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

Planting zone for 97009 — Boring, OR

ZIP code 97009 (Boring, Clackamas County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is March 27 and the first fall frost November 18.

Where ZIP 97009 is

Outlined: the ZIP code area · 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
Coldest night−9.4 to −6.7 °C
Last frostMar 27
First frostNov 18
2012 zone8b

Same zone as on the 2012 map. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 8b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Boring, OR…

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 Boring, OR

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 27median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 20only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 18median — 10% chance by Oct 26
Growing season239 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 14 and returns around December 9.

From the NOAA station Headworks Portland Wtr B, OR — 9 miles away, elevation 748 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 97009

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 13 – Mar 6
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 16 – Jan 30
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 6 – Mar 20
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 30 – Feb 13
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 3 – Apr 17
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 16 – Jan 30
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 10 – Apr 24
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 23 – Oct 7
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 4 – Dec 9
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 27) and first fall frost (Nov 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 97009 came on Feb 16 — 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 20).

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 Oregon

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

Trees 43

Alaska cedar75 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −22 °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 °FBrewer spruce100 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −13 °F

Shrubs 132

alderleaf buckthorn3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Falderleaf mountain mahogany15 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −41 °Falpine laurel1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −28 °Fantelope bitterbrush6 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −36 °Fbeaked hazelnut15 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °Fbig sagebrush4 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −43 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 305

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 166

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 2

riverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °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 Boring, OR.

Soil in Boring, OR

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 97009 is Delena — silt loam, poorly drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.1slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter4.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Delena silt loam, 3 to 12 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 97009; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Boring, OR

Summer high78 °Faverage high, August
Winter low35 °Faverage low, January
Hot days10days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights32nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,960base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 40 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 43 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation55.3 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 44 °F, low 35 °F 44°35° JanFebruary: average high 47 °F, low 36 °F 47°36° FebMarch: average high 52 °F, low 37 °F 52°37° MarApril: average high 57 °F, low 41 °F 57°41° AprMay: average high 64 °F, low 46 °F 64°46° MayJune: average high 69 °F, low 50 °F 69°50° JunJuly: average high 77 °F, low 54 °F 77°54° JulAugust: average high 78 °F, low 54 °F 78°54° AugSeptember: average high 72 °F, low 51 °F 72°51° SepOctober: average high 60 °F, low 45 °F 60°45° OctNovember: average high 49 °F, low 40 °F 49°40° NovDecember: average high 43 °F, low 35 °F 43°35° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″8″January: 7.21 in precipitation 7.2 JanFebruary: 5.30 in precipitation 5.3 FebMarch: 6.49 in precipitation 6.5 MarApril: 5.33 in precipitation 5.3 AprMay: 3.97 in precipitation 4.0 MayJune: 3.15 in precipitation 3.1 JunJuly: 0.73 in precipitation 0.7 JulAugust: 0.71 in precipitation 0.7 AugSeptember: 1.92 in precipitation 1.9 SepOctober: 4.65 in precipitation 4.7 OctNovember: 7.61 in precipitation 7.6 NovDecember: 8.20 in precipitation 8.2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Headworks Portland Wtr B, OR (9 mi away); precipitation: Boring 0.6 Wsw, OR (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

2 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

970808b
Gresham, OR · 5 mi
970228b
Eagle Creek, OR · 5 mi
970898b
Damascus, OR · 5 mi
970609a
Troutdale, OR · 8 mi
970309a
Gresham, OR · 8 mi
970198b
Corbett, OR · 8 mi
970558b
Sandy, OR · 10 mi
970868b
Happy Valley, OR · 10 mi

Oregon planting zones →

Questions about 97009

What planting zone is ZIP code 97009?

ZIP code 97009 (Boring, OR) is in USDA hardiness zone 8b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 15 to 20 °F (−9.4 to −6.7 °C).

When is the last frost in Boring, OR?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 97009 is March 27; after April 20 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Headworks Portland Wtr B station.

When is the first frost in Boring, OR?

The median first fall frost near 97009 is November 18, giving a median frost-free growing season of 239 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 97009?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 30 – Feb 13 and set transplants outside around Apr 3 – Apr 17, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 97009 get?

About 55.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Boring 0.6 Wsw station).

How hot do summers get in Boring, OR?

The average high peaks at 78 °F in August, with about 10 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 97009 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Delena at the center of ZIP 97009: silt loam, poorly drained, pH about 6.1 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Boring, OR in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 97009 came on Feb 16 in 2026, 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 20), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Boring, OR?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 97009 is 15 h 40 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).