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

Planting zone for 48455 — Metamora, MI

ZIP code 48455 (Metamora, Lapeer County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is May 4 and the first fall frost October 14.

Where ZIP 48455 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 frostMay 4
First frostOct 14
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 Metamora, 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 Metamora, MI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 4median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 22only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 14median — 10% chance by Sep 29
Growing season160 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 24 and returns around October 28.

From the NOAA station Lapeer Wwtp, MI — 9 miles away, elevation 820 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 48455

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 13
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 13 – Apr 27
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
TomatoesTransplant · May 11 – May 25
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 18 – Jun 1
BeansSow outdoors · May 11 – May 25
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 11 – May 25
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 11 – May 25
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 19 – Sep 2
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 30 – Nov 4
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 4) and first fall frost (Oct 14) 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 48455 came on Apr 7 — 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 12).

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 Metamora, MI.

Soil in Metamora, MI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 48455 is Carlisle — muck, very poorly drained.

TextureMucktop layer
DrainageVery poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter70%high
Hydrologic groupA/Ddrains fast once dried out; wet otherwise
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Carlisle muck, 0 to 2 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 48455; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Metamora, MI

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low15 °Faverage low, January
Hot days9days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights148nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,576base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 21 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 00 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation31.9 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall34 inper year; 60 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 30 °F, low 15 °F 30°15° JanFebruary: average high 33 °F, low 15 °F 33°15° FebMarch: average high 43 °F, low 23 °F 43°23° MarApril: average high 56 °F, low 34 °F 56°34° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 45 °F 69°45° MayJune: average high 79 °F, low 55 °F 79°55° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 59 °F 82°59° JulAugust: average high 81 °F, low 58 °F 81°58° AugSeptember: average high 74 °F, low 50 °F 74°50° SepOctober: average high 61 °F, low 40 °F 61°40° OctNovember: average high 47 °F, low 30 °F 47°30° NovDecember: average high 36 °F, low 22 °F 36°22° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″January: 2.25 in precipitation, 10.8 in snowfall 2.3❄11 JanFebruary: 1.87 in precipitation, 8.2 in snowfall 1.9❄8 FebMarch: 1.91 in precipitation, 4.8 in snowfall 1.9❄5 MarApril: 3.06 in precipitation, 1 in snowfall 3.1❄1 AprMay: 3.24 in precipitation 3.2 MayJune: 3.09 in precipitation 3.1 JunJuly: 3.33 in precipitation 3.3 JulAugust: 3.10 in precipitation 3.1 AugSeptember: 2.81 in precipitation 2.8 SepOctober: 2.87 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 2.9 OctNovember: 2.42 in precipitation, 1.9 in snowfall 2.4❄2 NovDecember: 1.94 in precipitation, 7.6 in snowfall 1.9❄8 Dec

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

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6a.

484406a
Hadley, MI · 6 mi
483716a
Oxford, MI · 6 mi
484286a
Dryden, MI · 7 mi
484466a
Lapeer, MI · 8 mi
483706a
Oxford, MI · 9 mi
484626a
Ortonville, MI · 9 mi
484386a
Goodrich, MI · 10 mi
483676a
Leonard, MI · 11 mi

Michigan planting zones →

Questions about 48455

What planting zone is ZIP code 48455?

ZIP code 48455 (Metamora, 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 Metamora, MI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 48455 is May 4; after May 22 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lapeer Wwtp station.

When is the first frost in Metamora, MI?

The median first fall frost near 48455 is October 14, giving a median frost-free growing season of 160 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 48455?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 9 – Mar 23 and set transplants outside around May 11 – May 25, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 48455 get?

About 31.9 inches of precipitation a year and 34 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lapeer Wwtp station).

How hot do summers get in Metamora, MI?

The average high peaks at 82 °F in July, with about 9 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 48455 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Carlisle at the center of ZIP 48455: muck, very poorly drained.

Did spring come early in Metamora, MI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 48455 came on Apr 7 in 2026, 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 12), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Metamora, MI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 48455 is 15 h 21 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).