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

Planting zone for 48630 — Houghton Lake Heights, MI

ZIP code 48630 (Houghton Lake Heights, Roscommon County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 20 and the first fall frost October 1.

Where ZIP 48630 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.

Zone5a−20 to −15 °F
Coldest night−28.9 to −26.1 °C
Last frostMay 20
First frostOct 1
2012 zone4b

Was 4b 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 5a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Houghton Lake Heights, 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 Houghton Lake Heights, MI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 20median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 3only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 1median — 10% chance by Sep 18
Growing season136 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 6 and returns around October 15.

From the NOAA station Houghton Lake 2nw, MI — within 1 mile, elevation 1,161 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 48630

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 29
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 29 – May 13
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 29 – May 13
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 29 – May 13
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
TomatoesTransplant · May 27 – Jun 10
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 3 – Jun 17
BeansSow outdoors · May 27 – Jun 10
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 27 – Jun 10
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 27 – Jun 10
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 6 – Aug 20
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 17 – Oct 22
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 20) and first fall frost (Oct 1) 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 48630 came on Apr 16 — 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 20).

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 5a in Michigan

551 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Michigan, and rated by the USDA to survive −20 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 54

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 103

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 207

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 166

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 7

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 honeysuckle16 ft · blooms late summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °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 Houghton Lake Heights, MI.

Soil in Houghton Lake Heights, MI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 48630 is Nester — sandy loam, moderately well drained.

TextureSandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH6.2slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Nester sandy loam, 1 to 6 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 48630; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Houghton Lake Heights, MI

Summer high81 °Faverage high, July
Winter low9 °Faverage low, February
Hot days8days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights176nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,050base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 32 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 51 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation32.4 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall75 inper year; 104 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 28 °F, low 10 °F 28°10° JanFebruary: average high 31 °F, low 9 °F 31°9° FebMarch: average high 41 °F, low 17 °F 41°17° MarApril: average high 54 °F, low 29 °F 54°29° AprMay: average high 67 °F, low 41 °F 67°41° MayJune: average high 77 °F, low 51 °F 77°51° JunJuly: average high 81 °F, low 55 °F 81°55° JulAugust: average high 79 °F, low 54 °F 79°54° AugSeptember: average high 71 °F, low 46 °F 71°46° SepOctober: average high 57 °F, low 36 °F 57°36° OctNovember: average high 44 °F, low 27 °F 44°27° NovDecember: average high 33 °F, low 18 °F 33°18° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″January: 1.95 in precipitation, 17.7 in snowfall 1.9❄18 JanFebruary: 1.45 in precipitation, 17.3 in snowfall 1.4❄17 FebMarch: 1.95 in precipitation, 11.4 in snowfall 1.9❄11 MarApril: 3.27 in precipitation, 3.3 in snowfall 3.3❄3 AprMay: 3.29 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.3 MayJune: 3.40 in precipitation 3.4 JunJuly: 3.36 in precipitation 3.4 JulAugust: 3.02 in precipitation 3.0 AugSeptember: 2.70 in precipitation 2.7 SepOctober: 3.53 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.5 OctNovember: 2.46 in precipitation, 3.8 in snowfall 2.5❄4 NovDecember: 2.02 in precipitation, 21 in snowfall 2.0❄21 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Houghton Lake 2nw, MI (within 1 mile); precipitation: Houghton Lake 2nw, MI (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5a.

486295a
Houghton Lake, MI · 1 mi
496675a
Merritt, MI · 8 mi
486515a
Prudenville, MI · 9 mi
486275a
Higgins Lake, MI · 9 mi
496325a
Falmouth, MI · 11 mi
486535a
Roscommon, MI · 14 mi
496515a
Lake City, MI · 17 mi
486255a
Harrison, MI · 19 mi

Michigan planting zones →

Questions about 48630

What planting zone is ZIP code 48630?

ZIP code 48630 (Houghton Lake Heights, MI) is in USDA hardiness zone 5a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −20 to −15 °F (−28.9 to −26.1 °C).

When is the last frost in Houghton Lake Heights, MI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 48630 is May 20; after June 3 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Houghton Lake 2nw station.

When is the first frost in Houghton Lake Heights, MI?

The median first fall frost near 48630 is October 1, giving a median frost-free growing season of 136 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 48630?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 25 – Apr 8 and set transplants outside around May 27 – Jun 10, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 48630 get?

About 32.4 inches of precipitation a year and 75 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Houghton Lake 2nw station).

How hot do summers get in Houghton Lake Heights, MI?

The average high peaks at 81 °F in July, with about 8 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 48630 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Nester at the center of ZIP 48630: sandy loam, moderately well drained, pH about 6.2 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Houghton Lake Heights, MI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 48630 came on Apr 16 in 2026, 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 20), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Houghton Lake Heights, MI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 48630 is 15 h 32 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 48630 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 48630 in zone 4b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 5a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.