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

Planting zone for 81084 — Two Buttes, CO

ZIP code 81084 (Two Buttes, Baca County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is April 30 and the first fall frost October 14.

Where ZIP 81084 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.

Zone6b−5 to 0 °F
Coldest night−20.6 to −17.8 °C
Last frostApr 30
First frostOct 14
2012 zone6a

Was 6a 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 6b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Two Buttes, 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 Two Buttes, CO

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 30median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 12only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 14median — 10% chance by Oct 1
Growing season166 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 19 and returns around October 22.

From the NOAA station Walsh 1 W, CO — 14 miles away, elevation 3,980 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 81084

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 9
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
TomatoesTransplant · May 7 – May 21
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 14 – May 28
BeansSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 19 – Sep 2
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 30 – Nov 4
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 30) and first fall frost (Oct 14) 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 81084 came on Feb 20 — 20 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 12).

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 6b in Colorado

565 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Colorado, and rated by the USDA to survive −5 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6b. 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 252

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 168

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 Two Buttes, CO.

Soil in Two Buttes, CO

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 81084 is Campo — clay loam, well drained.

TextureClay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH7.8slightly alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classPrime farmland if irrigatedUSDA classification

Map unit: Campo clay loam, 0 to 2 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 81084; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Two Buttes, CO

Summer high93 °Faverage high, July
Winter low19 °Faverage low, January
Hot days69days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights143nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,740base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 46 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 34 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation16.6 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 46 °F, low 19 °F 46°19° JanFebruary: average high 50 °F, low 21 °F 50°21° FebMarch: average high 60 °F, low 29 °F 60°29° MarApril: average high 68 °F, low 37 °F 68°37° AprMay: average high 78 °F, low 47 °F 78°47° MayJune: average high 88 °F, low 58 °F 88°58° JunJuly: average high 93 °F, low 63 °F 93°63° JulAugust: average high 90 °F, low 61 °F 90°61° AugSeptember: average high 83 °F, low 53 °F 83°53° SepOctober: average high 70 °F, low 39 °F 70°39° OctNovember: average high 57 °F, low 28 °F 57°28° NovDecember: average high 47 °F, low 20 °F 47°20° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″January: 0.32 in precipitation 0.3 JanFebruary: 0.28 in precipitation 0.3 FebMarch: 0.80 in precipitation 0.8 MarApril: 1.31 in precipitation 1.3 AprMay: 2.01 in precipitation 2.0 MayJune: 2.63 in precipitation 2.6 JunJuly: 3.08 in precipitation 3.1 JulAugust: 2.58 in precipitation 2.6 AugSeptember: 1.43 in precipitation 1.4 SepOctober: 1.20 in precipitation 1.2 OctNovember: 0.42 in precipitation 0.4 NovDecember: 0.50 in precipitation 0.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Walsh 1 W, CO (14 mi away); precipitation: Two Buttes 10.0 Nnw, CO (9 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

810876b
Vilas, CO · 12 mi
810906b
Walsh, CO · 17 mi
810736b
Springfield, CO · 18 mi
810416a
Granada, CO · 20 mi
678626b
Manter, KS · 27 mi
810526a
Lamar, CO · 31 mi
810476a
Holly, CO · 33 mi
810296b
Campo, CO · 34 mi

Colorado planting zones →

Questions about 81084

What planting zone is ZIP code 81084?

ZIP code 81084 (Two Buttes, CO) is in USDA hardiness zone 6b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −5 to 0 °F (−20.6 to −17.8 °C).

When is the last frost in Two Buttes, CO?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 81084 is April 30; after May 12 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Walsh 1 W station.

When is the first frost in Two Buttes, CO?

The median first fall frost near 81084 is October 14, giving a median frost-free growing season of 166 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 81084?

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

How much rain and snow does 81084 get?

About 16.6 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Two Buttes 10.0 Nnw station).

How hot do summers get in Two Buttes, CO?

The average high peaks at 93 °F in July, with about 69 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 81084 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Campo at the center of ZIP 81084: clay loam, well drained, pH about 7.8 (slightly alkaline).

Did spring come early in Two Buttes, CO in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 81084 came on Feb 20 in 2026, 20 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 12), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Two Buttes, CO?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 81084 is 14 h 46 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 81084 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 81084 in zone 6a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.