Generally — Most Areas
frisee (zones 4-9) partially overlaps with Colorado (3a-7a). It can grow in zones 4-7 within the state.
Your yard isn't the whole zone.
Frisee is grown as an annual, so your winter zone isn't the deciding factor — your frost-free window is, and slope, trees, and low spots move the last-frost date across a single yard. Enter your address and we'll score frisee against your parcel's actual frost dates, sun, and soil.
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
No card required · your full report in seconds
Zone Comparison
Frisee Needs
- USDA Zones: 4-9
- Soil pH: 5 - 7
- Sun: Full Sun
- Drainage: well (dry spells)
- Frost-Free Days: 50+
Colorado Has
- USDA Zones: 3a-7a
- Last Frost: Apr 15 - Jun 15
- First Frost: Aug 25 - Oct 15
- Annual Rainfall: 7-20 inches
- Common Soils: Sandy loam, Clay loam, Alkaline caliche
Plant Zone Range (zones 4-9)
Preferred Soil pH
Plant data: USDA PLANTS Database / plant_species_v5.csv. State data: USDA ARS PHZM 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, NRCS SSURGO.
When to Plant Frisee in Colorado
The frost window
Across Colorado, the last spring frost clears between Apr 15 and Jun 15, and the first fall frost lands between Aug 25 and Oct 15 (NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020). Counting from the latest last frost to the earliest first frost, that's a 71-day window you can count on — up to 183 days on a mild site in a kind year.
Days to maturity vs. the window
At 50 days to maturity (USDA PLANTS Database), one crop fits Colorado's 71-day dependable window with 21 days of margin — plant at the front of the window to keep that cushion.
Frost window: NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020. Plant timing fields: USDA PLANTS Database. Your site's own frost dates can run earlier or later than the state range — a parcel report pins them down.
Growing Season Fit
Zone compatibility says you can survive winter here. Whether the growing season is long enough — and warm enough — is a different question.
Frost-free days
Frisee wants 50+ frost-free days; a typical Colorado site sees ~190 (NOAA Climate Normals). That leaves comfortable headroom for succession planting.
Growing degree days
Frisee needs ~900 GDD (base 50°F) to ripen. The state median runs ~3500 GDD (USDA NRCS county aggregates), so Colorado's typical season clears that easily.
Climate aggregates derive from USDA NRCS county-level hardiness data + Cornell CALS Extension GDD-by-region tables + MSU Extension chill-hours-by-zone (1991-2020 NOAA Climate Normals baseline).
Soil + Drainage Fit
Frisee likes near-neutral soil (pH 5-7). That's the common-ground band across Colorado's sandy loam and clay loam — a soil test confirms it for your site. Drainage matters: this plant wants well (dry spells). If your Colorado site is heavier clay or sits in a low spot, raised beds or amendment with compost solve it.
Plant pH and drainage requirements from USDA PLANTS Database. Colorado soil profile from USDA NRCS SSURGO. Site-specific verification: a 30-minute soil test from your local Extension lab.
Frisee in Colorado — Quick Answer
- Verdict: Generally — Most Areas
- Plant Zones: 4-9 (USDA PLANTS Database)
- State Zones: 3a-7a (USDA ARS PHZM 2023)
- Growing Season: Apr 15 - Jun 15 to Aug 25 - Oct 15 (NOAA Climate Normals)
- Days to Maturity: 50 days
What Else to Consider
Zone compatibility tells you about winter cold survival — but Colorado growers also need to think about:
Low annual rainfall (7-20 inches) means irrigation is essential nearly everywhere
Build the irrigation first — drip plus mulch makes a high-desert garden run on remarkably little water.
High altitude UV and temperature swings stress plants
Harden transplants gradually, shade-cloth their first high-sun week, and keep row covers handy for cold nights.
Very short growing season at elevation (60-90 frost-free days above 8,000 ft)
Above 8,000 feet, count your real frost-free days and choose varieties bred to finish inside them.
Alkaline soils (pH 7.5-8.5) limit acid-loving plants without amendment
A soil test tells you your actual pH — grow acid-lovers in containers of amended mix while the native ground grows everything else.
Pollinator + Wildlife Value
Frisee draws pollinators (low value, USDA PLANTS Database). Planting it near vegetable beds can lift fruit set on neighboring crops.
Colorado Cooperative Extension
For Colorado-specific cultivar recommendations, planting calendars, and pest pressure for frisee, the canonical source is Colorado State University Extension. Their fact sheets carry the local trial data we can't generalize across 50 states.
Is Frisee native to Colorado?
No — the USDA PLANTS Database lists Frisee as introduced rather than native in the Lower 48, so it is not part of Colorado's native flora. It grows here as a garden plant; pairing it with a few Colorado natives keeps local pollinators fed too.
Looking for plants that belong here? The Colorado growing guide lists USDA-documented natives for the state.
Native-range data: USDA PLANTS Database state-distribution records, accessed 2026-07-01.
Common Questions About Growing Frisee in Colorado
When can I plant Frisee in Colorado?
Colorado's last spring frost clears between Apr 15 and Jun 15, and the first fall frost lands between Aug 25 and Oct 15 (NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020). Time outdoor planting to after the last-frost date for your specific site, and count back from those dates for transplant scheduling.
Can Frisee mature before first frost in Colorado?
Yes — Frisee matures in 50 days (USDA PLANTS Database), and Colorado's dependable frost-free window runs 71 days (NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020), leaving 21 days of margin. Plant just after last frost and it ripens ahead of the first fall frost.
What hardiness zone is Frisee grown in across Colorado?
Colorado spans USDA hardiness zones 3a-7a (USDA ARS PHZM 2023). Frisee carries a range of zones 4-9, so the overlap zones are where outdoor growing is most reliable.
How many frost-free days does a typical Colorado site have?
A typical Colorado site sees ~190 frost-free days per year (derived from NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020). Frisee needs 50+ frost-free days, so check whether your local microclimate runs above or below the state average before settling on a planting date.
Is Frisee native to Colorado?
No — the USDA PLANTS Database lists Frisee as introduced rather than native in the Lower 48, so it is not part of Colorado's native flora. It grows here as a garden plant; pairing it with a few Colorado natives keeps local pollinators fed too.
How should I amend the soil for Frisee in Colorado?
Frisee prefers pH 5-7 and well (dry spells) drainage (USDA PLANTS Database). That sits in the common-ground band across Colorado soils — a 30-minute soil test from a local Extension lab confirms it for your specific site.
Will Frisee actually grow on my specific land in Colorado?
State-level zone + climate data is a sketch. A Growable Ground parcel report scores frisee against your address's exact soil pH, drainage, sun, and frost-date data drawn from USDA SSURGO, NOAA, and PRISM — not state averages.
Check your specific parcel in Colorado
State-level data is a sketch. Your Growable Ground report scores frisee against your parcel's exact soil, sun, drainage, and frost data — not zone averages.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
25+ data sources analyzed in seconds