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

Planting zone for Auburn, WA

Auburn, WA is in USDA zone 8b across its 4 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 20 and the first fall frost November 10.

Auburn on the zone map

Outlined: its 3 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.

Zone8b15 to 20 °F
ZIP codes4
Last frostMar 20
First frostNov 10
Growing season233 days

8b 4 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Auburn, WA…

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 Auburn, WA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 20median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 8only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 10median — 10% chance by Oct 26
Growing season233 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 25 and returns around November 24.

From the NOAA station Kent, WA, elevation 30 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 Auburn

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 6 – Feb 20
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 6 – Feb 27
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 9 – Jan 23
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 27 – Mar 13
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 23 – Feb 6
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 27 – Apr 10
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 9 – Jan 23
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 3 – Apr 17
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 15 – Sep 29
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 27 – Dec 1
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 20) and first fall frost (Nov 10) 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 98002 came on Feb 15 — 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 18).

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 8b in Washington

614 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Washington, and rated by the USDA to survive 15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 8b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 32

Alaska cedar75 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −22 °FAmerican sycamore100 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −34 °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 °F

Shrubs 114

alderleaf buckthorn3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAllegheny serviceberry35 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine laurel1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −28 °FAmerican plum24 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Fantelope bitterbrush6 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −36 °FBarclay's willow15 ft · high shade tolerance · to −43 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 293

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 157

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 3

riverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Ftrumpet creeper2 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −13 °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 Auburn, WA.

Soil in Auburn, WA

The center of ZIP 98002 is mapped as Urban land: built-over ground without natural soil data. Garden soil here is usually imported or disturbed — test before you plant.

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 98002; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Auburn, WA

Summer high78 °Faverage high, July
Winter low35 °Faverage low, December
Hot days4days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights39nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,408base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 56 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 28 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation54.9 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 48 °F, low 36 °F 48°36° JanFebruary: average high 51 °F, low 36 °F 51°36° FebMarch: average high 56 °F, low 39 °F 56°39° MarApril: average high 61 °F, low 43 °F 61°43° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 49 °F 68°49° MayJune: average high 72 °F, low 53 °F 72°53° JunJuly: average high 78 °F, low 57 °F 78°57° JulAugust: average high 78 °F, low 57 °F 78°57° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 52 °F 73°52° SepOctober: average high 61 °F, low 46 °F 61°46° OctNovember: average high 53 °F, low 39 °F 53°39° NovDecember: average high 47 °F, low 35 °F 47°35° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″8″January: 7.87 in precipitation 7.9 JanFebruary: 5.53 in precipitation 5.5 FebMarch: 5.80 in precipitation 5.8 MarApril: 4.49 in precipitation 4.5 AprMay: 2.76 in precipitation 2.8 MayJune: 2.76 in precipitation 2.8 JunJuly: 0.96 in precipitation 1.0 JulAugust: 1.32 in precipitation 1.3 AugSeptember: 2.49 in precipitation 2.5 SepOctober: 5.37 in precipitation 5.4 OctNovember: 8.46 in precipitation 8.5 NovDecember: 7.12 in precipitation 7.1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Kent, WA (7 mi away); precipitation: Lakeland North 0.5 Ene, WA (3 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Auburn

980018b
15 to 20 °F
980028b
15 to 20 °F
980718b
15 to 20 °F
980928b
15 to 20 °F

Washington planting zones →

Questions about Auburn

What planting zone is Auburn, WA?

Auburn, WA is in USDA hardiness zone 8b on the 2023 map (8b: 15 to 20 °F).

When is the last frost in Auburn, WA?

The median last spring frost is March 20 and the median first fall frost is November 10 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Kent station).

When can I plant a garden in Auburn, WA?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 6 – Feb 27; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Mar 27, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Auburn, WA?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 56 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Auburn, WA get?

About 54.9 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).