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

Planting zone for 80835 — Simla, CO

ZIP code 80835 (Simla, Elbert County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 12 and the first fall frost October 2.

Where ZIP 80835 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 12
First frostOct 2
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 Simla, 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 Simla, CO

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 12median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 26only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 2median — 10% chance by Sep 19
Growing season141 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 2 and returns around October 11.

From the NOAA station Matheson 8 Se, CO — 11 miles away, elevation 5,830 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 80835

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 21
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 21 – May 5
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
TomatoesTransplant · May 19 – Jun 2
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 26 – Jun 9
BeansSow outdoors · May 19 – Jun 2
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 19 – Jun 2
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 19 – Jun 2
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 7 – Aug 21
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 18 – Oct 23
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 12) and first fall frost (Oct 2) 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 80835 came on Mar 1 — 30 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 31).

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 Simla, CO.

Soil in Simla, CO

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 80835 is Terry — fine sandy loam, well drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH7.2neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Terry-Lismas complex.

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 80835; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Simla, CO

Summer high86 °Faverage high, July
Winter low15 °Faverage low, January
Hot days22days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights177nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,436base 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
Precipitation15 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 43 °F, low 15 °F 43°15° JanFebruary: average high 45 °F, low 16 °F 45°16° FebMarch: average high 54 °F, low 24 °F 54°24° MarApril: average high 61 °F, low 30 °F 61°30° AprMay: average high 70 °F, low 40 °F 70°40° MayJune: average high 81 °F, low 50 °F 81°50° JunJuly: average high 86 °F, low 56 °F 86°56° JulAugust: average high 84 °F, low 54 °F 84°54° AugSeptember: average high 77 °F, low 45 °F 77°45° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 34 °F 64°34° OctNovember: average high 50 °F, low 24 °F 50°24° NovDecember: average high 42 °F, low 15 °F 42°15° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″January: 0.27 in precipitation 0.3 JanFebruary: 0.36 in precipitation 0.4 FebMarch: 0.80 in precipitation 0.8 MarApril: 1.37 in precipitation 1.4 AprMay: 2.21 in precipitation 2.2 MayJune: 2.20 in precipitation 2.2 JunJuly: 2.53 in precipitation 2.5 JulAugust: 2.72 in precipitation 2.7 AugSeptember: 0.96 in precipitation 1.0 SepOctober: 0.84 in precipitation 0.8 OctNovember: 0.40 in precipitation 0.4 NovDecember: 0.31 in precipitation 0.3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Matheson 8 Se, CO (11 mi away); precipitation: Limon Wsmo, CO (17 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5b.

808305b
Matheson, CO · 9 mi
801015b
Agate, CO · 14 mi
808415b
Usaf Academy, CO · 14 mi
808285b
Limon, CO · 17 mi
808265b
Limon, CO · 18 mi
808085b
Calhan, CO · 21 mi
801175b
Kiowa, CO · 23 mi
808325b
Ramah, CO · 26 mi

Colorado planting zones →

Questions about 80835

What planting zone is ZIP code 80835?

ZIP code 80835 (Simla, 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 Simla, CO?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 80835 is May 12; after May 26 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Matheson 8 Se station.

When is the first frost in Simla, CO?

The median first fall frost near 80835 is October 2, giving a median frost-free growing season of 141 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 80835?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 17 – Mar 31 and set transplants outside around May 19 – Jun 2, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 80835 get?

About 15 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Limon Wsmo station).

How hot do summers get in Simla, CO?

The average high peaks at 86 °F in July, with about 22 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 80835 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Terry at the center of ZIP 80835: fine sandy loam, well drained, pH about 7.2 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Simla, CO in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 80835 came on Mar 1 in 2026, 30 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 31), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Simla, CO?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 80835 is 14 h 56 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.