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

Planting zone for 44116 — Rocky River, OH

ZIP code 44116 (Rocky River, Cuyahoga County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 20 and the first fall frost November 3.

Where ZIP 44116 is

Outlined: the ZIP code area · 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.

Zone7a0 to 5 °F
Coldest night−17.8 to −15 °C
Last frostApr 20
First frostNov 3
2012 zone6b

Was 6b on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 7a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Rocky River, OH…

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 Rocky River, OH

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 20median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 5only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 3median — 10% chance by Oct 21
Growing season198 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 5 and returns around November 13.

From the NOAA station Cleveland, OH — 4 miles away, elevation 764 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 44116

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 9 – Mar 30
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 9 – Feb 23
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 30 – Apr 13
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 27 – May 11
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 9 – Feb 23
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 4 – May 18
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 8 – Sep 22
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 20 – Nov 24
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 20) and first fall frost (Nov 3) 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 44116 came on Mar 12 — 18 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 30).

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 7a in Ohio

579 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Ohio, and rated by the USDA to survive 0 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 7a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 72

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 109

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 holly40 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −20 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 208

American bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican lotus3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −36 °FAmerican pokeweed7 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican speedwell0.8 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican vetch1.3 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Grasses 167

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 spikerush3 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °FBebb's sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBicknell's sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Vines 11

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican wisteria50 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °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 Rocky River, OH.

Soil in Rocky River, OH

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 44116 is Jimtown — loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.9moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter2.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupB/Dmoderate when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Jimtown-Urban land complex, nearly level.

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 44116; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Rocky River, OH

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low22 °Faverage low, January
Hot days12days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights111nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,360base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 11 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 10 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation41 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall64 inper year; 52 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 36 °F, low 22 °F 36°22° JanFebruary: average high 39 °F, low 24 °F 39°24° FebMarch: average high 47 °F, low 31 °F 47°31° MarApril: average high 60 °F, low 41 °F 60°41° AprMay: average high 71 °F, low 51 °F 71°51° MayJune: average high 80 °F, low 61 °F 80°61° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 65 °F 84°65° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 64 °F 82°64° AugSeptember: average high 76 °F, low 57 °F 76°57° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 47 °F 64°47° OctNovember: average high 51 °F, low 37 °F 51°37° NovDecember: average high 40 °F, low 28 °F 40°28° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″January: 2.99 in precipitation, 18.4 in snowfall 3.0❄18 JanFebruary: 2.49 in precipitation, 15.1 in snowfall 2.5❄15 FebMarch: 3.06 in precipitation, 10.8 in snowfall 3.1❄11 MarApril: 3.75 in precipitation, 2.7 in snowfall 3.8❄3 AprMay: 3.79 in precipitation 3.8 MayJune: 3.83 in precipitation 3.8 JunJuly: 3.67 in precipitation 3.7 JulAugust: 3.56 in precipitation 3.6 AugSeptember: 3.93 in precipitation 3.9 SepOctober: 3.60 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.6 OctNovember: 3.37 in precipitation, 4.5 in snowfall 3.4❄5 NovDecember: 2.99 in precipitation, 12.2 in snowfall 3.0❄12 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Cleveland, OH (4 mi away); precipitation: Cleveland, OH (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

3 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

441267a
Cleveland, OH · 2 mi
441077a
Lakewood, OH · 3 mi
441117a
Cleveland, OH · 3 mi
441356b
Cleveland, OH · 4 mi
441407a
Bay Village, OH · 4 mi
441457a
Westlake, OH · 4 mi
440706b
North Olmsted, OH · 5 mi
441426b
Brookpark, OH · 5 mi

Ohio planting zones →

Questions about 44116

What planting zone is ZIP code 44116?

ZIP code 44116 (Rocky River, OH) is in USDA hardiness zone 7a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 0 to 5 °F (−17.8 to −15 °C).

When is the last frost in Rocky River, OH?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 44116 is April 20; after May 5 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Cleveland station.

When is the first frost in Rocky River, OH?

The median first fall frost near 44116 is November 3, giving a median frost-free growing season of 198 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 44116?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 23 – Mar 9 and set transplants outside around Apr 27 – May 11, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 44116 get?

About 41 inches of precipitation a year and 64 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Cleveland station).

How hot do summers get in Rocky River, OH?

The average high peaks at 84 °F in July, with about 12 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 44116 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Jimtown at the center of ZIP 44116: loam, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 5.9 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Rocky River, OH in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 44116 came on Mar 12 in 2026, 18 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 30), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Rocky River, OH?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 44116 is 15 h 11 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 44116 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 44116 in zone 6b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.