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

Planting zone for 97462 — Oakland, OR

ZIP code 97462 (Oakland, Douglas County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is March 21 and the first fall frost November 12.

Where ZIP 97462 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 21
First frostNov 12
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 Oakland, 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 Oakland, OR

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 21median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 14only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 12median — 10% chance by Oct 14
Growing season240 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 13 and returns around December 12.

From the NOAA station Elkton 3 Sw, OR — 12 miles away, elevation 121 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 97462

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 7 – Feb 21
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 7 – Feb 28
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 10 – Jan 24
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 28 – Mar 14
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 24 – Feb 7
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 28 – Apr 11
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 10 – Jan 24
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 4 – Apr 18
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 17 – Oct 1
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 29 – Dec 3
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 21) and first fall frost (Nov 12) 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 97462 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 Oakland, OR.

Soil in Oakland, OR

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 97462 is Atring — slightly decomposed plant material, well drained.

TextureSlightly decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH4.5strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter75%high
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Atring-Larmine complex, 30 to 60 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 97462; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Oakland, OR

Summer high86 °Faverage high, July
Winter low37 °Faverage low, January
Hot days26days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights23nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,756base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 25 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 57 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation42.9 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 50 °F, low 37 °F 50°37° JanFebruary: average high 55 °F, low 38 °F 55°38° FebMarch: average high 60 °F, low 39 °F 60°39° MarApril: average high 65 °F, low 42 °F 65°42° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 46 °F 72°46° MayJune: average high 77 °F, low 49 °F 77°49° JunJuly: average high 86 °F, low 53 °F 86°53° JulAugust: average high 86 °F, low 52 °F 86°52° AugSeptember: average high 81 °F, low 49 °F 81°49° SepOctober: average high 69 °F, low 44 °F 69°44° OctNovember: average high 55 °F, low 41 °F 55°41° NovDecember: average high 49 °F, low 37 °F 49°37° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″8″January: 6.28 in precipitation 6.3 JanFebruary: 4.74 in precipitation 4.7 FebMarch: 5.02 in precipitation 5.0 MarApril: 3.70 in precipitation 3.7 AprMay: 2.31 in precipitation 2.3 MayJune: 1.26 in precipitation 1.3 JunJuly: 0.35 in precipitation 0.3 JulAugust: 0.35 in precipitation 0.3 AugSeptember: 1.18 in precipitation 1.2 SepOctober: 3.36 in precipitation 3.4 OctNovember: 6.35 in precipitation 6.3 NovDecember: 8.00 in precipitation 8.0 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Elkton 3 Sw, OR (12 mi away); precipitation: Oakland 4.5 W, OR (4 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.

974869a
Umpqua, OR · 11 mi
974998b
Yoncalla, OR · 12 mi
974948b
Wilbur, OR · 12 mi
974798b
Sutherlin, OR · 13 mi
974369a
Elkton, OR · 14 mi
974358b
Drain, OR · 15 mi
974958b
Winchester, OR · 15 mi
974708b
Roseburg, OR · 19 mi

Oregon planting zones →

Questions about 97462

What planting zone is ZIP code 97462?

ZIP code 97462 (Oakland, 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 Oakland, OR?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 97462 is March 21; after April 14 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Elkton 3 Sw station.

When is the first frost in Oakland, OR?

The median first fall frost near 97462 is November 12, giving a median frost-free growing season of 240 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 97462?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 24 – Feb 7 and set transplants outside around Mar 28 – Apr 11, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 97462 get?

About 42.9 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Oakland 4.5 W station).

How hot do summers get in Oakland, OR?

The average high peaks at 86 °F in July, with about 26 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 97462 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Atring at the center of ZIP 97462: slightly decomposed plant material, well drained, pH about 4.5 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Oakland, OR in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 97462 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 Oakland, OR?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 97462 is 15 h 25 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).