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

Planting zone for 60463 — Palos Heights, IL

ZIP code 60463 (Palos Heights, Cook County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 10 and the first fall frost November 1.

Where ZIP 60463 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.

Zone6a−10 to −5 °F
Coldest night−23.3 to −20.6 °C
Last frostApr 10
First frostNov 1
2012 zone5b

Was 5b 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 6a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Palos Heights, 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 Palos Heights, IL

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 10median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 26only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 1median — 10% chance by Oct 21
Growing season203 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 1 and returns around November 11.

From the NOAA station Chicago Midway Airport 3sw, IL — 5 miles away, elevation 620 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 60463

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 27 – Mar 20
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 30 – Feb 13
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 20 – Apr 3
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 17 – May 1
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 30 – Feb 13
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 24 – May 8
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 6 – Sep 20
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 18 – Nov 22
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 10) and first fall frost (Nov 1) 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 60463 came on Mar 20 — 14 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 3).

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 6a in Illinois

610 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Illinois, and rated by the USDA to survive −10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 78

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 108

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 220

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 178

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 9

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fcatbird grape30 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −13 °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 °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 Palos Heights, IL.

Soil in Palos Heights, IL

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 60463 is Drummer — silty clay loam, poorly drained.

TextureSilty clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH6.8neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter5.5%high
Hydrologic groupB/Dmoderate when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Drummer-Barrington-Mundelein complex, 1 to 6 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 60463; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Palos Heights, IL

Summer high85 °Faverage high, July
Winter low20 °Faverage low, January
Hot days21days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights108nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,592base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 12 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 09 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation41.2 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 33 °F, low 20 °F 33°20° JanFebruary: average high 37 °F, low 23 °F 37°23° FebMarch: average high 48 °F, low 32 °F 48°32° MarApril: average high 60 °F, low 42 °F 60°42° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 52 °F 72°52° MayJune: average high 81 °F, low 63 °F 81°63° JunJuly: average high 85 °F, low 68 °F 85°68° JulAugust: average high 83 °F, low 67 °F 83°67° AugSeptember: average high 77 °F, low 59 °F 77°59° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 47 °F 64°47° OctNovember: average high 50 °F, low 35 °F 50°35° NovDecember: average high 38 °F, low 25 °F 38°25° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.31 in precipitation 2.3 JanFebruary: 2.16 in precipitation 2.2 FebMarch: 2.59 in precipitation 2.6 MarApril: 4.11 in precipitation 4.1 AprMay: 4.62 in precipitation 4.6 MayJune: 4.43 in precipitation 4.4 JunJuly: 4.54 in precipitation 4.5 JulAugust: 4.39 in precipitation 4.4 AugSeptember: 3.42 in precipitation 3.4 SepOctober: 3.63 in precipitation 3.6 OctNovember: 2.77 in precipitation 2.8 NovDecember: 2.24 in precipitation 2.2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Chicago Midway Airport 3sw, IL (5 mi away); precipitation: Palos Park 1.3 Sw, IL (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6a.

604826a
Worth, IL · 2 mi
604186a
Crestwood, IL · 3 mi
604156a
Chicago Ridge, IL · 3 mi
608036a
Alsip, IL · 3 mi
604656a
Palos Hills, IL · 3 mi
604626a
Orland Park, IL · 4 mi
604456a
Midlothian, IL · 4 mi
604646a
Palos Park, IL · 4 mi

Illinois planting zones →

Questions about 60463

What planting zone is ZIP code 60463?

ZIP code 60463 (Palos Heights, IL) is in USDA hardiness zone 6a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −10 to −5 °F (−23.3 to −20.6 °C).

When is the last frost in Palos Heights, IL?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 60463 is April 10; after April 26 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Chicago Midway Airport 3sw station.

When is the first frost in Palos Heights, IL?

The median first fall frost near 60463 is November 1, giving a median frost-free growing season of 203 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 60463?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 13 – Feb 27 and set transplants outside around Apr 17 – May 1, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 60463 get?

About 41.2 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Palos Park 1.3 Sw station).

How hot do summers get in Palos Heights, IL?

The average high peaks at 85 °F in July, with about 21 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 60463 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Drummer at the center of ZIP 60463: silty clay loam, poorly drained, pH about 6.8 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Palos Heights, IL in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 60463 came on Mar 20 in 2026, 14 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 3), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Palos Heights, IL?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 60463 is 15 h 12 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 60463 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 60463 in zone 5b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.