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

Planting zone for 97221 — Portland, OR

ZIP code 97221 (Portland, Multnomah County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is February 25 and the first fall frost December 1.

Where ZIP 97221 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 frostFeb 25
First frostDec 1
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 Portland, 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 Portland, OR

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostFebruary 25median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 21only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostDecember 1median — 10% chance by Nov 10
Growing season280 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around January 31 and returns around December 20.

From the NOAA station Portland Kgw-Tv, OR — 2 miles away, elevation 161 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 97221

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 14 – Jan 28
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 14 – Feb 4
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 17 – Dec 31
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 4 – Feb 18
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Jan 28 – Feb 11
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 4 – Feb 18
LettuceSow outdoors · Jan 28 – Feb 11
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 4 – Feb 18
TomatoesStart indoors · Dec 31 – Jan 14
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 4 – Mar 18
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 17 – Dec 31
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 11 – Mar 25
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Oct 6 – Oct 20
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 17 – Dec 22
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Feb 25) and first fall frost (Dec 1) 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 97221 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 Portland, OR.

Soil in Portland, OR

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 97221 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 classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Cascade-Urban land complex, 8 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 97221; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Portland, OR

Summer high81 °Faverage high, August
Winter low37 °Faverage low, January
Hot days11days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights18nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,697base 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)
Precipitation45.3 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 47 °F, low 37 °F 47°37° JanFebruary: average high 51 °F, low 39 °F 51°39° FebMarch: average high 56 °F, low 41 °F 56°41° MarApril: average high 61 °F, low 44 °F 61°44° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 49 °F 68°49° MayJune: average high 73 °F, low 53 °F 73°53° JunJuly: average high 80 °F, low 58 °F 80°58° JulAugust: average high 81 °F, low 59 °F 81°59° AugSeptember: average high 75 °F, low 55 °F 75°55° SepOctober: average high 63 °F, low 48 °F 63°48° OctNovember: average high 52 °F, low 42 °F 52°42° NovDecember: average high 46 °F, low 37 °F 46°37° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″8″January: 6.41 in precipitation 6.4 JanFebruary: 4.71 in precipitation 4.7 FebMarch: 5.47 in precipitation 5.5 MarApril: 3.82 in precipitation 3.8 AprMay: 2.67 in precipitation 2.7 MayJune: 1.68 in precipitation 1.7 JunJuly: 0.50 in precipitation 0.5 JulAugust: 0.53 in precipitation 0.5 AugSeptember: 1.53 in precipitation 1.5 SepOctober: 3.87 in precipitation 3.9 OctNovember: 6.34 in precipitation 6.3 NovDecember: 7.73 in precipitation 7.7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Portland Kgw-Tv, OR (2 mi away); precipitation: Raleigh Hills 2.1 Ese, OR (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

972258b
Portland, OR · 2 mi
972398b
Portland, OR · 2 mi
972058b
Portland, OR · 2 mi
972018b
Portland, OR · 2 mi
972049a
Portland, OR · 3 mi
972079a
Portland, OR · 3 mi
972289a
Portland, OR · 3 mi
972389a
Portland, OR · 3 mi

All 59 ZIP codes in Portland → · Oregon planting zones →

Questions about 97221

What planting zone is ZIP code 97221?

ZIP code 97221 (Portland, 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 Portland, OR?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 97221 is February 25; after March 21 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Portland Kgw-Tv station.

When is the first frost in Portland, OR?

The median first fall frost near 97221 is December 1, giving a median frost-free growing season of 280 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 97221?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Dec 31 – Jan 14 and set transplants outside around Mar 4 – Mar 18, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 97221 get?

About 45.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Raleigh Hills 2.1 Ese station).

How hot do summers get in Portland, OR?

The average high peaks at 81 °F in August, with about 11 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 97221 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Cascade at the center of ZIP 97221: silt loam, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 5.6 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Portland, OR in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 97221 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 Portland, OR?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 97221 is 15 h 41 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).