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

Planting zone for Bellingham, WA

Bellingham, WA is in USDA zones 8a to 8b across its 5 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 1 and the first fall frost November 2.

Bellingham 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.

Zones8a–8b10 to 20 °F
ZIP codes5
Last frostApr 1
First frostNov 2
Growing season216 days

8a 2 ZIPs   8b 3 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Bellingham, 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 Bellingham, WA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 1median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 24only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 2median — 10% chance by Oct 15
Growing season216 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 6 and returns around November 21.

From the NOAA station Bellingham 3 Ssw, WA, elevation 16 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 Bellingham

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 18 – Mar 11
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 21 – Feb 4
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 11 – Mar 25
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 4 – Feb 18
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 21 – Feb 4
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 15 – Apr 29
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 7 – Sep 21
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 19 – Nov 23
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 1) and first fall frost (Nov 2) 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 98227 came on Feb 17 — 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 23).

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 8a in Washington

611 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Washington, and rated by the USDA to survive 10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 8a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 31

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 113

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 292

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 Bellingham, WA.

Soil in Bellingham, WA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 98227 is Whatcom — ashy silt loam, moderately well drained. Much of the area is built over (urban land); this is the natural soil underneath.

TextureAshy silt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.1slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter6%high
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Urban land-Whatcom-Labounty complex, 0 to 8 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 98227; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Bellingham, WA

Summer high75 °Faverage high, July
Winter low35 °Faverage low, January
Hot days0days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights43nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,880base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day16 h 10 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 15 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation38.2 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 35 °F 48°35° JanFebruary: average high 50 °F, low 35 °F 50°35° FebMarch: average high 54 °F, low 38 °F 54°38° MarApril: average high 59 °F, low 42 °F 59°42° AprMay: average high 66 °F, low 46 °F 66°46° MayJune: average high 70 °F, low 51 °F 70°51° JunJuly: average high 75 °F, low 54 °F 75°54° JulAugust: average high 75 °F, low 54 °F 75°54° AugSeptember: average high 69 °F, low 50 °F 69°50° SepOctober: average high 60 °F, low 44 °F 60°44° OctNovember: average high 52 °F, low 39 °F 52°39° NovDecember: average high 47 °F, low 35 °F 47°35° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 4.98 in precipitation 5.0 JanFebruary: 3.16 in precipitation 3.2 FebMarch: 3.89 in precipitation 3.9 MarApril: 2.99 in precipitation 3.0 AprMay: 2.41 in precipitation 2.4 MayJune: 1.78 in precipitation 1.8 JunJuly: 1.03 in precipitation 1.0 JulAugust: 1.13 in precipitation 1.1 AugSeptember: 2.03 in precipitation 2.0 SepOctober: 3.91 in precipitation 3.9 OctNovember: 5.83 in precipitation 5.8 NovDecember: 5.06 in precipitation 5.1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Bellingham 3 Ssw, WA (3 mi away); precipitation: Bellingham 2.4 Sw, WA (3 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Bellingham

982258b
15 to 20 °F
982268a
10 to 15 °F
982278b
15 to 20 °F
982288b
15 to 20 °F
982298a
10 to 15 °F

Washington planting zones →

Questions about Bellingham

What planting zone is Bellingham, WA?

Bellingham, WA is in USDA hardiness zones 8a to 8b on the 2023 map (8a: 10 to 15 °F; 8b: 15 to 20 °F).

When is the last frost in Bellingham, WA?

The median last spring frost is April 1 and the median first fall frost is November 2 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Bellingham 3 Ssw station).

When can I plant a garden in Bellingham, WA?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 18 – Mar 11; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 8, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Bellingham, WA?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 16 h 10 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Bellingham, WA get?

About 38.2 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).