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

Planting zone for 97641 — Christmas Valley, OR

ZIP code 97641 (Christmas Valley, Lake County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is June 8 and the first fall frost September 15.

Where ZIP 97641 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.

Zone6a−10 to −5 °F
Coldest night−23.3 to −20.6 °C
Last frostJun 8
First frostSep 15
2012 zone6a

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 6a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Christmas Valley, 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 Christmas Valley, OR

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostJune 8median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 25only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 15median — 10% chance by Aug 31
Growing season96 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 18 and returns around September 29.

From the NOAA station Summer Lake 1 S, OR — 26 miles away, elevation 4,193 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 97641

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 27 – May 18
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · May 18 – Jun 1
Onion setsPlant outdoors · May 11 – May 25
PotatoesPlant outdoors · May 18 – Jun 1
LettuceSow outdoors · May 11 – May 25
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · May 18 – Jun 1
TomatoesStart indoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
TomatoesTransplant · Jun 15 – Jun 29
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 22 – Jul 6
BeansSow outdoors · Jun 15 – Jun 29
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Jun 15 – Jun 29
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Jun 15 – Jun 29
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Jul 21 – Aug 4
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 1 – Oct 6
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Jun 8) and first fall frost (Sep 15) 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 97641 came on Mar 19 — 20 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 8).

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 6a in Oregon

607 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Oregon, and rated by the USDA to survive −10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 39

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 113

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 284

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 160

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 Christmas Valley, OR.

Soil in Christmas Valley, OR

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 97641 is Abert — ashy loamy sand, well drained.

TextureAshy loamy sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH7.0neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.6%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Abert ashy loamy sand, 0 to 2 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 97641; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Christmas Valley, OR

Summer high85 °Faverage high, July
Winter low18 °Faverage low, December
Hot days24days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights211nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,414base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 24 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 58 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation11.2 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall7 inper year; 2 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 39 °F, low 21 °F 39°21° JanFebruary: average high 43 °F, low 22 °F 43°22° FebMarch: average high 51 °F, low 25 °F 51°25° MarApril: average high 57 °F, low 27 °F 57°27° AprMay: average high 66 °F, low 34 °F 66°34° MayJune: average high 74 °F, low 40 °F 74°40° JunJuly: average high 85 °F, low 45 °F 85°45° JulAugust: average high 83 °F, low 43 °F 83°43° AugSeptember: average high 76 °F, low 35 °F 76°35° SepOctober: average high 61 °F, low 28 °F 61°28° OctNovember: average high 46 °F, low 23 °F 46°23° NovDecember: average high 38 °F, low 18 °F 38°18° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″January: 1.29 in precipitation, 1 in snowfall 1.3❄1 JanFebruary: 0.89 in precipitation, 3 in snowfall 0.9❄3 FebMarch: 1.39 in precipitation, 0.9 in snowfall 1.4❄1 MarApril: 0.84 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 0.8❄1 AprMay: 1.27 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 1.3 MayJune: 0.70 in precipitation 0.7 JunJuly: 0.43 in precipitation 0.4 JulAugust: 0.46 in precipitation 0.5 AugSeptember: 0.50 in precipitation 0.5 SepOctober: 0.75 in precipitation 0.8 OctNovember: 1.18 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 1.2 NovDecember: 1.45 in precipitation, 0.9 in snowfall 1.4❄1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: The Poplars, OR (21 mi away); precipitation: The Poplars, OR (21 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

976406b
Summer Lake, OR · 21 mi
977356a
Fort Rock, OR · 24 mi
976386a
Silver Lake, OR · 26 mi
977126a
Brothers, OR · 34 mi
977586a
Riley, OR · 40 mi
976366b
Paisley, OR · 44 mi
977396b
La Pine, OR · 55 mi
977016b
Bend, OR · 55 mi

Oregon planting zones →

Questions about 97641

What planting zone is ZIP code 97641?

ZIP code 97641 (Christmas Valley, OR) is in USDA hardiness zone 6a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −10 to −5 °F (−23.3 to −20.6 °C).

When is the last frost in Christmas Valley, OR?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 97641 is June 8; after June 25 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Summer Lake 1 S station.

When is the first frost in Christmas Valley, OR?

The median first fall frost near 97641 is September 15, giving a median frost-free growing season of 96 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 97641?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Apr 13 – Apr 27 and set transplants outside around Jun 15 – Jun 29, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 97641 get?

About 11.2 inches of precipitation a year and 7 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, The Poplars station).

How hot do summers get in Christmas Valley, OR?

The average high peaks at 85 °F in July, with about 24 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 97641 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Abert at the center of ZIP 97641: ashy loamy sand, well drained, pH about 7.0 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Christmas Valley, OR in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 97641 came on Mar 19 in 2026, 20 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 8), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Christmas Valley, OR?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 97641 is 15 h 24 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).