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

Planting zone for 97051 — Saint Helens, OR

ZIP code 97051 (Saint Helens, Columbia County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is April 18 and the first fall frost November 7.

Where ZIP 97051 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 frostApr 18
First frostNov 7
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 Saint Helens, 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 Saint Helens, OR

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 18median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 26only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 7median — 10% chance by Oct 21
Growing season201 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 24 and returns around November 24.

From the NOAA station Saint Helens Rfd, OR — 4 miles away, elevation 269 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 97051

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 28
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 7 – Feb 21
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 28 – Apr 11
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 25 – May 9
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 7 – Feb 21
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 2 – May 16
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 12 – Sep 26
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 24 – Nov 28
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 18) and first fall frost (Nov 7) 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 97051 came on Feb 22 — 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 28).

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 Saint Helens, OR.

Soil in Saint Helens, OR

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 97051 is Wapato — silt loam, poorly drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.5neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter6%high
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classPrime farmland if drained and either protected from flooding or not frequently flooded during the growing seasonUSDA classification

Map unit: Wapato silt loam.

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 97051; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Saint Helens, OR

Summer high79 °Faverage high, July
Winter low33 °Faverage low, January
Hot days20days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights59nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,198base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 44 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 39 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation46.9 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 43 °F, low 33 °F 43°33° JanFebruary: average high 47 °F, low 33 °F 47°33° FebMarch: average high 53 °F, low 36 °F 53°36° MarApril: average high 59 °F, low 40 °F 59°40° AprMay: average high 67 °F, low 46 °F 67°46° MayJune: average high 72 °F, low 50 °F 72°50° JunJuly: average high 79 °F, low 55 °F 79°55° JulAugust: average high 79 °F, low 55 °F 79°55° AugSeptember: average high 74 °F, low 52 °F 74°52° SepOctober: average high 61 °F, low 45 °F 61°45° OctNovember: average high 49 °F, low 38 °F 49°38° NovDecember: average high 42 °F, low 33 °F 42°33° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″8″January: 7.03 in precipitation 7.0 JanFebruary: 5.31 in precipitation 5.3 FebMarch: 4.94 in precipitation 4.9 MarApril: 3.68 in precipitation 3.7 AprMay: 2.51 in precipitation 2.5 MayJune: 1.81 in precipitation 1.8 JunJuly: 0.53 in precipitation 0.5 JulAugust: 0.67 in precipitation 0.7 AugSeptember: 1.71 in precipitation 1.7 SepOctober: 4.10 in precipitation 4.1 OctNovember: 6.79 in precipitation 6.8 NovDecember: 7.77 in precipitation 7.8 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Saint Helens Rfd, OR (4 mi away); precipitation: Warren 1 Sw, OR (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 8b.

970538b
Warren, OR · 5 mi
970548b
Deer Island, OR · 5 mi
970188b
Columbia City, OR · 5 mi
970568b
Scappoose, OR · 7 mi
970488b
Rainier, OR · 9 mi
986428b
Ridgefield, WA · 12 mi
986098b
Carrolls, WA · 13 mi
986748b
Woodland, WA · 13 mi

Oregon planting zones →

Questions about 97051

What planting zone is ZIP code 97051?

ZIP code 97051 (Saint Helens, 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 Saint Helens, OR?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 97051 is April 18; after May 26 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Saint Helens Rfd station.

When is the first frost in Saint Helens, OR?

The median first fall frost near 97051 is November 7, giving a median frost-free growing season of 201 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 97051?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 21 – Mar 7 and set transplants outside around Apr 25 – May 9, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 97051 get?

About 46.9 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Warren 1 Sw station).

How hot do summers get in Saint Helens, OR?

The average high peaks at 79 °F in July, with about 20 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 97051 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Wapato at the center of ZIP 97051: silt loam, poorly drained, pH about 6.5 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Saint Helens, OR in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 97051 came on Feb 22 in 2026, 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 28), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Saint Helens, OR?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 97051 is 15 h 44 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).