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

Planting zone for 97396 — Willamina, OR

ZIP code 97396 (Willamina, Yamhill County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is May 20 and the first fall frost October 23.

Where ZIP 97396 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 frostMay 20
First frostOct 23
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 Willamina, 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 Willamina, OR

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 20median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 8only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 23median — 10% chance by Oct 5
Growing season157 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 27 and returns around November 10.

From the NOAA station Laurel Mtn, OR — 12 miles away, elevation 3,589 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 97396

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 29
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 29 – May 13
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 29 – May 13
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 29 – May 13
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
TomatoesTransplant · May 27 – Jun 10
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 3 – Jun 17
BeansSow outdoors · May 27 – Jun 10
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 27 – Jun 10
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 27 – Jun 10
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 28 – Sep 11
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 9 – Nov 13
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 20) and first fall frost (Oct 23) 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 97396 came on Feb 22 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 21).

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 Willamina, OR.

Soil in Willamina, OR

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 97396 is Jory — silty clay loam, well drained.

TextureSilty 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: Jory silty clay loam, hummocky, 5 to 30 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 97396; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Willamina, OR

Summer high72 °Faverage high, August
Winter low31 °Faverage low, February
Hot days1days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights115nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,262base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 38 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)
Precipitation48.5 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall2 inper year; 1 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°32 °FJanuary: average high 43 °F, low 32 °F 43°32° JanFebruary: average high 43 °F, low 31 °F 43°31° FebMarch: average high 44 °F, low 31 °F 44°31° MarApril: average high 48 °F, low 32 °F 48°32° AprMay: average high 56 °F, low 39 °F 56°39° MayJune: average high 61 °F, low 43 °F 61°43° JunJuly: average high 71 °F, low 50 °F 71°50° JulAugust: average high 72 °F, low 51 °F 72°51° AugSeptember: average high 67 °F, low 48 °F 67°48° SepOctober: average high 56 °F, low 41 °F 56°41° OctNovember: average high 47 °F, low 34 °F 47°34° NovDecember: average high 42 °F, low 31 °F 42°31° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″2″4″6″8″10″January: 7.46 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 7.5 JanFebruary: 5.76 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 5.8❄1 FebMarch: 5.43 in precipitation 5.4 MarApril: 3.82 in precipitation 3.8 AprMay: 2.17 in precipitation 2.2 MayJune: 1.21 in precipitation 1.2 JunJuly: 0.28 in precipitation 0.3 JulAugust: 0.33 in precipitation 0.3 AugSeptember: 1.49 in precipitation 1.5 SepOctober: 3.83 in precipitation 3.8 OctNovember: 7.50 in precipitation 7.5 NovDecember: 9.21 in precipitation, 1 in snowfall 9.2❄1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Laurel Mtn, OR (12 mi away); precipitation: Willamina, OR (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

973478b
Grand Ronde, OR · 6 mi
973788b
Sheridan, OR · 6 mi
971088b
Beaver, OR · 13 mi
971228b
Hebo, OR · 14 mi
971288b
Mcminnville, OR · 15 mi
973388b
Dallas, OR · 16 mi
973448b
Falls City, OR · 17 mi
973689a
Otis, OR · 18 mi

Oregon planting zones →

Questions about 97396

What planting zone is ZIP code 97396?

ZIP code 97396 (Willamina, 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 Willamina, OR?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 97396 is May 20; after June 8 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Laurel Mtn station.

When is the first frost in Willamina, OR?

The median first fall frost near 97396 is October 23, giving a median frost-free growing season of 157 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 97396?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 25 – Apr 8 and set transplants outside around May 27 – Jun 10, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 97396 get?

About 48.5 inches of precipitation a year and 2 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Willamina station).

How hot do summers get in Willamina, OR?

The average high peaks at 72 °F in August, with about 1 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 97396 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Jory at the center of ZIP 97396: silty clay loam, well drained, pH about 5.6 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Willamina, OR in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 97396 came on Feb 22 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 21), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Willamina, OR?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 97396 is 15 h 38 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).