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

Planting zone for 97229 — Portland, OR

ZIP code 97229 (Portland, Washington County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is February 11 and the first fall frost December 5.

Where ZIP 97229 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 11
First frostDec 5
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 11median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 5only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostDecember 5median — 10% chance by Nov 11
Growing season303 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around January 6 and returns around December 21.

From the NOAA station Nature Park-Beaverton, OR — 4 miles away, elevation 184 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 97229

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Dec 31 – Jan 14
SpinachSow outdoors · Dec 31 – Jan 21
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 3 – Dec 17
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Jan 21 – Feb 4
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Jan 14 – Jan 28
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Jan 21 – Feb 4
LettuceSow outdoors · Jan 14 – Jan 28
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Jan 21 – Feb 4
TomatoesStart indoors · Dec 17 – Dec 31
TomatoesTransplant · Feb 18 – Mar 4
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 3 – Dec 17
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Feb 25 – Mar 11
BeansSow outdoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Oct 10 – Oct 24
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 21 – Dec 26
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Feb 11) and first fall frost (Dec 5) 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 97229 came on Feb 16 — 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 22).

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 97229 is Helvetia — silt loam, moderately well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.1slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Helvetia silt loam, 2 to 7 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 97229; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Portland, OR

Summer high82 °Faverage high, August
Winter low40 °Faverage low, January
Hot days16days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights10nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,763base 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)
Precipitation41.8 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 50 °F, low 40 °F 50°40° JanFebruary: average high 54 °F, low 40 °F 54°40° FebMarch: average high 58 °F, low 42 °F 58°42° MarApril: average high 63 °F, low 45 °F 63°45° AprMay: average high 70 °F, low 50 °F 70°50° MayJune: average high 73 °F, low 53 °F 73°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 53 °F 76°53° SepOctober: average high 65 °F, low 47 °F 65°47° OctNovember: average high 55 °F, low 43 °F 55°43° NovDecember: average high 49 °F, low 40 °F 49°40° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″January: 5.93 in precipitation 5.9 JanFebruary: 4.31 in precipitation 4.3 FebMarch: 4.52 in precipitation 4.5 MarApril: 3.30 in precipitation 3.3 AprMay: 2.68 in precipitation 2.7 MayJune: 1.64 in precipitation 1.6 JunJuly: 0.49 in precipitation 0.5 JulAugust: 0.54 in precipitation 0.5 AugSeptember: 1.51 in precipitation 1.5 SepOctober: 3.81 in precipitation 3.8 OctNovember: 6.08 in precipitation 6.1 NovDecember: 6.95 in precipitation 7.0 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Nature Park-Beaverton, OR (4 mi away); precipitation: Beaverton 1.9 Nne, OR (3 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.

970068b
Beaverton, OR · 3 mi
972108b
Portland, OR · 4 mi
972258b
Portland, OR · 4 mi
970059a
Beaverton, OR · 4 mi
970039a
Beaverton, OR · 4 mi
970759a
Beaverton, OR · 4 mi
970768b
Beaverton, OR · 4 mi
970779a
Beaverton, OR · 4 mi

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

Questions about 97229

What planting zone is ZIP code 97229?

ZIP code 97229 (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 97229 is February 11; after March 5 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Nature Park-Beaverton station.

When is the first frost in Portland, OR?

The median first fall frost near 97229 is December 5, giving a median frost-free growing season of 303 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 97229?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Dec 17 – Dec 31 and set transplants outside around Feb 18 – Mar 4, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 97229 get?

About 41.8 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Beaverton 1.9 Nne station).

How hot do summers get in Portland, OR?

The average high peaks at 82 °F in August, with about 16 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 97229 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Helvetia at the center of ZIP 97229: silt loam, moderately well drained, pH about 6.1 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Portland, OR in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 97229 came on Feb 16 in 2026, 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 22), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Portland, OR?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 97229 is 15 h 41 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).