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

Planting zone for 62839 — Flora, IL

ZIP code 62839 (Flora, Clay County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is April 9 and the first fall frost October 24.

Where ZIP 62839 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.

Zone6b−5 to 0 °F
Coldest night−20.6 to −17.8 °C
Last frostApr 9
First frostOct 24
2012 zone6a

Was 6a 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 6b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Flora, 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 Flora, IL

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 9median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 23only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 24median — 10% chance by Oct 11
Growing season198 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 31 and returns around November 3.

From the NOAA station Flora, IL — within 1 mile, elevation 482 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 62839

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 26 – Mar 19
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 29 – Feb 12
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 19 – Apr 2
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 12 – Feb 26
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 29 – Feb 12
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 23 – May 7
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 29 – Sep 12
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 10 – Nov 14
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 9) and first fall frost (Oct 24) 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 62839 came on Mar 8 — 10 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 18).

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 6b in Illinois

620 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Illinois, and rated by the USDA to survive −5 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 80

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 222

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 182

American beachgrass2.5 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °Farctic brome3 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fautumn bluegrass1.5 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °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 °F

Vines 11

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 °Fgraybark grape50 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °Fheartleaf peppervine2 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −8 °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 Flora, IL.

Soil in Flora, IL

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 62839 is Wynoose — silt loam, poorly drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.6neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Wynoose silt loam, 0 to 2 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 62839; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Flora, IL

Summer high89 °Faverage high, July
Winter low21 °Faverage low, January
Hot days45days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights109nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,018base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 52 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 28 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation48 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall12 inper year

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 39 °F, low 21 °F 39°21° JanFebruary: average high 44 °F, low 25 °F 44°25° FebMarch: average high 55 °F, low 33 °F 55°33° MarApril: average high 67 °F, low 44 °F 67°44° AprMay: average high 77 °F, low 54 °F 77°54° MayJune: average high 86 °F, low 63 °F 86°63° JunJuly: average high 89 °F, low 66 °F 89°66° JulAugust: average high 88 °F, low 63 °F 88°63° AugSeptember: average high 82 °F, low 55 °F 82°55° SepOctober: average high 69 °F, low 44 °F 69°44° OctNovember: average high 55 °F, low 34 °F 55°34° NovDecember: average high 43 °F, low 26 °F 43°26° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 2.95 in precipitation, 3.1 in snowfall 3.0❄3 JanFebruary: 2.54 in precipitation, 3.2 in snowfall 2.5❄3 FebMarch: 3.83 in precipitation, 0.8 in snowfall 3.8❄1 MarApril: 5.31 in precipitation 5.3 AprMay: 5.09 in precipitation 5.1 MayJune: 5.86 in precipitation 5.9 JunJuly: 4.19 in precipitation 4.2 JulAugust: 3.73 in precipitation 3.7 AugSeptember: 3.34 in precipitation 3.3 SepOctober: 3.67 in precipitation 3.7 OctNovember: 4.23 in precipitation 4.2 NovDecember: 3.26 in precipitation, 4.5 in snowfall 3.3❄5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Flora, IL (within 1 mile); precipitation: Flora, IL (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6b.

628786b
Rinard, IL · 6 mi
628246b
Clay City, IL · 8 mi
628996b
Xenia, IL · 9 mi
628796b
Sailor Springs, IL · 10 mi
628236b
Cisne, IL · 10 mi
628586b
Louisville, IL · 10 mi
628506b
Johnsonville, IL · 13 mi
628686b
Noble, IL · 14 mi

Illinois planting zones →

Questions about 62839

What planting zone is ZIP code 62839?

ZIP code 62839 (Flora, IL) is in USDA hardiness zone 6b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −5 to 0 °F (−20.6 to −17.8 °C).

When is the last frost in Flora, IL?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 62839 is April 9; after April 23 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Flora station.

When is the first frost in Flora, IL?

The median first fall frost near 62839 is October 24, giving a median frost-free growing season of 198 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 62839?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 12 – Feb 26 and set transplants outside around Apr 16 – Apr 30, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 62839 get?

About 48 inches of precipitation a year and 12 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Flora station).

How hot do summers get in Flora, IL?

The average high peaks at 89 °F in July, with about 45 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 62839 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Wynoose at the center of ZIP 62839: silt loam, poorly drained, pH about 6.6 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Flora, IL in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 62839 came on Mar 8 in 2026, 10 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 18), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Flora, IL?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 62839 is 14 h 52 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 62839 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 62839 in zone 6a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.