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

Planting zone for 97434 — Dorena, OR

ZIP code 97434 (Dorena, Lane County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is April 24 and the first fall frost October 24.

Where ZIP 97434 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 24
First frostOct 24
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 Dorena, 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 Dorena, OR

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 24median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 11only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 24median — 10% chance by Oct 2
Growing season183 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 22 and returns around November 13.

From the NOAA station Oakridge Fish Hatchery, OR — 16 miles away, elevation 1,276 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 97434

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 13 – Apr 3
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 3 – Apr 17
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
TomatoesTransplant · May 1 – May 15
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 8 – May 22
BeansSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 29 – Sep 12
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 10 – Nov 14
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 24) and first fall frost (Oct 24) 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 97434 came on Feb 5 — 41 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 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 Dorena, OR.

Soil in Dorena, OR

The center of ZIP 97434 is mapped as No Digital Data Available: built-over ground without natural soil data. Garden soil here is usually imported or disturbed — test before you plant.

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 97434; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Dorena, OR

Summer high81 °Faverage high, August
Winter low31 °Faverage low, January
Hot days12days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights79nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,883base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 26 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 56 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation77.3 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 44 °F, low 31 °F 44°31° JanFebruary: average high 49 °F, low 32 °F 49°32° FebMarch: average high 55 °F, low 34 °F 55°34° MarApril: average high 59 °F, low 37 °F 59°37° AprMay: average high 66 °F, low 43 °F 66°43° MayJune: average high 71 °F, low 47 °F 71°47° JunJuly: average high 80 °F, low 51 °F 80°51° JulAugust: average high 81 °F, low 50 °F 81°50° AugSeptember: average high 76 °F, low 46 °F 76°46° SepOctober: average high 63 °F, low 40 °F 63°40° OctNovember: average high 49 °F, low 35 °F 49°35° NovDecember: average high 42 °F, low 32 °F 42°32° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″8″10″12″January: 10.04 in precipitation 10.0 JanFebruary: 7.78 in precipitation 7.8 FebMarch: 8.96 in precipitation 9.0 MarApril: 7.66 in precipitation 7.7 AprMay: 5.51 in precipitation 5.5 MayJune: 3.34 in precipitation 3.3 JunJuly: 0.86 in precipitation 0.9 JulAugust: 0.92 in precipitation 0.9 AugSeptember: 2.72 in precipitation 2.7 SepOctober: 6.21 in precipitation 6.2 OctNovember: 10.90 in precipitation 10.9 NovDecember: 12.35 in precipitation 12.3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Oakridge Fish Hatchery, OR (16 mi away); precipitation: Holland Meadows, OR (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

974928b
Westfir, OR · 16 mi
974529a
Lowell, OR · 18 mi
974638b
Oakridge, OR · 18 mi
974319a
Dexter, OR · 18 mi
974248b
Cottage Grove, OR · 20 mi
974388b
Fall Creek, OR · 22 mi
974268b
Creswell, OR · 25 mi
974478b
Idleyld Park, OR · 26 mi

Oregon planting zones →

Questions about 97434

What planting zone is ZIP code 97434?

ZIP code 97434 (Dorena, 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 Dorena, OR?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 97434 is April 24; after May 11 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Oakridge Fish Hatchery station.

When is the first frost in Dorena, OR?

The median first fall frost near 97434 is October 24, giving a median frost-free growing season of 183 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 97434?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 27 – Mar 13 and set transplants outside around May 1 – May 15, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 97434 get?

About 77.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Holland Meadows station).

How hot do summers get in Dorena, OR?

The average high peaks at 81 °F in August, with about 12 days a year at 90 °F or more.

Did spring come early in Dorena, OR in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 97434 came on Feb 5 in 2026, 41 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 18), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Dorena, OR?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 97434 is 15 h 26 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).