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

Planting zone for 54555 — Phillips, WI

ZIP code 54555 (Phillips, Price County) is in USDA zone 4a: the coldest winter night averages −30 to −25 °F. The median last spring frost is May 15 and the first fall frost September 28.

Where ZIP 54555 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.

Zone4a−30 to −25 °F
Coldest night−34.4 to −31.7 °C
Last frostMay 15
First frostSep 28
2012 zone3b

Was 3b 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 4a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Phillips, 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 Phillips, WI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 15median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 30only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 28median — 10% chance by Sep 16
Growing season134 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 3 and returns around October 7.

From the NOAA station Park Falls Dnr Hq, WI — 13 miles away, elevation 1,526 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 54555

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 24
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 24 – May 8
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
TomatoesTransplant · May 22 – Jun 5
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 29 – Jun 12
BeansSow outdoors · May 22 – Jun 5
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 22 – Jun 5
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 22 – Jun 5
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 3 – Aug 17
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 14 – Oct 19
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 15) and first fall frost (Sep 28) 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 54555 came on Apr 22 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 23).

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 4a in Wisconsin

419 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Wisconsin, and rated by the USDA to survive −30 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 4a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 45

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 71

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 157

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 133

arctic 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 °FBebb's sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBicknell's sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbig bluestem6 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −46 °F

Vines 3

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 °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 Phillips, WI.

Soil in Phillips, WI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 54555 is Markey — 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: Haplosaprists peats and mucks, 0 to 1 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 54555; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Phillips, WI

Summer high78 °Faverage high, July
Winter low2 °Faverage low, January
Hot days2days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights185nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,887base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 43 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 40 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation34 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

−10°0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 20 °F, low 2 °F 20°2° JanFebruary: average high 25 °F, low 4 °F 25°4° FebMarch: average high 37 °F, low 16 °F 37°16° MarApril: average high 51 °F, low 29 °F 51°29° AprMay: average high 65 °F, low 43 °F 65°43° MayJune: average high 74 °F, low 52 °F 74°52° JunJuly: average high 78 °F, low 56 °F 78°56° JulAugust: average high 76 °F, low 55 °F 76°55° AugSeptember: average high 67 °F, low 47 °F 67°47° SepOctober: average high 53 °F, low 34 °F 53°34° OctNovember: average high 38 °F, low 22 °F 38°22° NovDecember: average high 25 °F, low 10 °F 25°10° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 1.21 in precipitation 1.2 JanFebruary: 1.05 in precipitation 1.1 FebMarch: 1.76 in precipitation 1.8 MarApril: 2.97 in precipitation 3.0 AprMay: 3.73 in precipitation 3.7 MayJune: 4.36 in precipitation 4.4 JunJuly: 4.14 in precipitation 4.1 JulAugust: 3.82 in precipitation 3.8 AugSeptember: 3.91 in precipitation 3.9 SepOctober: 3.52 in precipitation 3.5 OctNovember: 1.99 in precipitation 2.0 NovDecember: 1.53 in precipitation 1.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Park Falls Dnr Hq, WI (13 mi away); precipitation: Park Falls Dnr Hq, WI (13 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 4a.

545244a
Fifield, WI · 5 mi
545524a
Park Falls, WI · 11 mi
545134a
Brantwood, WI · 16 mi
545564a
Prentice, WI · 16 mi
545154a
Catawba, WI · 19 mi
545144a
Butternut, WI · 20 mi
545374a
Kennan, WI · 21 mi
545304a
Hawkins, WI · 25 mi

Wisconsin planting zones →

Questions about 54555

What planting zone is ZIP code 54555?

ZIP code 54555 (Phillips, WI) is in USDA hardiness zone 4a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −30 to −25 °F (−34.4 to −31.7 °C).

When is the last frost in Phillips, WI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 54555 is May 15; after May 30 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Park Falls Dnr Hq station.

When is the first frost in Phillips, WI?

The median first fall frost near 54555 is September 28, giving a median frost-free growing season of 134 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 54555?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 20 – Apr 3 and set transplants outside around May 22 – Jun 5, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 54555 get?

About 34 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Park Falls Dnr Hq station).

How hot do summers get in Phillips, WI?

The average high peaks at 78 °F in July, with about 2 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 54555 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Markey at the center of ZIP 54555: muck, very poorly drained.

Did spring come early in Phillips, WI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 54555 came on Apr 22 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 23), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Phillips, WI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 54555 is 15 h 43 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 54555 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 54555 in zone 3b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 4a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.