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

Planting zone for 97086 — Happy Valley, OR

ZIP code 97086 (Happy Valley, Multnomah County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is March 18 and the first fall frost November 18.

Where ZIP 97086 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 18
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 Happy Valley, 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 Happy Valley, OR

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 18median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 11only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 18median — 10% chance by Oct 30
Growing season244 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 12 and returns around December 8.

From the NOAA station Oregon City, OR — 7 miles away, elevation 167 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 97086

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 4 – Feb 18
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 4 – Feb 25
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 7 – Jan 21
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 21 – Feb 4
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 25 – Apr 8
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 7 – Jan 21
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 1 – Apr 15
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
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 18) 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 97086 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 Happy Valley, OR.

Soil in Happy Valley, OR

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 97086 is Cascade — silt loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.6moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter5.5%high
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classPrime farmland if drainedUSDA classification

Map unit: Cascade silt loam, 3 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 97086; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Happy Valley, OR

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low36 °Faverage low, December
Hot days20days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights30nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,908base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 41 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 42 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation49.4 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 53 °F, low 38 °F 53°38° FebMarch: average high 58 °F, low 40 °F 58°40° MarApril: average high 64 °F, low 43 °F 64°43° AprMay: average high 71 °F, low 48 °F 71°48° MayJune: average high 76 °F, low 53 °F 76°53° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 57 °F 84°57° JulAugust: average high 84 °F, low 58 °F 84°58° AugSeptember: average high 78 °F, low 53 °F 78°53° SepOctober: average high 65 °F, low 47 °F 65°47° OctNovember: average high 53 °F, low 41 °F 53°41° NovDecember: average high 47 °F, low 36 °F 47°36° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″8″January: 7.07 in precipitation 7.1 JanFebruary: 4.63 in precipitation 4.6 FebMarch: 5.31 in precipitation 5.3 MarApril: 4.39 in precipitation 4.4 AprMay: 3.41 in precipitation 3.4 MayJune: 2.32 in precipitation 2.3 JunJuly: 0.67 in precipitation 0.7 JulAugust: 0.58 in precipitation 0.6 AugSeptember: 1.64 in precipitation 1.6 SepOctober: 4.70 in precipitation 4.7 OctNovember: 7.36 in precipitation 7.4 NovDecember: 7.33 in precipitation 7.3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Oregon City, OR (7 mi away); precipitation: Happy Valley 1.7 Ese, OR (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

970159a
Clackamas, OR · 2 mi
972369a
Portland, OR · 3 mi
972669a
Portland, OR · 3 mi
972069a
Portland, OR · 4 mi
972229a
Portland, OR · 4 mi
970898b
Damascus, OR · 4 mi
972679a
Portland, OR · 5 mi
972169a
Portland, OR · 5 mi

Oregon planting zones →

Questions about 97086

What planting zone is ZIP code 97086?

ZIP code 97086 (Happy Valley, 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 Happy Valley, OR?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 97086 is March 18; after April 11 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Oregon City station.

When is the first frost in Happy Valley, OR?

The median first fall frost near 97086 is November 18, giving a median frost-free growing season of 244 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 97086?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 21 – Feb 4 and set transplants outside around Mar 25 – Apr 8, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 97086 get?

About 49.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Happy Valley 1.7 Ese station).

How hot do summers get in Happy Valley, OR?

The average high peaks at 84 °F in July, with about 20 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 97086 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Cascade at the center of ZIP 97086: silt loam, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 5.6 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Happy Valley, OR in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 97086 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 Happy Valley, OR?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 97086 is 15 h 41 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).