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

Planting zone for Wisconsin Rapids, WI

Wisconsin Rapids, WI is in USDA zone 4b across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is May 9 and the first fall frost September 30.

Wisconsin Rapids 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.

Zone4b−25 to −20 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostMay 9
First frostSep 30
Growing season142 days

4b 2 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

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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 Wisconsin Rapids, WI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 9median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 24only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 30median — 10% chance by Sep 17
Growing season142 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 30 and returns around October 10.

From the NOAA station Wisconsin Rapids, WI, elevation 1,034 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 Wisconsin Rapids

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 18
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 18 – May 2
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
TomatoesTransplant · May 16 – May 30
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 23 – Jun 6
BeansSow outdoors · May 16 – May 30
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 16 – May 30
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 16 – May 30
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 5 – Aug 19
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 16 – Oct 21
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 9) and first fall frost (Sep 30) 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 54495 came on Apr 9 — 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 16).

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 Wisconsin Rapids, WI.

Soil in Wisconsin Rapids, WI

The center of ZIP 54495 is mapped as Water: built-over ground without natural soil data. Garden soil here is usually imported or disturbed — test before you plant.

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 54495; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Wisconsin Rapids, WI

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low8 °Faverage low, January
Hot days9days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights163nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,411base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 32 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 50 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation34.2 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall48 inper year; 102 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 25 °F, low 8 °F 25°8° JanFebruary: average high 29 °F, low 11 °F 29°11° FebMarch: average high 42 °F, low 22 °F 42°22° MarApril: average high 56 °F, low 33 °F 56°33° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 45 °F 69°45° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 55 °F 78°55° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 59 °F 82°59° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 57 °F 80°57° AugSeptember: average high 72 °F, low 49 °F 72°49° SepOctober: average high 58 °F, low 37 °F 58°37° OctNovember: average high 43 °F, low 26 °F 43°26° NovDecember: average high 30 °F, low 14 °F 30°14° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 1.20 in precipitation, 12.2 in snowfall 1.2❄12 JanFebruary: 1.21 in precipitation, 10.2 in snowfall 1.2❄10 FebMarch: 1.94 in precipitation, 6.9 in snowfall 1.9❄7 MarApril: 3.38 in precipitation, 3 in snowfall 3.4❄3 AprMay: 4.11 in precipitation 4.1 MayJune: 4.67 in precipitation 4.7 JunJuly: 3.88 in precipitation 3.9 JulAugust: 4.20 in precipitation 4.2 AugSeptember: 3.41 in precipitation 3.4 SepOctober: 2.76 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 2.8 OctNovember: 1.87 in precipitation, 3.4 in snowfall 1.9❄3 NovDecember: 1.56 in precipitation, 12 in snowfall 1.6❄12 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Wisconsin Rapids Alexander Field, WI (6 mi away); precipitation: Wis Rapids Grand Av B, WI (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Wisconsin Rapids

544944b
−25 to −20 °F
544954b
−25 to −20 °F

Wisconsin planting zones →

Questions about Wisconsin Rapids

What planting zone is Wisconsin Rapids, WI?

Wisconsin Rapids, WI is in USDA hardiness zone 4b on the 2023 map (4b: −25 to −20 °F).

When is the last frost in Wisconsin Rapids, WI?

The median last spring frost is May 9 and the median first fall frost is September 30 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Wisconsin Rapids station).

When can I plant a garden in Wisconsin Rapids, WI?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 28 – Apr 18; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 16, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Wisconsin Rapids, WI?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 32 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Wisconsin Rapids, WI get?

About 34.2 inches of precipitation a year and 48 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).