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

Planting zone for 54817 — Birchwood, WI

ZIP code 54817 (Birchwood, Washburn County) is in USDA zone 4a: the coldest winter night averages −30 to −25 °F. The median last spring frost is May 9 and the first fall frost September 29.

Where ZIP 54817 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 9
First frostSep 29
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 Birchwood, 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 Birchwood, WI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 9median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 27only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 29median — 10% chance by Sep 14
Growing season140 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 28 and returns around October 10.

From the NOAA station Weyerhaeuser 1n, WI — 17 miles away, elevation 1,194 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 54817

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 18
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 18 – May 2
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
TomatoesTransplant · May 16 – May 30
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 23 – Jun 6
BeansSow outdoors · May 16 – May 30
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 16 – May 30
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 16 – May 30
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 4 – Aug 18
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 15 – Oct 20
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 9) and first fall frost (Sep 29) 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 54817 came on Apr 18 — 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 21).

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 Birchwood, WI.

Soil in Birchwood, WI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 54817 is Antigo — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.4strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter5%high
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Antigo silt loam, 15 to 35 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 54817; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Birchwood, WI

Summer high79 °Faverage high, July
Winter low2 °Faverage low, January
Hot days3days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights194nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,913base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 43 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 41 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation40.3 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall67 inper year; 121 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

−10°0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 22 °F, low 2 °F 22°2° JanFebruary: average high 27 °F, low 4 °F 27°4° FebMarch: average high 39 °F, low 17 °F 39°17° MarApril: average high 53 °F, low 29 °F 53°29° AprMay: average high 67 °F, low 40 °F 67°40° MayJune: average high 75 °F, low 51 °F 75°51° JunJuly: average high 79 °F, low 55 °F 79°55° JulAugust: average high 77 °F, low 53 °F 77°53° AugSeptember: average high 69 °F, low 46 °F 69°46° SepOctober: average high 55 °F, low 34 °F 55°34° OctNovember: average high 39 °F, low 22 °F 39°22° NovDecember: average high 27 °F, low 10 °F 27°10° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 1.30 in precipitation, 11.3 in snowfall 1.3❄11 JanFebruary: 1.48 in precipitation, 15.6 in snowfall 1.5❄16 FebMarch: 2.24 in precipitation, 12.2 in snowfall 2.2❄12 MarApril: 3.52 in precipitation, 6 in snowfall 3.5❄6 AprMay: 4.62 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 4.6 MayJune: 5.30 in precipitation 5.3 JunJuly: 5.11 in precipitation 5.1 JulAugust: 4.51 in precipitation 4.5 AugSeptember: 4.29 in precipitation 4.3 SepOctober: 3.77 in precipitation, 1.3 in snowfall 3.8❄1 OctNovember: 2.26 in precipitation, 6.5 in snowfall 2.3❄7 NovDecember: 1.89 in precipitation, 14.2 in snowfall 1.9❄14 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Couderay 7 W, WI (9 mi away); precipitation: Couderay 7 W, WI (9 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.

548574a
Mikana, WI · 7 mi
548764a
Stone Lake, WI · 11 mi
548704a
Sarona, WI · 12 mi
548414a
Haugen, WI · 13 mi
548684b
Rice Lake, WI · 14 mi
548954a
Weyerhaeuser, WI · 16 mi
548284a
Couderay, WI · 16 mi
548194b
Bruce, WI · 18 mi

Wisconsin planting zones →

Questions about 54817

What planting zone is ZIP code 54817?

ZIP code 54817 (Birchwood, 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 Birchwood, WI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 54817 is May 9; after May 27 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Weyerhaeuser 1n station.

When is the first frost in Birchwood, WI?

The median first fall frost near 54817 is September 29, giving a median frost-free growing season of 140 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 54817?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 14 – Mar 28 and set transplants outside around May 16 – May 30, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 54817 get?

About 40.3 inches of precipitation a year and 67 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Couderay 7 W station).

How hot do summers get in Birchwood, WI?

The average high peaks at 79 °F in July, with about 3 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 54817 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Antigo at the center of ZIP 54817: silt loam, well drained, pH about 5.4 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Birchwood, WI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 54817 came on Apr 18 in 2026, 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 21), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Birchwood, WI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 54817 is 15 h 43 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 54817 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 54817 in zone 3b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 4a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.