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

Planting zone for 97408 — Eugene, OR

ZIP code 97408 (Eugene, Lane County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is April 11 and the first fall frost October 23.

Where ZIP 97408 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 frostApr 11
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 Eugene, 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 Eugene, OR

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 11median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 9only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 23median — 10% chance by Oct 6
Growing season196 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 3 and returns around November 11.

From the NOAA station Eugene Mahlon Sweet Airport, OR — 8 miles away, elevation 354 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 97408

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 21
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 21 – Apr 4
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 18 – May 2
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 25 – May 9
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
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 (Apr 11) 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 97408 came on Feb 24 — 7 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 17).

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 Eugene, OR.

Soil in Eugene, OR

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 97408 is Salem — gravelly silt loam, well drained.

TextureGravelly silt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.1slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter4%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Salem gravelly silt loam.

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 97408; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Eugene, OR

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low34 °Faverage low, December
Hot days18days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights52nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,299base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 30 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 52 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation40.4 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 48 °F, low 35 °F 48°35° JanFebruary: average high 52 °F, low 35 °F 52°35° FebMarch: average high 57 °F, low 37 °F 57°37° MarApril: average high 61 °F, low 40 °F 61°40° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 44 °F 68°44° MayJune: average high 74 °F, low 48 °F 74°48° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 52 °F 84°52° JulAugust: average high 84 °F, low 52 °F 84°52° AugSeptember: average high 78 °F, low 48 °F 78°48° SepOctober: average high 65 °F, low 42 °F 65°42° OctNovember: average high 53 °F, low 38 °F 53°38° NovDecember: average high 47 °F, low 34 °F 47°34° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″January: 5.26 in precipitation 5.3 JanFebruary: 4.48 in precipitation 4.5 FebMarch: 4.34 in precipitation 4.3 MarApril: 3.94 in precipitation 3.9 AprMay: 2.67 in precipitation 2.7 MayJune: 1.53 in precipitation 1.5 JunJuly: 0.33 in precipitation 0.3 JulAugust: 0.45 in precipitation 0.5 AugSeptember: 1.50 in precipitation 1.5 SepOctober: 3.24 in precipitation 3.2 OctNovember: 5.80 in precipitation 5.8 NovDecember: 6.81 in precipitation 6.8 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Eugene Mahlon Sweet Airport, OR (8 mi away); precipitation: Eugene 3.2 Nne, OR (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 8b.

974048b
Eugene, OR · 5 mi
974018b
Eugene, OR · 5 mi
974778b
Springfield, OR · 6 mi
974408b
Eugene, OR · 6 mi
974038b
Eugene, OR · 7 mi
974468b
Harrisburg, OR · 8 mi
974098b
Alvadore, OR · 10 mi
974028b
Eugene, OR · 11 mi

All 7 ZIP codes in Eugene → · Oregon planting zones →

Questions about 97408

What planting zone is ZIP code 97408?

ZIP code 97408 (Eugene, 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 Eugene, OR?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 97408 is April 11; after May 9 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Eugene Mahlon Sweet Airport station.

When is the first frost in Eugene, OR?

The median first fall frost near 97408 is October 23, giving a median frost-free growing season of 196 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 97408?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 14 – Feb 28 and set transplants outside around Apr 18 – May 2, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 97408 get?

About 40.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Eugene 3.2 Nne station).

How hot do summers get in Eugene, OR?

The average high peaks at 84 °F in July, with about 18 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 97408 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Salem at the center of ZIP 97408: gravelly silt loam, well drained, pH about 6.1 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Eugene, OR in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 97408 came on Feb 24 in 2026, 7 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 17), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Eugene, OR?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 97408 is 15 h 30 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).