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

Planting zone for Wausau, WI

Wausau, WI is in USDA zones 4b to 5a across its 3 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is May 6 and the first fall frost October 4.

Wausau 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.

Zones4b–5a−25 to −15 °F
ZIP codes3
Last frostMay 6
First frostOct 4
Growing season150 days

4b 2 ZIPs   5a 1 ZIP

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Wausau, WI…

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 Wausau, WI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 6median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 21only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 4median — 10% chance by Sep 21
Growing season150 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 26 and returns around October 16.

From the NOAA station Wausau Dwtn Airport, WI, elevation 1,181 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 Wausau

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 15
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
TomatoesTransplant · May 13 – May 27
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 20 – Jun 3
BeansSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 9 – Aug 23
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 20 – Oct 25
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 6) and first fall frost (Oct 4) 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 54401 came on Apr 15 — 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 20).

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 4b in Wisconsin

486 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Wisconsin, and rated by the USDA to survive −25 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 4b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 48

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 89

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 178

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 152

American 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 °FBebb's sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Vines 4

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FVirginia creeper1 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −28 °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 Wausau, WI.

Soil in Wausau, WI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 54401 is Mosinee — sandy loam, well drained.

TextureSandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.9moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Mosinee sandy loam, 2 to 15 percent slopes, stony.

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 54401; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Wausau, WI

Summer high80 °Faverage high, July
Winter low7 °Faverage low, January
Hot days5days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights163nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,238base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 37 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 46 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation34.7 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall63 inper year; 110 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 23 °F, low 7 °F 23°7° JanFebruary: average high 27 °F, low 10 °F 27°10° FebMarch: average high 40 °F, low 21 °F 40°21° MarApril: average high 54 °F, low 32 °F 54°32° AprMay: average high 67 °F, low 45 °F 67°45° MayJune: average high 76 °F, low 55 °F 76°55° JunJuly: average high 80 °F, low 59 °F 80°59° JulAugust: average high 78 °F, low 57 °F 78°57° AugSeptember: average high 70 °F, low 49 °F 70°49° SepOctober: average high 56 °F, low 37 °F 56°37° OctNovember: average high 40 °F, low 25 °F 40°25° NovDecember: average high 28 °F, low 14 °F 28°14° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 1.21 in precipitation, 12.1 in snowfall 1.2❄12 JanFebruary: 1.08 in precipitation, 14.9 in snowfall 1.1❄15 FebMarch: 1.83 in precipitation, 8.3 in snowfall 1.8❄8 MarApril: 3.12 in precipitation, 6.6 in snowfall 3.1❄7 AprMay: 3.87 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 3.9 MayJune: 4.73 in precipitation 4.7 JunJuly: 4.04 in precipitation 4.0 JulAugust: 4.21 in precipitation 4.2 AugSeptember: 4.04 in precipitation 4.0 SepOctober: 3.12 in precipitation, 1 in snowfall 3.1❄1 OctNovember: 1.89 in precipitation, 4.8 in snowfall 1.9❄5 NovDecember: 1.53 in precipitation, 15.5 in snowfall 1.5❄16 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Wausau Dwtn Airport, WI (5 mi away); precipitation: Wausau Wsaw Tv, WI (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Wausau

544014b
−25 to −20 °F
544025a
−20 to −15 °F
544034b
−25 to −20 °F

Wisconsin planting zones →

Questions about Wausau

What planting zone is Wausau, WI?

Wausau, WI is in USDA hardiness zones 4b to 5a on the 2023 map (4b: −25 to −20 °F; 5a: −20 to −15 °F).

When is the last frost in Wausau, WI?

The median last spring frost is May 6 and the median first fall frost is October 4 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Wausau Dwtn Airport station).

When can I plant a garden in Wausau, WI?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 25 – Apr 15; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 13, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Wausau, WI?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 37 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Wausau, WI get?

About 34.7 inches of precipitation a year and 63 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).