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

Planting zone for 48081 — Saint Clair Shores, MI

ZIP code 48081 (Saint Clair Shores, Macomb County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is April 29 and the first fall frost October 22.

Where ZIP 48081 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.

Zone6b−5 to 0 °F
Coldest night−20.6 to −17.8 °C
Last frostApr 29
First frostOct 22
2012 zone6b

Same zone as on the 2012 map. 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 Saint Clair Shores, 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 Saint Clair Shores, MI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 29median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 13only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 22median — 10% chance by Oct 7
Growing season176 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 16 and returns around November 1.

From the NOAA station Grosse Pointe Farms, MI — 6 miles away, elevation 614 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 48081

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 8
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
TomatoesTransplant · May 6 – May 20
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 13 – May 27
BeansSow outdoors · May 6 – May 20
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 6 – May 20
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 6 – May 20
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 27 – Sep 10
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 8 – Nov 12
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 29) and first fall frost (Oct 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 48081 came on Apr 4 — 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 9).

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 Saint Clair Shores, MI.

Soil in Saint Clair Shores, MI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 48081 is Lenawee — silty clay loam, poorly drained.

TextureSilty clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH6.5neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter4.8%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classPrime farmland if drainedUSDA classification

Map unit: Lenawee silty clay loam, 0 to 1 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 48081; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Saint Clair Shores, MI

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low17 °Faverage low, January
Hot days11days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights124nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,711base 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)
Precipitation33.8 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 17 °F 32°17° JanFebruary: average high 34 °F, low 18 °F 34°18° FebMarch: average high 43 °F, low 25 °F 43°25° MarApril: average high 56 °F, low 36 °F 56°36° AprMay: average high 67 °F, low 48 °F 67°48° MayJune: average high 77 °F, low 58 °F 77°58° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 62 °F 82°62° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 61 °F 80°61° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 54 °F 73°54° SepOctober: average high 60 °F, low 43 °F 60°43° OctNovember: average high 47 °F, low 32 °F 47°32° NovDecember: average high 37 °F, low 24 °F 37°24° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″January: 2.36 in precipitation 2.4 JanFebruary: 1.81 in precipitation 1.8 FebMarch: 2.27 in precipitation 2.3 MarApril: 2.99 in precipitation 3.0 AprMay: 3.27 in precipitation 3.3 MayJune: 3.16 in precipitation 3.2 JunJuly: 3.69 in precipitation 3.7 JulAugust: 3.59 in precipitation 3.6 AugSeptember: 3.18 in precipitation 3.2 SepOctober: 2.63 in precipitation 2.6 OctNovember: 2.54 in precipitation 2.5 NovDecember: 2.31 in precipitation 2.3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Grosse Pointe Farms, MI (6 mi away); precipitation: Roseville 1.7 Ene, MI (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6b.

480806b
Saint Clair Shores, MI · 2 mi
480666b
Roseville, MI · 2 mi
480826b
Saint Clair Shores, MI · 2 mi
480216b
Eastpointe, MI · 3 mi
480266b
Fraser, MI · 4 mi
482256b
Harper Woods, MI · 4 mi
480356b
Clinton Township, MI · 4 mi
480886b
Warren, MI · 5 mi

All 3 ZIP codes in Saint Clair Shores → · Michigan planting zones →

Questions about 48081

What planting zone is ZIP code 48081?

ZIP code 48081 (Saint Clair Shores, 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 Saint Clair Shores, MI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 48081 is April 29; after May 13 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Grosse Pointe Farms station.

When is the first frost in Saint Clair Shores, MI?

The median first fall frost near 48081 is October 22, giving a median frost-free growing season of 176 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 48081?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 4 – Mar 18 and set transplants outside around May 6 – May 20, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 48081 get?

About 33.8 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Roseville 1.7 Ene station).

How hot do summers get in Saint Clair Shores, MI?

The average high peaks at 82 °F in July, with about 11 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 48081 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Lenawee at the center of ZIP 48081: silty clay loam, poorly drained, pH about 6.5 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Saint Clair Shores, MI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 48081 came on Apr 4 in 2026, 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 9), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Saint Clair Shores, MI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 48081 is 15 h 18 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).