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

Planting zone for Federal Way, WA

Federal Way, WA is in USDA zone 8b across its 4 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 8 and the first fall frost November 14.

Federal Way on the zone map

Outlined: its 2 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 8
First frostNov 14
Growing season250 days

8b 4 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

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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 Federal Way, WA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 8median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 31only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 14median — 10% chance by Oct 30
Growing season250 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 11 and returns around December 1.

From the NOAA station Tacoma #1, WA, elevation 26 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 Federal Way

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 25 – Feb 8
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 25 – Feb 15
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 28 – Jan 11
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 15 – Mar 1
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 8 – Feb 22
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 8 – Feb 22
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 11 – Jan 25
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 15 – Mar 29
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 28 – Jan 11
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 22 – Apr 5
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 19 – Oct 3
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 31 – Dec 5
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 8) and first fall frost (Nov 14) 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 98063 came on Feb 16 — about the same time as 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 Federal Way, WA.

Soil in Federal Way, WA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 98063 is Arents — gravelly sandy loam, moderately well drained.

TextureGravelly sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.8moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupB/Dmoderate when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classPrime farmland if irrigatedUSDA classification

Map unit: Arents, Alderwood material, 0 to 6 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 98063; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Federal Way, WA

Summer high77 °Faverage high, July
Winter low37 °Faverage low, January
Hot days1days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights27nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,306base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 57 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

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 48 °F, low 37 °F 48°37° JanFebruary: average high 50 °F, low 37 °F 50°37° FebMarch: average high 55 °F, low 40 °F 55°40° MarApril: average high 60 °F, low 44 °F 60°44° AprMay: average high 67 °F, low 49 °F 67°49° MayJune: average high 71 °F, low 53 °F 71°53° JunJuly: average high 77 °F, low 57 °F 77°57° JulAugust: average high 77 °F, low 57 °F 77°57° AugSeptember: average high 71 °F, low 53 °F 71°53° SepOctober: average high 61 °F, low 47 °F 61°47° OctNovember: average high 52 °F, low 41 °F 52°41° NovDecember: average high 47 °F, low 37 °F 47°37° 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: Tacoma #1, WA (7 mi away); precipitation: Lakeland North 0.5 Ene, WA (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Federal Way

980038b
15 to 20 °F
980238b
15 to 20 °F
980638b
15 to 20 °F
980938b
15 to 20 °F

Washington planting zones →

Questions about Federal Way

What planting zone is Federal Way, WA?

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

When is the last frost in Federal Way, WA?

The median last spring frost is March 8 and the median first fall frost is November 14 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Tacoma #1 station).

When can I plant a garden in Federal Way, WA?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Jan 25 – Feb 15; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Mar 15, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Federal Way, WA?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 57 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Federal Way, WA get?

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