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

Planting zone for 48324 — West Bloomfield, MI

ZIP code 48324 (West Bloomfield, Oakland County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 29 and the first fall frost October 20.

Where ZIP 48324 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.

Zone6a−10 to −5 °F
Coldest night−23.3 to −20.6 °C
Last frostApr 29
First frostOct 20
2012 zone6a

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 6a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for West Bloomfield, 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 West Bloomfield, 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 14only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 20median — 10% chance by Oct 5
Growing season172 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 18 and returns around November 1.

From the NOAA station Pontiac Oakland Co. Intl Airport, MI — 5 miles away, elevation 978 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 48324

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 25 – Sep 8
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 6 – Nov 10
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 29) and first fall frost (Oct 20) 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 48324 came on Apr 4 — 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 11).

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 6a in Michigan

580 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Michigan, and rated by the USDA to survive −10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6a. 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 220

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 174

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 °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 °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 West Bloomfield, MI.

Soil in West Bloomfield, MI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 48324 is Spinks — loamy sand, well drained.

TextureLoamy sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH6.5neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classFarmland of local importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Spinks loamy sand, 6 to 12 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 48324; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in West Bloomfield, MI

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low17 °Faverage low, January
Hot days10days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights136nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,754base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 19 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)
Precipitation29.2 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 30 °F, low 17 °F 30°17° JanFebruary: average high 33 °F, low 18 °F 33°18° FebMarch: average high 43 °F, low 26 °F 43°26° MarApril: average high 57 °F, low 36 °F 57°36° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 48 °F 69°48° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 58 °F 78°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 53 °F 73°53° SepOctober: average high 60 °F, low 42 °F 60°42° OctNovember: average high 46 °F, low 32 °F 46°32° NovDecember: average high 35 °F, low 23 °F 35°23° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″January: 1.63 in precipitation 1.6 JanFebruary: 1.07 in precipitation 1.1 FebMarch: 1.92 in precipitation 1.9 MarApril: 2.66 in precipitation 2.7 AprMay: 3.68 in precipitation 3.7 MayJune: 3.19 in precipitation 3.2 JunJuly: 2.78 in precipitation 2.8 JulAugust: 2.91 in precipitation 2.9 AugSeptember: 3.08 in precipitation 3.1 SepOctober: 2.60 in precipitation 2.6 OctNovember: 2.05 in precipitation 2.0 NovDecember: 1.59 in precipitation 1.6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Pontiac Oakland Co. Intl Airport, MI (5 mi away); precipitation: Pontiac Oakland Co. Intl Airport, MI (5 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6a.

483236a
West Bloomfield, MI · 2 mi
483876a
Union Lake, MI · 3 mi
483206a
Keego Harbor, MI · 3 mi
483276a
Waterford, MI · 3 mi
483226a
West Bloomfield, MI · 4 mi
483286a
Waterford, MI · 4 mi
483216a
Auburn Hills, MI · 5 mi
483256a
West Bloomfield, MI · 5 mi

All 4 ZIP codes in West Bloomfield → · Michigan planting zones →

Questions about 48324

What planting zone is ZIP code 48324?

ZIP code 48324 (West Bloomfield, MI) is in USDA hardiness zone 6a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −10 to −5 °F (−23.3 to −20.6 °C).

When is the last frost in West Bloomfield, MI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 48324 is April 29; after May 14 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Pontiac Oakland Co. Intl Airport station.

When is the first frost in West Bloomfield, MI?

The median first fall frost near 48324 is October 20, giving a median frost-free growing season of 172 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 48324?

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 48324 get?

About 29.2 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Pontiac Oakland Co. Intl Airport station).

How hot do summers get in West Bloomfield, MI?

The average high peaks at 82 °F in July, with about 10 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 48324 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Spinks at the center of ZIP 48324: loamy sand, well drained, pH about 6.5 (neutral).

Did spring come early in West Bloomfield, MI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 48324 came on Apr 4 in 2026, 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 11), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in West Bloomfield, MI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 48324 is 15 h 19 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).