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

Planting zone for 80425 — Buffalo Creek, CO

ZIP code 80425 (Buffalo Creek, Jefferson County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 16 and the first fall frost September 29.

Where ZIP 80425 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.

Zone5b−15 to −10 °F
Coldest night−26.1 to −23.3 °C
Last frostMay 16
First frostSep 29
2012 zone5b

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 5b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Buffalo Creek, 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 Buffalo Creek, CO

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 16median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 6only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 29median — 10% chance by Sep 16
Growing season132 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 3 and returns around October 8.

From the NOAA station Strontia Springs Dam, CO — 7 miles away, elevation 5,840 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 80425

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 25
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 25 – May 9
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
TomatoesTransplant · May 23 – Jun 6
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 30 – Jun 13
BeansSow outdoors · May 23 – Jun 6
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 23 – Jun 6
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 23 – Jun 6
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 4 – Aug 18
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 15 – Oct 20
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 16) and first fall frost (Sep 29) 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 80425 came on Mar 13 — 26 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 8).

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 5b in Colorado

546 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Colorado, and rated by the USDA to survive −15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 27

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 98

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 246

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 163

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 3

riverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °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 Buffalo Creek, CO.

Soil in Buffalo Creek, CO

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 80425 is Sphinx — slightly decomposed plant material, somewhat excessively drained.

TextureSlightly decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH5.6moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat excessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter85%high
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Rock outcrop-Sphinx complex, 15 to 80 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 80425; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Buffalo Creek, CO

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low14 °Faverage low, January
Hot days19days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights207nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,108base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 57 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 23 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation20.4 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall86 inper year; 86 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 43 °F, low 14 °F 43°14° JanFebruary: average high 46 °F, low 15 °F 46°15° FebMarch: average high 54 °F, low 22 °F 54°22° MarApril: average high 59 °F, low 29 °F 59°29° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 38 °F 68°38° MayJune: average high 79 °F, low 47 °F 79°47° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 54 °F 84°54° JulAugust: average high 83 °F, low 52 °F 83°52° AugSeptember: average high 76 °F, low 43 °F 76°43° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 31 °F 64°31° OctNovember: average high 51 °F, low 23 °F 51°23° NovDecember: average high 42 °F, low 14 °F 42°14° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″January: 0.82 in precipitation, 12.3 in snowfall 0.8❄12 JanFebruary: 0.90 in precipitation, 13.2 in snowfall 0.9❄13 FebMarch: 2.00 in precipitation, 16 in snowfall 2.0❄16 MarApril: 2.92 in precipitation, 13.9 in snowfall 2.9❄14 AprMay: 2.56 in precipitation, 1.6 in snowfall 2.6❄2 MayJune: 1.89 in precipitation 1.9 JunJuly: 2.03 in precipitation 2.0 JulAugust: 2.22 in precipitation 2.2 AugSeptember: 1.57 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 1.6❄1 SepOctober: 1.44 in precipitation, 4.6 in snowfall 1.4❄5 OctNovember: 1.10 in precipitation, 9.2 in snowfall 1.1❄9 NovDecember: 0.90 in precipitation, 14.4 in snowfall 0.9❄14 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Strontia Springs Dam, CO (7 mi away); precipitation: Strontia Springs Dam, CO (7 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.

804705b
Pine, CO · 7 mi
801355b
Sedalia, CO · 7 mi
801636a
Littleton, CO · 11 mi
804335b
Conifer, CO · 11 mi
801626a
Littleton, CO · 12 mi
804375b
Evergreen, CO · 12 mi
801255b
Littleton, CO · 12 mi
801275b
Littleton, CO · 13 mi

Colorado planting zones →

Questions about 80425

What planting zone is ZIP code 80425?

ZIP code 80425 (Buffalo Creek, CO) is in USDA hardiness zone 5b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −15 to −10 °F (−26.1 to −23.3 °C).

When is the last frost in Buffalo Creek, CO?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 80425 is May 16; after June 6 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Strontia Springs Dam station.

When is the first frost in Buffalo Creek, CO?

The median first fall frost near 80425 is September 29, giving a median frost-free growing season of 132 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 80425?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 21 – Apr 4 and set transplants outside around May 23 – Jun 6, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 80425 get?

About 20.4 inches of precipitation a year and 86 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Strontia Springs Dam station).

How hot do summers get in Buffalo Creek, CO?

The average high peaks at 84 °F in July, with about 19 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 80425 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Sphinx at the center of ZIP 80425: slightly decomposed plant material, somewhat excessively drained, pH about 5.6 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Buffalo Creek, CO in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 80425 came on Mar 13 in 2026, 26 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 8), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Buffalo Creek, CO?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 80425 is 14 h 57 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.