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

Planting zone for 48068 — Royal Oak, MI

ZIP code 48068 (Royal Oak, Oakland County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is April 21 and the first fall frost October 31.

Where ZIP 48068 is

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.

Zone6b−5 to 0 °F
Coldest night−20.6 to −17.8 °C
Last frostApr 21
First frostOct 31
2012 zone6a

Was 6a 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 6b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Royal Oak, MI…

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 Royal Oak, MI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 21median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 6only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 31median — 10% chance by Oct 17
Growing season190 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 8 and returns around November 9.

From the NOAA station Detroit City Airport, MI — 9 miles away, elevation 627 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 48068

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 31
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 10 – Feb 24
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 31 – Apr 14
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 28 – May 12
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 10 – Feb 24
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 5 – May 19
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 28 – May 12
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 28 – May 12
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 28 – May 12
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 5 – Sep 19
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 17 – Nov 21
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 21) and first fall frost (Oct 31) 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 48068 came on Apr 1 — 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 7).

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 Michigan

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

Trees 58

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 105

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 221

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine bistort1 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine sweetvetch2 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −62 °FAmerican 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 °F

Grasses 175

alpine timothy1.4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −43 °FAmerican beachgrass2.5 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °Farctic brome3 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fautumn bluegrass1.5 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbeaked sedge4 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Vines 8

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Ffrost grape83 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −23 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Fsummer grape30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °Ftrumpet creeper2 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −13 °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 Royal Oak, MI.

Soil in Royal Oak, MI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 48068 is Udorthents — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.8slightly alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Udorthents and Udipsamments, nearly level to hilly.

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 48068; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Royal Oak, MI

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low20 °Faverage low, January
Hot days13days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights113nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,094base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 18 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 03 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation29.9 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 32 °F, low 20 °F 32°20° JanFebruary: average high 35 °F, low 21 °F 35°21° FebMarch: average high 45 °F, low 28 °F 45°28° MarApril: average high 58 °F, low 39 °F 58°39° AprMay: average high 70 °F, low 50 °F 70°50° MayJune: average high 79 °F, low 60 °F 79°60° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 65 °F 84°65° JulAugust: average high 81 °F, low 64 °F 81°64° AugSeptember: average high 74 °F, low 56 °F 74°56° SepOctober: average high 61 °F, low 45 °F 61°45° OctNovember: average high 48 °F, low 34 °F 48°34° NovDecember: average high 37 °F, low 26 °F 37°26° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″January: 1.45 in precipitation 1.4 JanFebruary: 1.41 in precipitation 1.4 FebMarch: 2.02 in precipitation 2.0 MarApril: 2.82 in precipitation 2.8 AprMay: 3.49 in precipitation 3.5 MayJune: 3.10 in precipitation 3.1 JunJuly: 3.22 in precipitation 3.2 JulAugust: 3.10 in precipitation 3.1 AugSeptember: 3.09 in precipitation 3.1 SepOctober: 2.30 in precipitation 2.3 OctNovember: 2.16 in precipitation 2.2 NovDecember: 1.73 in precipitation 1.7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Detroit City Airport, MI (9 mi away); precipitation: Detroit City Airport, MI (9 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6b.

480676b
Royal Oak, MI · <1 mi
480696b
Pleasant Ridge, MI · 1 mi
480706b
Huntington Woods, MI · 1 mi
480726b
Berkley, MI · 2 mi
482206b
Ferndale, MI · 2 mi
480736b
Royal Oak, MI · 2 mi
480716b
Madison Heights, MI · 2 mi
482376b
Oak Park, MI · 3 mi

All 3 ZIP codes in Royal Oak → · Michigan planting zones →

Questions about 48068

What planting zone is ZIP code 48068?

ZIP code 48068 (Royal Oak, MI) is in USDA hardiness zone 6b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −5 to 0 °F (−20.6 to −17.8 °C).

When is the last frost in Royal Oak, MI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 48068 is April 21; after May 6 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Detroit City Airport station.

When is the first frost in Royal Oak, MI?

The median first fall frost near 48068 is October 31, giving a median frost-free growing season of 190 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 48068?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 24 – Mar 10 and set transplants outside around Apr 28 – May 12, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 48068 get?

About 29.9 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Detroit City Airport station).

How hot do summers get in Royal Oak, MI?

The average high peaks at 84 °F in July, with about 13 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 48068 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Udorthents at the center of ZIP 48068: silt loam, well drained, pH about 7.8 (slightly alkaline).

Did spring come early in Royal Oak, MI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 48068 came on Apr 1 in 2026, 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 7), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Royal Oak, MI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 48068 is 15 h 18 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 48068 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 48068 in zone 6a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.