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

Planting zone for 49878 — Rapid River, MI

ZIP code 49878 (Rapid River, Delta County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 18 and the first fall frost October 4.

Where ZIP 49878 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 18
First frostOct 4
2012 zone5a

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 5a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Rapid River, 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 Rapid River, MI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 18median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 2only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 4median — 10% chance by Sep 18
Growing season137 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 5 and returns around October 17.

From the NOAA station Rapid Rvr 4sse, MI — 6 miles away, elevation 597 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 49878

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 27
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 27 – May 11
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 20 – May 4
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 20 – May 4
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
TomatoesTransplant · May 25 – Jun 8
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 1 – Jun 15
BeansSow outdoors · May 25 – Jun 8
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 25 – Jun 8
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 25 – Jun 8
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 9 – Aug 23
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 20 – Oct 25
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 18) and first fall frost (Oct 4) 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 49878 came on Apr 26 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 27).

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 Rapid River, MI.

Soil in Rapid River, MI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 49878 is Roscommon — muck, poorly drained.

TextureMucktop layer
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter75%high
Hydrologic groupA/Ddrains fast once dried out; wet otherwise
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Roscommon mucky loamy sand, 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 49878; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Rapid River, MI

Summer high77 °Faverage high, July
Winter low6 °Faverage low, February
Hot days1days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights189nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,772base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 45 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 39 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation31.3 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 25 °F, low 7 °F 25°7° JanFebruary: average high 28 °F, low 6 °F 28°6° FebMarch: average high 38 °F, low 15 °F 38°15° MarApril: average high 50 °F, low 28 °F 50°28° AprMay: average high 63 °F, low 41 °F 63°41° MayJune: average high 73 °F, low 50 °F 73°50° JunJuly: average high 77 °F, low 56 °F 77°56° JulAugust: average high 76 °F, low 55 °F 76°55° AugSeptember: average high 68 °F, low 48 °F 68°48° SepOctober: average high 55 °F, low 36 °F 55°36° OctNovember: average high 41 °F, low 27 °F 41°27° NovDecember: average high 30 °F, low 16 °F 30°16° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″January: 1.60 in precipitation 1.6 JanFebruary: 1.28 in precipitation 1.3 FebMarch: 1.87 in precipitation 1.9 MarApril: 2.57 in precipitation 2.6 AprMay: 3.49 in precipitation 3.5 MayJune: 2.48 in precipitation 2.5 JunJuly: 3.64 in precipitation 3.6 JulAugust: 2.89 in precipitation 2.9 AugSeptember: 3.43 in precipitation 3.4 SepOctober: 3.48 in precipitation 3.5 OctNovember: 2.79 in precipitation 2.8 NovDecember: 1.77 in precipitation 1.8 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Rapid Rvr 4sse, MI (6 mi away); precipitation: Rapid Rvr 4sse, MI (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

2 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

498725a
Perkins, MI · 11 mi
498375a
Gladstone, MI · 11 mi
498645b
Nahma, MI · 13 mi
498945a
Wells, MI · 15 mi
498295a
Escanaba, MI · 17 mi
498175a
Cooks, MI · 18 mi
498954b
Wetmore, MI · 19 mi
498915a
Trenary, MI · 20 mi

Michigan planting zones →

Questions about 49878

What planting zone is ZIP code 49878?

ZIP code 49878 (Rapid River, 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 Rapid River, MI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 49878 is May 18; after June 2 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Rapid Rvr 4sse station.

When is the first frost in Rapid River, MI?

The median first fall frost near 49878 is October 4, giving a median frost-free growing season of 137 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 49878?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 23 – Apr 6 and set transplants outside around May 25 – Jun 8, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 49878 get?

About 31.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Rapid Rvr 4sse station).

How hot do summers get in Rapid River, MI?

The average high peaks at 77 °F in July, with about 1 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 49878 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Roscommon at the center of ZIP 49878: muck, poorly drained.

Did spring come early in Rapid River, MI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 49878 came on Apr 26 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 27), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Rapid River, MI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 49878 is 15 h 45 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).