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

Planting zone for 62761 — Springfield, IL

ZIP code 62761 (Springfield, Sangamon County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 14 and the first fall frost October 20.

Where ZIP 62761 is

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 14
First frostOct 20
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 Springfield, 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 Springfield, IL

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 14median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 29only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 20median — 10% chance by Oct 5
Growing season187 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 3 and returns around October 30.

From the NOAA station Springfield Capital Airport, IL — 7 miles away, elevation 594 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 62761

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 3 – Mar 24
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 3 – Feb 17
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 24 – Apr 7
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 17 – Mar 3
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 21 – May 5
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 3 – Feb 17
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 28 – May 12
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 25 – Sep 8
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 6 – Nov 10
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 14) and first fall frost (Oct 20) 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 62761 came on Mar 11 — 16 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 27).

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 Springfield, IL.

Soil in Springfield, IL

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 62761 is Middletown — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.7neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Middletown silt loam, 2 to 5 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 62761; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Springfield, IL

Summer high87 °Faverage high, July
Winter low20 °Faverage low, January
Hot days28days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights111nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,874base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 00 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 20 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation39.6 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 36 °F, low 20 °F 36°20° JanFebruary: average high 41 °F, low 24 °F 41°24° FebMarch: average high 53 °F, low 33 °F 53°33° MarApril: average high 66 °F, low 43 °F 66°43° AprMay: average high 76 °F, low 54 °F 76°54° MayJune: average high 84 °F, low 63 °F 84°63° JunJuly: average high 87 °F, low 66 °F 87°66° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 64 °F 85°64° AugSeptember: average high 80 °F, low 56 °F 80°56° SepOctober: average high 67 °F, low 45 °F 67°45° OctNovember: average high 53 °F, low 34 °F 53°34° NovDecember: average high 41 °F, low 25 °F 41°25° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.16 in precipitation 2.2 JanFebruary: 2.02 in precipitation 2.0 FebMarch: 2.73 in precipitation 2.7 MarApril: 4.09 in precipitation 4.1 AprMay: 4.71 in precipitation 4.7 MayJune: 4.46 in precipitation 4.5 JunJuly: 4.36 in precipitation 4.4 JulAugust: 3.38 in precipitation 3.4 AugSeptember: 3.20 in precipitation 3.2 SepOctober: 3.36 in precipitation 3.4 OctNovember: 2.93 in precipitation 2.9 NovDecember: 2.25 in precipitation 2.3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Springfield Capital Airport, IL (7 mi away); precipitation: Riverton 1.9 W, IL (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6a.

627166a
Springfield, IL · <1 mi
625616a
Riverton, IL · 2 mi
627086a
Springfield, IL · 4 mi
626846a
Sherman, IL · 5 mi
625206a
Dawson, IL · 5 mi
627026a
Springfield, IL · 6 mi
627076a
Springfield, IL · 6 mi
627056a
Springfield, IL · 6 mi

All 35 ZIP codes in Springfield → · Illinois planting zones →

Questions about 62761

What planting zone is ZIP code 62761?

ZIP code 62761 (Springfield, 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 Springfield, IL?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 62761 is April 14; after April 29 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Springfield Capital Airport station.

When is the first frost in Springfield, IL?

The median first fall frost near 62761 is October 20, giving a median frost-free growing season of 187 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 62761?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 17 – Mar 3 and set transplants outside around Apr 21 – May 5, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 62761 get?

About 39.6 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Riverton 1.9 W station).

How hot do summers get in Springfield, 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 62761 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Middletown at the center of ZIP 62761: silt loam, well drained, pH about 6.7 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Springfield, IL in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 62761 came on Mar 11 in 2026, 16 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 27), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Springfield, IL?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 62761 is 15 h 00 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 62761 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 62761 in zone 5b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.