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

Planting zone for Bend, OR

Bend, OR is in USDA zones 6a to 6b across its 6 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is June 6 and the first fall frost September 20.

Bend on the zone map

Outlined: its 5 ZIP code areas · 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.

Zones6a–6b−10 to 0 °F
ZIP codes6
Last frostJun 6
First frostSep 20
Growing season105 days

6a 1 ZIP   6b 5 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Bend, OR…

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 Bend, OR

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostJune 6median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 22only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 20median — 10% chance by Sep 3
Growing season105 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 11 and returns around October 4.

From the NOAA station Bend, OR, elevation 3,662 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 Bend

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 16
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · May 16 – May 30
Onion setsPlant outdoors · May 9 – May 23
PotatoesPlant outdoors · May 16 – May 30
LettuceSow outdoors · May 9 – May 23
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · May 16 – May 30
TomatoesStart indoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
TomatoesTransplant · Jun 13 – Jun 27
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 20 – Jul 4
BeansSow outdoors · Jun 13 – Jun 27
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Jun 13 – Jun 27
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Jun 13 – Jun 27
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Jul 26 – Aug 9
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 6 – Oct 11
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Jun 6) and first fall frost (Sep 20) 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 97708 came on Mar 9 — 21 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 30).

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 6a in Oregon

607 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Oregon, and rated by the USDA to survive −10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 39

Alaska cedar75 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −22 °Fbalsam poplar80 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −79 °Fbigleaf maple60 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −14 °Fblack locust60 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −37 °Fboxelder60 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FBrewer spruce100 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −13 °F

Shrubs 113

alderleaf buckthorn3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Falderleaf mountain mahogany15 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −41 °Falpine laurel1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −28 °Fantelope bitterbrush6 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −36 °Fbeaked hazelnut15 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °Fbig sagebrush4 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −43 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 284

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °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 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Grasses 160

Alaska brome5 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −18 °FAlaska 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 timothy1.4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −43 °FAmerican beachgrass2.5 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °F

Vines 2

riverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °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 Bend, OR.

Soil in Bend, OR

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 97708 is Wanoga — slightly decomposed plant material, well drained.

TextureSlightly decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH5.0strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter75%high
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Wanoga sandy loam, 0 to 15 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 97708; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Bend, OR

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low23 °Faverage low, December
Hot days16days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights168nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,757base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 29 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 53 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation10.6 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall22 inper year

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 43 °F, low 25 °F 43°25° JanFebruary: average high 46 °F, low 24 °F 46°24° FebMarch: average high 52 °F, low 28 °F 52°28° MarApril: average high 58 °F, low 31 °F 58°31° AprMay: average high 66 °F, low 37 °F 66°37° MayJune: average high 74 °F, low 42 °F 74°42° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 49 °F 84°49° JulAugust: average high 83 °F, low 48 °F 83°48° AugSeptember: average high 76 °F, low 41 °F 76°41° SepOctober: average high 63 °F, low 34 °F 63°34° OctNovember: average high 49 °F, low 28 °F 49°28° NovDecember: average high 41 °F, low 23 °F 41°23° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″January: 1.41 in precipitation, 6.4 in snowfall 1.4❄6 JanFebruary: 0.99 in precipitation, 5.5 in snowfall 1.0❄6 FebMarch: 0.70 in precipitation, 1.5 in snowfall 0.7❄2 MarApril: 0.79 in precipitation, 0.7 in snowfall 0.8❄1 AprMay: 0.97 in precipitation 1.0 MayJune: 0.68 in precipitation 0.7 JunJuly: 0.44 in precipitation 0.4 JulAugust: 0.35 in precipitation 0.3 AugSeptember: 0.31 in precipitation 0.3 SepOctober: 0.65 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 0.7 OctNovember: 1.26 in precipitation, 2 in snowfall 1.3❄2 NovDecember: 2.07 in precipitation, 5.3 in snowfall 2.1❄5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Bend, OR (within 1 mile); precipitation: Bend, OR (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Bend

977016b
−5 to 0 °F
977026b
−5 to 0 °F
977036b
−5 to 0 °F
977076a
−10 to −5 °F
977086b
−5 to 0 °F
977096b
−5 to 0 °F

Oregon planting zones →

Questions about Bend

What planting zone is Bend, OR?

Bend, OR is in USDA hardiness zones 6a to 6b on the 2023 map (6a: −10 to −5 °F; 6b: −5 to 0 °F).

When is the last frost in Bend, OR?

The median last spring frost is June 6 and the median first fall frost is September 20 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Bend station).

When can I plant a garden in Bend, OR?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Apr 25 – May 16; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Jun 13, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Bend, OR?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 29 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Bend, OR get?

About 10.6 inches of precipitation a year and 22 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).