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

Planting zone for 53581 — Richland Center, WI

ZIP code 53581 (Richland Center, Richland County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 5 and the first fall frost October 6.

Where ZIP 53581 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 5
First frostOct 6
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 Richland Center, WI…

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 Richland Center, WI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 5median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 19only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 6median — 10% chance by Sep 24
Growing season154 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 25 and returns around October 17.

From the NOAA station Richland Center, WI — 4 miles away, elevation 728 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 53581

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 14
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 14 – Apr 28
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
TomatoesTransplant · May 12 – May 26
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 19 – Jun 2
BeansSow outdoors · May 12 – May 26
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 12 – May 26
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 12 – May 26
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 11 – Aug 25
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 22 – Oct 27
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 5) and first fall frost (Oct 6) 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 53581 came on Mar 30 — 15 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 14).

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 Wisconsin

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

Trees 48

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 93

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 191

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican licorice4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican lotus3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −36 °FAmerican pokeweed7 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Grasses 158

American 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 °FBebb's sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Vines 5

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Fsummer grape30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °FVirginia creeper1 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −28 °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 Richland Center, WI.

Soil in Richland Center, WI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 53581 is Fivepoints — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.2slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Fivepoints silt loam, 12 to 20 percent slopes, moderately eroded.

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 53581; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Richland Center, WI

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low8 °Faverage low, January
Hot days9days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights166nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,479base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 24 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 57 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation39.5 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall40 inper year; 76 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 27 °F, low 8 °F 27°8° JanFebruary: average high 32 °F, low 11 °F 32°11° FebMarch: average high 44 °F, low 22 °F 44°22° MarApril: average high 57 °F, low 33 °F 57°33° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 45 °F 69°45° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 56 °F 78°56° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 60 °F 82°60° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 57 °F 80°57° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 49 °F 73°49° SepOctober: average high 60 °F, low 37 °F 60°37° OctNovember: average high 45 °F, low 26 °F 45°26° NovDecember: average high 32 °F, low 15 °F 32°15° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″2″4″6″January: 1.26 in precipitation, 11.3 in snowfall 1.3❄11 JanFebruary: 1.11 in precipitation, 9.8 in snowfall 1.1❄10 FebMarch: 2.04 in precipitation, 5 in snowfall 2.0❄5 MarApril: 4.10 in precipitation, 1.1 in snowfall 4.1❄1 AprMay: 4.68 in precipitation 4.7 MayJune: 6.03 in precipitation 6.0 JunJuly: 5.02 in precipitation 5.0 JulAugust: 4.92 in precipitation 4.9 AugSeptember: 3.92 in precipitation 3.9 SepOctober: 2.96 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.0 OctNovember: 1.99 in precipitation, 2.4 in snowfall 2.0❄2 NovDecember: 1.50 in precipitation, 10.7 in snowfall 1.5❄11 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Richland Center, WI (4 mi away); precipitation: Richland Center, WI (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

535844b
Sextonville, WI · 9 mi
539245a
Cazenovia, WI · 11 mi
535185a
Blue River, WI · 13 mi
535565a
Lone Rock, WI · 13 mi
546645a
Viola, WI · 14 mi
535735a
Muscoda, WI · 14 mi
539375a
Hillpoint, WI · 14 mi
539425a
Lime Ridge, WI · 14 mi

Wisconsin planting zones →

Questions about 53581

What planting zone is ZIP code 53581?

ZIP code 53581 (Richland Center, WI) 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 Richland Center, WI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 53581 is May 5; after May 19 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Richland Center station.

When is the first frost in Richland Center, WI?

The median first fall frost near 53581 is October 6, giving a median frost-free growing season of 154 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 53581?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 10 – Mar 24 and set transplants outside around May 12 – May 26, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 53581 get?

About 39.5 inches of precipitation a year and 40 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Richland Center station).

How hot do summers get in Richland Center, WI?

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 53581 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Fivepoints at the center of ZIP 53581: silt loam, well drained, pH about 6.2 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Richland Center, WI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 53581 came on Mar 30 in 2026, 15 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 14), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Richland Center, WI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 53581 is 15 h 24 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 53581 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 53581 in zone 4b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 5a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.