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

Planting zone for 80549 — Wellington, CO

ZIP code 80549 (Wellington, Larimer County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 31 and the first fall frost September 19.

Where ZIP 80549 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 31
First frostSep 19
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 Wellington, 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 Wellington, CO

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 31median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 15only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 19median — 10% chance by Sep 5
Growing season110 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 16 and returns around September 29.

From the NOAA station Virginia Dale 7 Ene, CO — 12 miles away, elevation 7,015 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 80549

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 19 – May 10
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · May 10 – May 24
Onion setsPlant outdoors · May 3 – May 17
PotatoesPlant outdoors · May 10 – May 24
LettuceSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
TomatoesStart indoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
TomatoesTransplant · Jun 7 – Jun 21
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 14 – Jun 28
BeansSow outdoors · Jun 7 – Jun 21
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Jun 7 – Jun 21
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Jun 7 – Jun 21
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Jul 25 – Aug 8
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 5 – Oct 10
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 31) and first fall frost (Sep 19) 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 80549 came on Mar 1 — 34 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 4).

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 Wellington, CO.

Soil in Wellington, CO

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 80549 is Altvan — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.0neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classPrime farmland if irrigatedUSDA classification

Map unit: Altvan loam, 0 to 3 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 80549; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Wellington, CO

Summer high81 °Faverage high, July
Winter low15 °Faverage low, February
Hot days8days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights203nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,553base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 07 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 14 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation15.5 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 38 °F, low 16 °F 38°16° JanFebruary: average high 39 °F, low 15 °F 39°15° FebMarch: average high 47 °F, low 22 °F 47°22° MarApril: average high 53 °F, low 27 °F 53°27° AprMay: average high 62 °F, low 35 °F 62°35° MayJune: average high 74 °F, low 43 °F 74°43° JunJuly: average high 81 °F, low 50 °F 81°50° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 48 °F 80°48° AugSeptember: average high 72 °F, low 40 °F 72°40° SepOctober: average high 57 °F, low 30 °F 57°30° OctNovember: average high 45 °F, low 22 °F 45°22° NovDecember: average high 38 °F, low 15 °F 38°15° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″January: 0.30 in precipitation 0.3 JanFebruary: 0.39 in precipitation 0.4 FebMarch: 1.09 in precipitation 1.1 MarApril: 1.87 in precipitation 1.9 AprMay: 2.92 in precipitation 2.9 MayJune: 2.16 in precipitation 2.2 JunJuly: 1.79 in precipitation 1.8 JulAugust: 1.57 in precipitation 1.6 AugSeptember: 1.38 in precipitation 1.4 SepOctober: 1.10 in precipitation 1.1 OctNovember: 0.61 in precipitation 0.6 NovDecember: 0.35 in precipitation 0.3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Virginia Dale 7 Ene, CO (12 mi away); precipitation: Wel 4.8 Nw, CO (9 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5b.

805355b
Laporte, CO · 11 mi
806125b
Carr, CO · 12 mi
805245b
Fort Collins, CO · 15 mi
805225b
Fort Collins, CO · 15 mi
820595b
Granite Canon, WY · 15 mi
805365b
Livermore, CO · 18 mi
820015b
Cheyenne, WY · 18 mi
805215b
Fort Collins, CO · 19 mi

Colorado planting zones →

Questions about 80549

What planting zone is ZIP code 80549?

ZIP code 80549 (Wellington, 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 Wellington, CO?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 80549 is May 31; after June 15 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Virginia Dale 7 Ene station.

When is the first frost in Wellington, CO?

The median first fall frost near 80549 is September 19, giving a median frost-free growing season of 110 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 80549?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Apr 5 – Apr 19 and set transplants outside around Jun 7 – Jun 21, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 80549 get?

About 15.5 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Wel 4.8 Nw station).

How hot do summers get in Wellington, CO?

The average high peaks at 81 °F in July, with about 8 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 80549 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Altvan at the center of ZIP 80549: loam, well drained, pH about 7.0 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Wellington, CO in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 80549 came on Mar 1 in 2026, 34 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 4), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Wellington, CO?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 80549 is 15 h 07 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).