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

Planting zone for 80016 — Aurora, CO

ZIP code 80016 (Aurora, Arapahoe County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is May 9 and the first fall frost October 3.

Where ZIP 80016 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 frostMay 9
First frostOct 3
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 Aurora, CO…

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 Aurora, CO

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 9median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 23only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 3median — 10% chance by Sep 21
Growing season145 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 29 and returns around October 12.

From the NOAA station Parker, CO — 6 miles away, elevation 5,906 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 80016

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 18
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 18 – May 2
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
TomatoesTransplant · May 16 – May 30
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 23 – Jun 6
BeansSow outdoors · May 16 – May 30
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 16 – May 30
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 16 – May 30
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 8 – Aug 22
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 19 – Oct 24
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 9) and first fall frost (Oct 3) 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 80016 came on Feb 20 — 30 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 22).

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 Colorado

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

Trees 28

American elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °Fbalsam poplar80 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −79 °Fblack locust60 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −37 °Fblack walnut100 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °Fblack willow100 ft · blooms early spring · high shade tolerance · to −58 °Fblue spruce100 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Shrubs 104

alderleaf mountain mahogany15 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −41 °Falpine laurel1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −28 °FAmerican black currant3 ft · blooms early spring · to −46 °FAmerican plum24 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Fantelope bitterbrush6 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −36 °FApache plume6 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −23 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 251

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine aster0.3 ft · blooms early summer · medium shade tolerance · to −28 °Falpine bistort1 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine mountainsorrel1 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −43 °FAmerican alpine speedwell1 ft · blooms summer · medium shade tolerance · to −28 °FAmerican bistort1.5 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Grasses 167

Alaska oniongrass3 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Falkali cordgrass3 ft · blooms late summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falkali sacaton3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °FAlpine Meadow-Foxtail0.5 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Falpine timothy1.4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −43 °Fanalogue sedge1.5 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Vines 4

riverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Ftrumpet creeper2 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −13 °FVirginia creeper1 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −28 °Fwestern white clematis1 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °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 Aurora, CO.

Soil in Aurora, CO

The center of ZIP 80016 is mapped as Loamy alluvial land: built-over ground without natural soil data. Garden soil here is usually imported or disturbed — test before you plant.

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 80016; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Aurora, CO

Summer high88 °Faverage high, July
Winter low14 °Faverage low, December
Hot days35days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights177nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,541base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 58 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 22 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation21.7 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 47 °F, low 15 °F 47°15° JanFebruary: average high 49 °F, low 17 °F 49°17° FebMarch: average high 57 °F, low 24 °F 57°24° MarApril: average high 64 °F, low 31 °F 64°31° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 40 °F 72°40° MayJune: average high 83 °F, low 50 °F 83°50° JunJuly: average high 88 °F, low 55 °F 88°55° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 54 °F 85°54° AugSeptember: average high 79 °F, low 45 °F 79°45° SepOctober: average high 67 °F, low 32 °F 67°32° OctNovember: average high 55 °F, low 22 °F 55°22° NovDecember: average high 47 °F, low 14 °F 47°14° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″January: 0.72 in precipitation 0.7 JanFebruary: 0.90 in precipitation 0.9 FebMarch: 1.78 in precipitation 1.8 MarApril: 2.49 in precipitation 2.5 AprMay: 2.16 in precipitation 2.2 MayJune: 2.64 in precipitation 2.6 JunJuly: 3.00 in precipitation 3.0 JulAugust: 2.82 in precipitation 2.8 AugSeptember: 1.62 in precipitation 1.6 SepOctober: 1.63 in precipitation 1.6 OctNovember: 1.03 in precipitation 1.0 NovDecember: 0.94 in precipitation 0.9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Parker, CO (6 mi away); precipitation: Buckley AFB 10 Sse, CO (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

800156a
Aurora, CO · 4 mi
800136a
Aurora, CO · 5 mi
801385b
Parker, CO · 6 mi
801126a
Englewood, CO · 8 mi
800186a
Aurora, CO · 8 mi
800146a
Aurora, CO · 8 mi
800176a
Aurora, CO · 8 mi
801345b
Parker, CO · 8 mi

All 17 ZIP codes in Aurora → · Colorado planting zones →

Questions about 80016

What planting zone is ZIP code 80016?

ZIP code 80016 (Aurora, CO) 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 Aurora, CO?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 80016 is May 9; after May 23 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Parker station.

When is the first frost in Aurora, CO?

The median first fall frost near 80016 is October 3, giving a median frost-free growing season of 145 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 80016?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 14 – Mar 28 and set transplants outside around May 16 – May 30, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 80016 get?

About 21.7 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Buckley AFB 10 Sse station).

How hot do summers get in Aurora, CO?

The average high peaks at 88 °F in July, with about 35 days a year at 90 °F or more.

Did spring come early in Aurora, CO in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 80016 came on Feb 20 in 2026, 30 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 22), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Aurora, CO?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 80016 is 14 h 58 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 80016 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 80016 in zone 5b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.