What Planting Zones Are in Michigan?
Michigan spans USDA hardiness zones 4a to 7a, where the average coldest winter night ranges from −30 °F to 5 °F (−34.4 °C to −15 °C). Zone 6a covers the most ZIP codes, 55%, and zones 5a to 6b together cover 86% of the state.
- Zone 4a1% · 13 ZIPs
- Zone 4b3% · 38 ZIPs
- Zone 5a11% · 132 ZIPs
- Zone 5b9% · 108 ZIPs
- Zone 6a55% · 640 ZIPs
- Zone 6b19% · 222 ZIPs
- Zone 7a<1% · 1 ZIP
Bars show each zone's share of the 1,154 Michigan ZIP codes in the official 2023 USDA ZIP code table; select a zone for its temperatures and hardy plants.
What Hardiness Zone Are Michigan Cities In?
Detroit is in zone 6b, Grand Rapids is in zone 6a, Warren is in zone 6b and Sterling Heights is in zone 6b. The table lists the zone, winter low and average frost dates for 21 Michigan cities, using the ZIP code nearest each city center.
| City | ZIP | Zone | Winter low | Last frost | First frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit | 48206 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | Apr 27 | Oct 25 |
| Grand Rapids | 49503 | 6a | −10 °F to −5 °F | May 6 | Oct 10 |
| Warren | 48015 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | Apr 21 | Oct 31 |
| Sterling Heights | 48312 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | Apr 30 | Oct 24 |
| Ann Arbor | 48104 | 6a | −10 °F to −5 °F | May 5 | Oct 10 |
| Lansing | 48933 | 6a | −10 °F to −5 °F | May 1 | Oct 13 |
| Dearborn | 48126 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | Apr 27 | Oct 25 |
| Livonia | 48154 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | May 1 | Oct 17 |
| Troy | 48085 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | Apr 26 | Oct 22 |
| Farmington Hills | 48334 | 6a | −10 °F to −5 °F | May 1 | Oct 17 |
| Flint | 48502 | 6a | −10 °F to −5 °F | May 3 | Oct 13 |
| Kalamazoo | 49008 | 6a | −10 °F to −5 °F | Apr 28 | Oct 18 |
| Battle Creek | 49015 | 6a | −10 °F to −5 °F | Apr 30 | Oct 19 |
| Saginaw | 48607 | 6a | −10 °F to −5 °F | Apr 29 | Oct 21 |
| Midland | 48642 | 6a | −10 °F to −5 °F | Apr 29 | Oct 16 |
| Muskegon | 49440 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | Apr 30 | Oct 19 |
| Holland | 49423 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | Apr 28 | Oct 21 |
| Jackson | 49203 | 6a | −10 °F to −5 °F | May 1 | Oct 14 |
| Marquette | 49855 | 5b | −15 °F to −10 °F | May 8 | Oct 21 |
| Sault Ste. Marie | 49783 | 4b | −25 °F to −20 °F | May 9 | Oct 11 |
| Escanaba | 49894 | 5a | −20 °F to −15 °F | May 13 | Oct 7 |
Zone: 2023 USDA ZIP code table for the ZIP code nearest each city's Census center point. Frost dates: 50% (median) dates from the nearest NOAA station, 1991–2020 normals. Cities: the largest Michigan places by 2024 Census population estimates, spread across the state, plus the largest place in each common zone. Large cities can span two half zones.
Which Parts of Michigan Are in Each Zone?
Zone 4a, the coldest Michigan zone, covers 1% of ZIP codes around Iron River, Wakefield and Crystal Falls. Zone 6b, the warmest with towns, covers 19% around Detroit, Warren and Sterling Heights. The table lists the largest places in every zone.
| Zone | Avg. coldest night | Share of ZIPs | Largest places in this zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 4a | −30 °F to −25 °F | 1% (13) | Iron River, Wakefield, Crystal Falls |
| Zone 4b | −25 °F to −20 °F | 3% (38) | Sault Ste. Marie, Iron Mountain, Ishpeming, Kingsford |
| Zone 5a | −20 °F to −15 °F | 11% (132) | Escanaba, Cadillac, Gladstone, Cheboygan |
| Zone 5b | −15 °F to −10 °F | 9% (108) | Marquette, Alpena, Big Rapids, Houghton |
| Zone 6a | −10 °F to −5 °F | 55% (640) | Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, Lansing, Farmington Hills |
| Zone 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | 19% (222) | Detroit, Warren, Sterling Heights, Dearborn |
| Zone 7a | 0 °F to 5 °F | <1% (1) | Rural ZIP codes only |
Places: incorporated places with 1,000+ residents, assigned the zone of the ZIP code nearest their Census center point.
