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

Planting zone for Vancouver, WA

Vancouver, WA is in USDA zone 8b across its 14 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 26 and the first fall frost October 18.

Vancouver on the zone map

Outlined: its 11 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 codes14
Last frostApr 26
First frostOct 18
Growing season177 days

8b 14 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Vancouver, 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 Vancouver, WA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 26median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 10only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 18median — 10% chance by Oct 1
Growing season177 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 30 and returns around November 4.

From the NOAA station Vancouver 4 Nne, WA, elevation 210 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 Vancouver

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Apr 5
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
TomatoesTransplant · May 3 – May 17
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 10 – May 24
BeansSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 23 – Sep 6
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 4 – Nov 8
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 26) and first fall frost (Oct 18) 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 98661 came on Feb 19 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 21).

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 Vancouver, WA.

Soil in Vancouver, WA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 98661 is Lauren — gravelly medial loam, well drained.

TextureGravelly medial loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.1slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classPrime farmland if irrigatedUSDA classification

Map unit: Lauren gravelly loam, 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 98661; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Vancouver, WA

Summer high82 °Faverage high, August
Winter low34 °Faverage low, January
Hot days15days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights45nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,573base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 42 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 41 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation44.4 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 47 °F, low 34 °F 47°34° JanFebruary: average high 51 °F, low 35 °F 51°35° FebMarch: average high 56 °F, low 38 °F 56°38° MarApril: average high 61 °F, low 42 °F 61°42° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 48 °F 68°48° MayJune: average high 74 °F, low 53 °F 74°53° JunJuly: average high 81 °F, low 57 °F 81°57° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 57 °F 82°57° AugSeptember: average high 76 °F, low 52 °F 76°52° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 45 °F 64°45° 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: 6.44 in precipitation 6.4 JanFebruary: 4.30 in precipitation 4.3 FebMarch: 4.62 in precipitation 4.6 MarApril: 3.44 in precipitation 3.4 AprMay: 3.09 in precipitation 3.1 MayJune: 2.08 in precipitation 2.1 JunJuly: 0.59 in precipitation 0.6 JulAugust: 0.59 in precipitation 0.6 AugSeptember: 1.60 in precipitation 1.6 SepOctober: 4.00 in precipitation 4.0 OctNovember: 6.42 in precipitation 6.4 NovDecember: 7.21 in precipitation 7.2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Vancouver Pearson Airport, WA (2 mi away); precipitation: Vancouver 1.9 Ne, WA (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Vancouver

986608b
15 to 20 °F
986618b
15 to 20 °F
986628b
15 to 20 °F
986638b
15 to 20 °F
986648b
15 to 20 °F
986658b
15 to 20 °F
986668b
15 to 20 °F
986688b
15 to 20 °F
986828b
15 to 20 °F
986838b
15 to 20 °F
986848b
15 to 20 °F
986858b
15 to 20 °F
986868b
15 to 20 °F
986878b
15 to 20 °F

Washington planting zones →

Questions about Vancouver

What planting zone is Vancouver, WA?

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

When is the last frost in Vancouver, WA?

The median last spring frost is April 26 and the median first fall frost is October 18 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Vancouver 4 Nne station).

When can I plant a garden in Vancouver, WA?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 15 – Apr 5; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 3, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Vancouver, WA?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 42 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Vancouver, WA get?

About 44.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).