 29 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 17).

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 5a in Montana

548 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Montana, and rated by the USDA to survive −20 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 26

American elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °Fbalsam poplar80 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −79 °Fblack locust60 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −37 °Fboxelder60 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FDouglas-fir200 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Feastern cottonwood190 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −43 °F

Shrubs 96

alderleaf buckthorn3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Falderleaf mountain mahogany15 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −41 °Falpine laurel1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −28 °FAmerican black currant3 ft · blooms early spring · to −46 °FAmerican plum24 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Fantelope bitterbrush6 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −36 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 253

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine bistort1 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine mountainsorrel1 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −43 °Falpine sweetvetch2 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −62 °FAmerican alpine speedwell1 ft · blooms summer · medium shade tolerance · to −28 °FAmerican bistort1.5 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Grasses 161

Alaska oniongrass3 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Falkali cordgrass3 ft · blooms late summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falkali sacaton3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °FAlpine Meadow-Foxtail0.5 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Falpine timothy1.4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −43 °Fanalogue sedge1.5 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Vines 3

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Fwestern white clematis1 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °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 Bozeman, MT.

Soil in Bozeman, MT

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 59772 is Turner — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.2neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classPrime farmland if irrigatedUSDA classification

Map unit: Turner loam, moderately wet, 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 59772; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Bozeman, MT

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low15 °Faverage low, January
Hot days12days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights178nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,719base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 42 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 41 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation20 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall91 inper year; 118 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 34 °F, low 15 °F 34°15° JanFebruary: average high 37 °F, low 17 °F 37°17° FebMarch: average high 46 °F, low 24 °F 46°24° MarApril: average high 55 °F, low 31 °F 55°31° AprMay: average high 63 °F, low 39 °F 63°39° MayJune: average high 72 °F, low 46 °F 72°46° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 52 °F 82°52° JulAugust: average high 81 °F, low 50 °F 81°50° AugSeptember: average high 71 °F, low 42 °F 71°42° SepOctober: average high 57 °F, low 32 °F 57°32° OctNovember: average high 42 °F, low 22 °F 42°22° NovDecember: average high 33 °F, low 15 °F 33°15° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″January: 0.86 in precipitation, 12.7 in snowfall 0.9❄13 JanFebruary: 0.83 in precipitation, 13 in snowfall 0.8❄13 FebMarch: 1.42 in precipitation, 13.1 in snowfall 1.4❄13 MarApril: 2.51 in precipitation, 12.9 in snowfall 2.5❄13 AprMay: 2.93 in precipitation, 3.6 in snowfall 2.9❄4 MayJune: 3.27 in precipitation, 0.8 in snowfall 3.3❄1 JunJuly: 1.33 in precipitation 1.3 JulAugust: 1.32 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 1.3 AugSeptember: 1.44 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 1.4 SepOctober: 1.84 in precipitation, 6 in snowfall 1.8❄6 OctNovember: 1.25 in precipitation, 12.5 in snowfall 1.3❄13 NovDecember: 1.03 in precipitation, 16.2 in snowfall 1.0❄16 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Bozeman Montana State Univ, MT (2 mi away); precipitation: Bozeman Montana State Univ, MT (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Bozeman

597155a
−20 to −15 °F
597185a
−20 to −15 °F
597195a
−20 to −15 °F
597715a
−20 to −15 °F
597725a
−20 to −15 °F

Montana planting zones →

Questions about Bozeman

What planting zone is Bozeman, MT?

Bozeman, MT is in USDA hardiness zone 5a on the 2023 map (5a: −20 to −15 °F).

When is the last frost in Bozeman, MT?

The median last spring frost is May 26 and the median first fall frost is September 22 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Bozeman Montana State Univ station).

When can I plant a garden in Bozeman, MT?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Apr 14 – May 5; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Jun 2, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Bozeman, MT?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 42 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Bozeman, MT get?

About 20 inches of precipitation a year and 91 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).