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

Planting zone for 97754 — Prineville, OR

ZIP code 97754 (Prineville, Crook County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is June 2 and the first fall frost September 17.

Where ZIP 97754 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 2
First frostSep 17
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 Prineville, 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 Prineville, OR

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostJune 2median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 25only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 17median — 10% chance by Aug 30
Growing season104 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 12 and returns around September 30.

From the NOAA station Barnes Stn, OR — 19 miles away, elevation 3,970 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 97754

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 21 – May 12
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · May 12 – May 26
Onion setsPlant outdoors · May 5 – May 19
PotatoesPlant outdoors · May 12 – May 26
LettuceSow outdoors · May 5 – May 19
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · May 12 – May 26
TomatoesStart indoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
TomatoesTransplant · Jun 9 – Jun 23
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 16 – Jun 30
BeansSow outdoors · Jun 9 – Jun 23
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Jun 9 – Jun 23
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Jun 9 – Jun 23
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Jul 23 – Aug 6
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 3 – Oct 8
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Jun 2) and first fall frost (Sep 17) 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 97754 came on Mar 14 — 19 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 2).

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 Prineville, OR.

Soil in Prineville, OR

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 97754 is Merlin — very stony ashy loam, well drained.

TextureVery stony ashy loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.6neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Merlin-Choptie complex, 0 to 15 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 97754; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Prineville, OR

Summer high89 °Faverage high, July
Winter low23 °Faverage low, January
Hot days39days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights175nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,108base 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)
Precipitation11.4 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 41 °F, low 23 °F 41°23° JanFebruary: average high 46 °F, low 26 °F 46°26° FebMarch: average high 53 °F, low 29 °F 53°29° MarApril: average high 60 °F, low 32 °F 60°32° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 39 °F 69°39° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 44 °F 78°44° JunJuly: average high 89 °F, low 50 °F 89°50° JulAugust: average high 88 °F, low 48 °F 88°48° AugSeptember: average high 80 °F, low 41 °F 80°41° SepOctober: average high 65 °F, low 33 °F 65°33° OctNovember: average high 49 °F, low 28 °F 49°28° NovDecember: average high 40 °F, low 23 °F 40°23° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″January: 1.15 in precipitation 1.1 JanFebruary: 0.97 in precipitation 1.0 FebMarch: 0.87 in precipitation 0.9 MarApril: 1.18 in precipitation 1.2 AprMay: 1.56 in precipitation 1.6 MayJune: 1.03 in precipitation 1.0 JunJuly: 0.44 in precipitation 0.4 JulAugust: 0.39 in precipitation 0.4 AugSeptember: 0.48 in precipitation 0.5 SepOctober: 0.89 in precipitation 0.9 OctNovember: 1.17 in precipitation 1.2 NovDecember: 1.31 in precipitation 1.3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Barnes Stn, OR (19 mi away); precipitation: Prineville 2.6 Ene, OR (19 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

977526a
Post, OR · 16 mi
977536b
Powell Butte, OR · 24 mi
977126a
Brothers, OR · 25 mi
977016b
Bend, OR · 27 mi
977566b
Redmond, OR · 35 mi
977026b
Bend, OR · 36 mi
977606b
Terrebonne, OR · 40 mi
977117a
Ashwood, OR · 41 mi

Oregon planting zones →

Questions about 97754

What planting zone is ZIP code 97754?

ZIP code 97754 (Prineville, 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 Prineville, OR?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 97754 is June 2; after June 25 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Barnes Stn station.

When is the first frost in Prineville, OR?

The median first fall frost near 97754 is September 17, giving a median frost-free growing season of 104 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 97754?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Apr 7 – Apr 21 and set transplants outside around Jun 9 – Jun 23, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 97754 get?

About 11.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Prineville 2.6 Ene station).

How hot do summers get in Prineville, OR?

The average high peaks at 89 °F in July, with about 39 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 97754 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Merlin at the center of ZIP 97754: very stony ashy loam, well drained, pH about 6.6 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Prineville, OR in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 97754 came on Mar 14 in 2026, 19 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 2), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Prineville, OR?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 97754 is 15 h 30 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).