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

Planting zone for 97373 — Saint Benedict, OR

ZIP code 97373 (Saint Benedict, Marion County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is March 28 and the first fall frost November 10.

Where ZIP 97373 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 28
First frostNov 10
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 Benedict, 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 Benedict, OR

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 28median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 19only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 10median — 10% chance by Oct 25
Growing season227 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 25 and returns around November 28.

From the NOAA station Silverton, OR — 4 miles away, elevation 407 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 97373

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 14 – Mar 7
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 17 – Jan 31
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 4 – Apr 18
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 17 – Jan 31
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 11 – Apr 25
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 15 – Sep 29
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 27 – Dec 1
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 28) and first fall frost (Nov 10) 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 97373 came on Feb 18 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 18).

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 Benedict, OR.

Soil in Saint Benedict, OR

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 97373 is Nekia — stony silty clay loam, well drained.

TextureStony silty clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH5.6moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter5.5%high
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Nekia stony silty clay loam, 2 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 97373; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Saint Benedict, OR

Summer high80 °Faverage high, July
Winter low35 °Faverage low, January
Hot days9days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights44nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,332base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 37 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 45 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation47.2 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall1 inper year; 1 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 47 °F, low 35 °F 47°35° JanFebruary: average high 50 °F, low 36 °F 50°36° FebMarch: average high 55 °F, low 38 °F 55°38° MarApril: average high 60 °F, low 42 °F 60°42° AprMay: average high 67 °F, low 47 °F 67°47° MayJune: average high 72 °F, low 51 °F 72°51° JunJuly: average high 80 °F, low 56 °F 80°56° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 56 °F 80°56° AugSeptember: average high 74 °F, low 52 °F 74°52° SepOctober: average high 63 °F, low 45 °F 63°45° OctNovember: average high 52 °F, low 39 °F 52°39° NovDecember: average high 46 °F, low 35 °F 46°35° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″2″4″6″8″January: 6.70 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 6.7 JanFebruary: 4.94 in precipitation, 0.8 in snowfall 4.9❄1 FebMarch: 5.45 in precipitation 5.5 MarApril: 4.15 in precipitation 4.2 AprMay: 2.88 in precipitation 2.9 MayJune: 1.84 in precipitation 1.8 JunJuly: 0.42 in precipitation 0.4 JulAugust: 0.53 in precipitation 0.5 AugSeptember: 1.66 in precipitation 1.7 SepOctober: 4.19 in precipitation 4.2 OctNovember: 6.98 in precipitation 7.0 NovDecember: 7.46 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 7.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Silverton, OR (4 mi away); precipitation: Silverton, OR (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 8b.

973628b
Mount Angel, OR · 1 mi
970718b
Woodburn, OR · 6 mi
973058b
Salem, OR · 8 mi
970328b
Hubbard, OR · 8 mi
970268b
Gervais, OR · 9 mi
973818b
Silverton, OR · 9 mi
973758b
Scotts Mills, OR · 10 mi
970388b
Molalla, OR · 11 mi

Oregon planting zones →

Questions about 97373

What planting zone is ZIP code 97373?

ZIP code 97373 (Saint Benedict, 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 Benedict, OR?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 97373 is March 28; after April 19 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Silverton station.

When is the first frost in Saint Benedict, OR?

The median first fall frost near 97373 is November 10, giving a median frost-free growing season of 227 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 97373?

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

How much rain and snow does 97373 get?

About 47.2 inches of precipitation a year and 1 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Silverton station).

How hot do summers get in Saint Benedict, OR?

The average high peaks at 80 °F in July, with about 9 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 97373 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Nekia at the center of ZIP 97373: stony silty clay loam, well drained, pH about 5.6 (moderately acidic).

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

Spring leaf-out near 97373 came on Feb 18 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 18), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Saint Benedict, OR?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 97373 is 15 h 37 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).