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

Planting zone for 64161 — Kansas City, MO

ZIP code 64161 (Kansas City, Clay County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is April 10 and the first fall frost October 27.

Where ZIP 64161 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 10
First frostOct 27
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 Kansas City, MO…

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 Kansas City, MO

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 frostOctober 27median — 10% chance by Oct 14
Growing season198 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 31 and returns around November 5.

From the NOAA station Independence, MO — 7 miles away, elevation 984 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 64161

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 1 – Sep 15
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 13 – Nov 17
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 10) and first fall frost (Oct 27) 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 64161 came on Feb 25 — 19 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 16).

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 Missouri

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

Trees 70

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 °Fbald cypress130 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −18 °F

Shrubs 83

alternateleaf dogwood25 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °FAmerican beautyberry6 ft · blooms early summer · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °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 °FAmerican hornbeam30 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −34 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 192

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 157

alkali sacaton3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican cupscale3 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −18 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid 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 °Fblister sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Vines 12

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 Kansas City, MO.

Soil in Kansas City, MO

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 64161 is Parkville — silty clay, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureSilty clayholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH6.6neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter2.7%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Parkville silty clay, 0 to 2 percent slopes, occasionally flooded.

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 64161; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Kansas City, MO

Summer high87 °Faverage high, July
Winter low19 °Faverage low, January
Hot days31days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights113nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,848base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 55 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 25 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation41.1 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 38 °F, low 19 °F 38°19° JanFebruary: average high 43 °F, low 23 °F 43°23° FebMarch: average high 55 °F, low 33 °F 55°33° MarApril: average high 65 °F, low 43 °F 65°43° AprMay: average high 74 °F, low 54 °F 74°54° MayJune: average high 83 °F, low 64 °F 83°64° JunJuly: average high 87 °F, low 68 °F 87°68° JulAugust: average high 86 °F, low 66 °F 86°66° AugSeptember: average high 78 °F, low 57 °F 78°57° SepOctober: average high 67 °F, low 45 °F 67°45° OctNovember: average high 53 °F, low 34 °F 53°34° NovDecember: average high 42 °F, low 24 °F 42°24° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 1.26 in precipitation 1.3 JanFebruary: 1.55 in precipitation 1.6 FebMarch: 2.50 in precipitation 2.5 MarApril: 4.19 in precipitation 4.2 AprMay: 5.63 in precipitation 5.6 MayJune: 5.25 in precipitation 5.3 JunJuly: 4.81 in precipitation 4.8 JulAugust: 4.62 in precipitation 4.6 AugSeptember: 4.14 in precipitation 4.1 SepOctober: 3.35 in precipitation 3.4 OctNovember: 2.14 in precipitation 2.1 NovDecember: 1.66 in precipitation 1.7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Independence, MO (7 mi away); precipitation: Pleasant Valley 0.8 Nw, MO (5 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6b.

641626b
Kansas City, MO · 2 mi
640546b
Independence, MO · 3 mi
640536b
Independence, MO · 4 mi
640506b
Independence, MO · 4 mi
641206b
Kansas City, MO · 4 mi
641176b
Kansas City, MO · 4 mi
641256b
Kansas City, MO · 4 mi
641236b
Kansas City, MO · 5 mi

All 71 ZIP codes in Kansas City → · Missouri planting zones →

Questions about 64161

What planting zone is ZIP code 64161?

ZIP code 64161 (Kansas City, MO) 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 Kansas City, MO?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 64161 is April 10; after April 26 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Independence station.

When is the first frost in Kansas City, MO?

The median first fall frost near 64161 is October 27, giving a median frost-free growing season of 198 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 64161?

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 64161 get?

About 41.1 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Pleasant Valley 0.8 Nw station).

How hot do summers get in Kansas City, MO?

The average high peaks at 87 °F in July, with about 31 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 64161 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Parkville at the center of ZIP 64161: silty clay, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 6.6 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Kansas City, MO in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 64161 came on Feb 25 in 2026, 19 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 16), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Kansas City, MO?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 64161 is 14 h 55 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 64161 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 64161 in zone 6a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.