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

Planting zone for 60169 — Hoffman Estates, IL

ZIP code 60169 (Hoffman Estates, Cook County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 30 and the first fall frost October 13.

Where ZIP 60169 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.

Zone5b−15 to −10 °F
Coldest night−26.1 to −23.3 °C
Last frostApr 30
First frostOct 13
2012 zone5b

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 5b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Hoffman Estates, IL…

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 Hoffman Estates, IL

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 30median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 16only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 13median — 10% chance by Sep 29
Growing season163 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 20 and returns around October 24.

From the NOAA station Streamwood, IL — 4 miles away, elevation 820 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 60169

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 9
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
TomatoesTransplant · May 7 – May 21
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 14 – May 28
BeansSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 18 – Sep 1
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 29 – Nov 3
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 30) and first fall frost (Oct 13) 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 60169 came on Mar 22 — 17 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 8).

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 5b in Illinois

584 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Illinois, and rated by the USDA to survive −15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 77

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 102

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 holly40 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −20 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 210

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 173

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 °FBailey's sedge2.1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °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 Hoffman Estates, IL.

Soil in Hoffman Estates, IL

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 60169 is Orthents — silty clay, moderately well drained.

TextureSilty clayholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH6.7neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Orthents, clayey, undulating.

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 60169; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Hoffman Estates, IL

Summer high87 °Faverage high, July
Winter low14 °Faverage low, January
Hot days28days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights153nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,102base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 15 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 06 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation37.1 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 32 °F, low 14 °F 32°14° JanFebruary: average high 37 °F, low 16 °F 37°16° FebMarch: average high 48 °F, low 25 °F 48°25° MarApril: average high 61 °F, low 35 °F 61°35° AprMay: average high 73 °F, low 47 °F 73°47° MayJune: average high 83 °F, low 57 °F 83°57° JunJuly: average high 87 °F, low 61 °F 87°61° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 60 °F 85°60° AugSeptember: average high 78 °F, low 51 °F 78°51° SepOctober: average high 65 °F, low 40 °F 65°40° OctNovember: average high 50 °F, low 29 °F 50°29° NovDecember: average high 38 °F, low 19 °F 38°19° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 1.73 in precipitation 1.7 JanFebruary: 1.85 in precipitation 1.9 FebMarch: 2.18 in precipitation 2.2 MarApril: 3.56 in precipitation 3.6 AprMay: 4.30 in precipitation 4.3 MayJune: 4.29 in precipitation 4.3 JunJuly: 3.93 in precipitation 3.9 JulAugust: 4.60 in precipitation 4.6 AugSeptember: 3.30 in precipitation 3.3 SepOctober: 3.23 in precipitation 3.2 OctNovember: 2.30 in precipitation 2.3 NovDecember: 1.88 in precipitation 1.9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Streamwood, IL (4 mi away); precipitation: Hoffman Estates 1.6 Se, IL (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5b.

601945b
Schaumburg, IL · 1 mi
601955b
Schaumburg, IL · 2 mi
601595b
Schaumburg, IL · 2 mi
601685b
Schaumburg, IL · 2 mi
601965b
Schaumburg, IL · 2 mi
601935b
Schaumburg, IL · 3 mi
601735b
Schaumburg, IL · 3 mi
601075b
Streamwood, IL · 4 mi

All 2 ZIP codes in Hoffman Estates → · Illinois planting zones →

Questions about 60169

What planting zone is ZIP code 60169?

ZIP code 60169 (Hoffman Estates, IL) is in USDA hardiness zone 5b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −15 to −10 °F (−26.1 to −23.3 °C).

When is the last frost in Hoffman Estates, IL?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 60169 is April 30; after May 16 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Streamwood station.

When is the first frost in Hoffman Estates, IL?

The median first fall frost near 60169 is October 13, giving a median frost-free growing season of 163 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 60169?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 5 – Mar 19 and set transplants outside around May 7 – May 21, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 60169 get?

About 37.1 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Hoffman Estates 1.6 Se station).

How hot do summers get in Hoffman Estates, IL?

The average high peaks at 87 °F in July, with about 28 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 60169 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Orthents at the center of ZIP 60169: silty clay, moderately well drained, pH about 6.7 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Hoffman Estates, IL in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 60169 came on Mar 22 in 2026, 17 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 8), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Hoffman Estates, IL?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 60169 is 15 h 15 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).