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

Planting zone for 65610 — Billings, MO

ZIP code 65610 (Billings, Christian County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is April 15 and the first fall frost October 23.

Where ZIP 65610 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 15
First frostOct 23
2012 zone6b

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 6b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Billings, 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 Billings, MO

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 15median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 2only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 23median — 10% chance by Oct 11
Growing season189 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 4 and returns around November 1.

From the NOAA station Billings 1sw, MO — 3 miles away, elevation 1,309 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 65610

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 25
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 4 – Feb 18
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 25 – Apr 8
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 22 – May 6
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 4 – Feb 18
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 29 – May 13
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 28 – Sep 11
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 9 – Nov 13
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 15) and first fall frost (Oct 23) 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 65610 came on Feb 18 — 20 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 10).

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 Billings, MO.

Soil in Billings, MO

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 65610 is Scholten — gravelly silt loam, moderately well drained.

TextureGravelly silt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.1slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2.1%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Scholten gravelly silt loam, 3 to 8 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 65610; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Billings, MO

Summer high90 °Faverage high, July
Winter low22 °Faverage low, January
Hot days36days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights112nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,165base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 42 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 37 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation45.8 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall12 inper year; 11 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 45 °F, low 22 °F 45°22° JanFebruary: average high 50 °F, low 25 °F 50°25° FebMarch: average high 59 °F, low 33 °F 59°33° MarApril: average high 69 °F, low 43 °F 69°43° AprMay: average high 76 °F, low 54 °F 76°54° MayJune: average high 85 °F, low 63 °F 85°63° JunJuly: average high 90 °F, low 67 °F 90°67° JulAugust: average high 89 °F, low 65 °F 89°65° AugSeptember: average high 82 °F, low 57 °F 82°57° SepOctober: average high 70 °F, low 45 °F 70°45° OctNovember: average high 58 °F, low 34 °F 58°34° NovDecember: average high 48 °F, low 26 °F 48°26° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 2.57 in precipitation, 4.7 in snowfall 2.6❄5 JanFebruary: 2.40 in precipitation, 2.5 in snowfall 2.4❄3 FebMarch: 3.90 in precipitation, 0.9 in snowfall 3.9❄1 MarApril: 4.53 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 4.5 AprMay: 5.64 in precipitation 5.6 MayJune: 4.44 in precipitation 4.4 JunJuly: 4.01 in precipitation 4.0 JulAugust: 3.52 in precipitation 3.5 AugSeptember: 4.80 in precipitation 4.8 SepOctober: 3.49 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.5 OctNovember: 3.63 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 3.6❄1 NovDecember: 2.85 in precipitation, 3 in snowfall 2.9❄3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Billings 1sw, MO (3 mi away); precipitation: Billings 1sw, MO (3 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

3 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

656316b
Clever, MO · 6 mi
657057a
Marionville, MO · 6 mi
657386b
Republic, MO · 7 mi
656756b
Hurley, MO · 8 mi
656196b
Brookline, MO · 9 mi
656337a
Crane, MO · 10 mi
657146b
Nixa, MO · 11 mi
656647a
Halltown, MO · 12 mi

Missouri planting zones →

Questions about 65610

What planting zone is ZIP code 65610?

ZIP code 65610 (Billings, 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 Billings, MO?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 65610 is April 15; after May 2 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Billings 1sw station.

When is the first frost in Billings, MO?

The median first fall frost near 65610 is October 23, giving a median frost-free growing season of 189 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 65610?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 18 – Mar 4 and set transplants outside around Apr 22 – May 6, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 65610 get?

About 45.8 inches of precipitation a year and 12 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Billings 1sw station).

How hot do summers get in Billings, MO?

The average high peaks at 90 °F in July, with about 36 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 65610 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Scholten at the center of ZIP 65610: gravelly silt loam, moderately well drained, pH about 6.1 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Billings, MO in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 65610 came on Feb 18 in 2026, 20 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 10), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Billings, MO?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 65610 is 14 h 42 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.