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

Planting zone for Olympia, WA

Olympia, WA is in USDA zones 8a to 8b across its 11 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 29 and the first fall frost October 14.

Olympia on the zone map

Outlined: its 7 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 codes11
Last frostApr 29
First frostOct 14
Growing season169 days

8a 2 ZIPs   8b 9 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Olympia, 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 Olympia, WA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 29median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 15only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 14median — 10% chance by Sep 28
Growing season169 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 5 and returns around November 1.

From the NOAA station Olympia Airport, WA, elevation 187 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 Olympia

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 8
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
TomatoesTransplant · May 6 – May 20
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 13 – May 27
BeansSow outdoors · May 6 – May 20
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 6 – May 20
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 6 – May 20
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 19 – Sep 2
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 30 – Nov 4
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 29) and first fall frost (Oct 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 98504 came on Feb 24 — 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 27).

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 Olympia, WA.

Soil in Olympia, WA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 98504 is Skipopa — silt loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.1slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter6%high
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Skipopa silt loam, 3 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 98504; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Olympia, WA

Summer high78 °Faverage high, July
Winter low32 °Faverage low, February
Hot days6days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights77nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,723base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 54 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 30 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation59 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 46 °F, low 33 °F 46°33° JanFebruary: average high 49 °F, low 32 °F 49°32° FebMarch: average high 54 °F, low 35 °F 54°35° MarApril: average high 59 °F, low 38 °F 59°38° AprMay: average high 66 °F, low 43 °F 66°43° MayJune: average high 71 °F, low 47 °F 71°47° JunJuly: average high 78 °F, low 51 °F 78°51° JulAugust: average high 78 °F, low 51 °F 78°51° AugSeptember: average high 72 °F, low 46 °F 72°46° SepOctober: average high 60 °F, low 41 °F 60°41° OctNovember: average high 51 °F, low 36 °F 51°36° NovDecember: average high 45 °F, low 33 °F 45°33° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″8″10″January: 8.87 in precipitation 8.9 JanFebruary: 5.74 in precipitation 5.7 FebMarch: 6.39 in precipitation 6.4 MarApril: 4.24 in precipitation 4.2 AprMay: 2.52 in precipitation 2.5 MayJune: 1.85 in precipitation 1.9 JunJuly: 0.66 in precipitation 0.7 JulAugust: 1.10 in precipitation 1.1 AugSeptember: 2.16 in precipitation 2.2 SepOctober: 6.19 in precipitation 6.2 OctNovember: 9.67 in precipitation 9.7 NovDecember: 9.62 in precipitation 9.6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Olympia Airport, WA (4 mi away); precipitation: Olympia 1.3 S, WA (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Olympia

985018a
10 to 15 °F
985028b
15 to 20 °F
985048b
15 to 20 °F
985058b
15 to 20 °F
985068b
15 to 20 °F
985078b
15 to 20 °F
985088b
15 to 20 °F
985128a
10 to 15 °F
985138b
15 to 20 °F
985168b
15 to 20 °F
985998b
15 to 20 °F

Washington planting zones →

Questions about Olympia

What planting zone is Olympia, WA?

Olympia, 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 Olympia, WA?

The median last spring frost is April 29 and the median first fall frost is October 14 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Olympia Airport station).

When can I plant a garden in Olympia, WA?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 18 – Apr 8; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 6, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Olympia, WA?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 54 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Olympia, WA get?

About 59 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).