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

Planting zone for 80461 — Leadville, CO

ZIP code 80461 (Leadville, Lake County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is June 16 and the first fall frost September 10.

Where ZIP 80461 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.

Zone5a−20 to −15 °F
Coldest night−28.9 to −26.1 °C
Last frostJun 16
First frostSep 10
2012 zone4b

Was 4b 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 5a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Leadville, 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 Leadville, CO

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostJune 16median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 29only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 10median — 10% chance by Aug 24
Growing season85 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around June 2 and returns around September 23.

From the NOAA station Twin Lakes Rsvr, CO — 11 miles away, elevation 9,236 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 80461

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · May 5 – May 19
SpinachSow outdoors · May 5 – May 26
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · May 26 – Jun 9
Onion setsPlant outdoors · May 19 – Jun 2
PotatoesPlant outdoors · May 26 – Jun 9
LettuceSow outdoors · May 19 – Jun 2
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · May 26 – Jun 9
TomatoesStart indoors · Apr 21 – May 5
TomatoesTransplant · Jun 23 – Jul 7
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 30 – Jul 14
BeansSow outdoors · Jun 23 – Jul 7
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Jun 23 – Jul 7
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Jun 23 – Jul 7
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Jul 16 – Jul 30
GarlicPlant cloves · Aug 27 – Oct 1
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Jun 16) and first fall frost (Sep 10) 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 80461 came on May 7 — 14 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (May 21).

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 5a in Colorado

532 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Colorado, and rated by the USDA to survive −20 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5a. 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 95

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 239

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 159

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 Leadville, CO.

Soil in Leadville, CO

The center of ZIP 80461 is mapped as Slickens: 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 80461; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Leadville, CO

Summer high71 °Faverage high, July
Winter low5 °Faverage low, January
Hot days0days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights272nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days350base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 56 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 24 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation13.5 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall157 inper year

Average high and low, by month

−10°0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°32 °FJanuary: average high 30 °F, low 5 °F 30°5° JanFebruary: average high 31 °F, low 6 °F 31°6° FebMarch: average high 37 °F, low 12 °F 37°12° MarApril: average high 43 °F, low 19 °F 43°19° AprMay: average high 54 °F, low 27 °F 54°27° MayJune: average high 66 °F, low 34 °F 66°34° JunJuly: average high 71 °F, low 39 °F 71°39° JulAugust: average high 68 °F, low 38 °F 68°38° AugSeptember: average high 62 °F, low 32 °F 62°32° SepOctober: average high 50 °F, low 24 °F 50°24° OctNovember: average high 37 °F, low 13 °F 37°13° NovDecember: average high 29 °F, low 5 °F 29°5° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″January: 0.99 in precipitation, 18.8 in snowfall 1.0❄19 JanFebruary: 0.91 in precipitation, 20.1 in snowfall 0.9❄20 FebMarch: 1.02 in precipitation, 21.1 in snowfall 1.0❄21 MarApril: 1.36 in precipitation, 26.6 in snowfall 1.4❄27 AprMay: 1.06 in precipitation, 11.8 in snowfall 1.1❄12 MayJune: 0.82 in precipitation, 0.8 in snowfall 0.8❄1 JunJuly: 1.72 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 1.7 JulAugust: 1.87 in precipitation 1.9 AugSeptember: 1.13 in precipitation, 1 in snowfall 1.1❄1 SepOctober: 0.90 in precipitation, 13.8 in snowfall 0.9❄14 OctNovember: 0.86 in precipitation, 25.1 in snowfall 0.9❄25 NovDecember: 0.88 in precipitation, 17.6 in snowfall 0.9❄18 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Leadville Lake Co. Airport, CO (2 mi away); precipitation: Leadville Lake Co. Airport, CO (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

804295a
Climax, CO · 2 mi
812515a
Twin Lakes, CO · 11 mi
804205a
Alma, CO · 11 mi
812285a
Granite, CO · 15 mi
804405b
Fairplay, CO · 15 mi
816425a
Meredith, CO · 16 mi
816495a
Red Cliff, CO · 17 mi
816455a
Minturn, CO · 17 mi

Colorado planting zones →

Questions about 80461

What planting zone is ZIP code 80461?

ZIP code 80461 (Leadville, CO) is in USDA hardiness zone 5a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −20 to −15 °F (−28.9 to −26.1 °C).

When is the last frost in Leadville, CO?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 80461 is June 16; after June 29 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Twin Lakes Rsvr station.

When is the first frost in Leadville, CO?

The median first fall frost near 80461 is September 10, giving a median frost-free growing season of 85 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 80461?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Apr 21 – May 5 and set transplants outside around Jun 23 – Jul 7, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 80461 get?

About 13.5 inches of precipitation a year and 157 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Leadville Lake Co. Airport station).

How hot do summers get in Leadville, CO?

The average high peaks at 71 °F in July, with about 0 days a year at 90 °F or more.

Did spring come early in Leadville, CO in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 80461 came on May 7 in 2026, 14 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (May 21), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Leadville, CO?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 80461 is 14 h 56 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 80461 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 80461 in zone 4b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 5a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.