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

Planting zone for 97703 — Bend, OR

ZIP code 97703 (Bend, Deschutes County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is June 6 and the first fall frost September 20.

Where ZIP 97703 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.

Zone6b−5 to 0 °F
Coldest night−20.6 to −17.8 °C
Last frostJun 6
First frostSep 20
2012 zone6b

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 6b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Bend, 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 Bend, OR

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostJune 6median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 22only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 20median — 10% chance by Sep 3
Growing season105 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 11 and returns around October 4.

From the NOAA station Bend, OR — 9 miles away, elevation 3,662 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 97703

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 16
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · May 16 – May 30
Onion setsPlant outdoors · May 9 – May 23
PotatoesPlant outdoors · May 16 – May 30
LettuceSow outdoors · May 9 – May 23
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · May 16 – May 30
TomatoesStart indoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
TomatoesTransplant · Jun 13 – Jun 27
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 20 – Jul 4
BeansSow outdoors · Jun 13 – Jun 27
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Jun 13 – Jun 27
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Jun 13 – Jun 27
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Jul 26 – Aug 9
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 6 – Oct 11
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Jun 6) and first fall frost (Sep 20) 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 97703 came on Mar 11 — 16 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 27).

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 6b in Oregon

613 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Oregon, and rated by the USDA to survive −5 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 40

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 114

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 287

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 161

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 Bend, OR.

Soil in Bend, OR

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 97703 is Deskamp — loamy sand, somewhat excessively drained.

TextureLoamy sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH7.0neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat excessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Deskamp-Gosney complex, 0 to 8 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 97703; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Bend, OR

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low23 °Faverage low, December
Hot days17days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights163nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,728base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 31 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)
Precipitation14.2 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 42 °F, low 24 °F 42°24° JanFebruary: average high 45 °F, low 25 °F 45°25° FebMarch: average high 51 °F, low 28 °F 51°28° MarApril: average high 57 °F, low 31 °F 57°31° AprMay: average high 65 °F, low 38 °F 65°38° MayJune: average high 72 °F, low 43 °F 72°43° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 49 °F 82°49° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 49 °F 82°49° AugSeptember: average high 74 °F, low 42 °F 74°42° SepOctober: average high 62 °F, low 34 °F 62°34° OctNovember: average high 48 °F, low 28 °F 48°28° NovDecember: average high 41 °F, low 23 °F 41°23° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″January: 1.29 in precipitation 1.3 JanFebruary: 1.28 in precipitation 1.3 FebMarch: 0.90 in precipitation 0.9 MarApril: 0.87 in precipitation 0.9 AprMay: 2.25 in precipitation 2.3 MayJune: 0.86 in precipitation 0.9 JunJuly: 0.65 in precipitation 0.7 JulAugust: 0.61 in precipitation 0.6 AugSeptember: 0.48 in precipitation 0.5 SepOctober: 0.85 in precipitation 0.8 OctNovember: 2.58 in precipitation 2.6 NovDecember: 1.61 in precipitation 1.6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Bend 7 Ne, OR (9 mi away); precipitation: Bend 5.1 Nnw, OR (3 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.

977086b
Bend, OR · 9 mi
977566b
Redmond, OR · 12 mi
977026b
Bend, OR · 16 mi
977606b
Terrebonne, OR · 16 mi
977536b
Powell Butte, OR · 20 mi
977016b
Bend, OR · 21 mi
977347a
Culver, OR · 25 mi
977076a
Bend, OR · 25 mi

All 6 ZIP codes in Bend → · Oregon planting zones →

Questions about 97703

What planting zone is ZIP code 97703?

ZIP code 97703 (Bend, OR) is in USDA hardiness zone 6b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −5 to 0 °F (−20.6 to −17.8 °C).

When is the last frost in Bend, OR?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 97703 is June 6; after June 22 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Bend station.

When is the first frost in Bend, OR?

The median first fall frost near 97703 is September 20, giving a median frost-free growing season of 105 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 97703?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Apr 11 – Apr 25 and set transplants outside around Jun 13 – Jun 27, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 97703 get?

About 14.2 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Bend 5.1 Nnw station).

How hot do summers get in Bend, OR?

The average high peaks at 82 °F in July, with about 17 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 97703 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Deskamp at the center of ZIP 97703: loamy sand, somewhat excessively drained, pH about 7.0 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Bend, OR in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 97703 came on Mar 11 in 2026, 16 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 27), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Bend, OR?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 97703 is 15 h 31 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).