What Do the Hardiness Zones Mean for Michigan Gardeners?
A Michigan gardener in zone 7a sees winter lows about 30 °F milder than one in zone 4a, so a shrub or perennial that thrives in one part of the state can die in another. Choose plants rated to your own ZIP code's zone or colder.
Hardiness zones follow latitude, elevation and large bodies of water rather than state lines. Higher ground and inland valleys that trap cold air usually sit in colder half zones, while cities, coasts and large lakes moderate winter lows. Within Michigan, a plant labelled “zones 5–6” survives winter in at least 86% of ZIP codes, but plants at the edge of their range benefit from mulch and a sheltered spot. Enter a ZIP code in the USDA hardiness zone finder by ZIP code to check your exact half zone before buying perennials.
A zone describes winter cold only. Summer heat, humidity, rainfall and soil decide whether a cold-hardy plant thrives, and planting dates for vegetables follow frost dates, not zones: two Michigan towns in the same zone can have last frosts weeks apart.
What Plants Grow Well Across Michigan?
199 plants in PlantoScan's catalogue are hardy in every zone from 5a to 6b, the zones that cover 86% of Michigan ZIP codes. Popular examples include hydrangea, peony and daisy.
Hydrangea
Hydrangea macrophylla
Zone 5 – 9
AI generated
Peony
Paeonia lactiflora
Zone 3 – 8
AI generated
- DaisyBellis perennisPlantoScan
Daisy
Bellis perennis
Zone 4a – 8b
Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemum morifolium
Zone 5a – 9b
PlantoscanAI generated
Poppy
Papaver somniferum
Zone 3a – 9b
AI generated
Carnation
Dianthus caryophyllus
Zone 5a – 9b
AI generated
Daffodil
Narcissus poeticus
Zone 3 – 8
AI generated
Arugula
Eruca sativa
Zone 5a – 10b
AI generated
Alfalfa
Medicago sativa
Zone 3a – 10a
AI generated
Hardiness ranges come from PlantoScan's plant database; gardeners in Michigan's colder or warmer edge zones should check each plant's full range.
When Is the Last Frost in Michigan?
Across most Michigan ZIP codes, the average last spring frost falls between April 27 and May 23, from April 21 in Warren to May 13 in Escanaba. Tender vegetables such as tomatoes go out 1 to 2 weeks after the local date.
The last and first frost dates for Michigan cities include the safer 90% planting date, the fall frost date, growing season length and a tomato planting table for each city.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What planting zone is Michigan?
- Michigan spans USDA hardiness zones 4a to 7a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zone 6a is the most common, covering 55% of the state's 1,154 ZIP codes, and zones 5a to 6b together cover 86%.
- What hardiness zone is Detroit, Michigan?
- Detroit is in USDA hardiness zone 6b (ZIP 48206), where the average coldest winter night reaches −5 °F to 0 °F. Its average last spring frost is April 27 and its first fall frost October 25.
- What hardiness zone is Grand Rapids, Michigan?
- Grand Rapids is in USDA hardiness zone 6a (ZIP 49503), where the average coldest winter night reaches −10 °F to −5 °F. Its average last spring frost is May 6 and its first fall frost October 10.
- What hardiness zone is Warren, Michigan?
- Warren is in USDA hardiness zone 6b (ZIP 48015), where the average coldest winter night reaches −5 °F to 0 °F. Its average last spring frost is April 21 and its first fall frost October 31.
- What is the coldest hardiness zone in Michigan?
- Zone 4a (−30 °F to −25 °F) is the coldest zone in Michigan, found in 13 ZIP codes around Iron River and Wakefield. The warmest is zone 7a (0 °F to 5 °F).
Zones: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP code table, USDA Agricultural Research Service and the PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University, used without changes. Frost dates: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals. City locations and populations: U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer files and Vintage 2024 population estimates. PlantoScan is not affiliated with or endorsed by these agencies.