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

Planting zone for 97870 — Richland, OR

ZIP code 97870 (Richland, Baker County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is May 10 and the first fall frost October 1.

Where ZIP 97870 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 frostMay 10
First frostOct 1
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 Richland, 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 Richland, OR

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 10median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 29only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 1median — 10% chance by Sep 16
Growing season141 daysfrost-free, median

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

From the NOAA station Richland, OR — 2 miles away, elevation 2,215 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 97870

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 19
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 19 – May 3
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
TomatoesTransplant · May 17 – May 31
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 24 – Jun 7
BeansSow outdoors · May 17 – May 31
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 17 – May 31
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 17 – May 31
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 6 – Aug 20
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 17 – Oct 22
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 10) and first fall frost (Oct 1) 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 97870 came on Mar 17 — 14 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 31).

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 Richland, OR.

Soil in Richland, OR

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 97870 is Balm — loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH8.2alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupB/Dmoderate when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classPrime farmland if irrigated and drainedUSDA classification

Map unit: Balm loam, 0 to 3 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 97870; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Richland, OR

Summer high92 °Faverage high, July
Winter low21 °Faverage low, December
Hot days52days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights167nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,484base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 35 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 47 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation21.3 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall62 inper year; 87 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 37 °F, low 22 °F 37°22° JanFebruary: average high 44 °F, low 25 °F 44°25° FebMarch: average high 55 °F, low 29 °F 55°29° MarApril: average high 62 °F, low 33 °F 62°33° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 41 °F 72°41° MayJune: average high 81 °F, low 48 °F 81°48° JunJuly: average high 92 °F, low 54 °F 92°54° JulAugust: average high 90 °F, low 52 °F 90°52° AugSeptember: average high 80 °F, low 43 °F 80°43° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 32 °F 64°32° OctNovember: average high 48 °F, low 26 °F 48°26° NovDecember: average high 39 °F, low 21 °F 39°21° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″January: 3.57 in precipitation, 22.8 in snowfall 3.6❄23 JanFebruary: 2.08 in precipitation, 9.3 in snowfall 2.1❄9 FebMarch: 1.85 in precipitation, 2 in snowfall 1.9❄2 MarApril: 1.55 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 1.6 AprMay: 1.78 in precipitation 1.8 MayJune: 1.31 in precipitation 1.3 JunJuly: 0.48 in precipitation 0.5 JulAugust: 0.32 in precipitation 0.3 AugSeptember: 0.68 in precipitation 0.7 SepOctober: 1.31 in precipitation 1.3 OctNovember: 2.56 in precipitation, 6.3 in snowfall 2.6❄6 NovDecember: 3.78 in precipitation, 21.6 in snowfall 3.8❄22 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Richland, OR (2 mi away); precipitation: Halfway, OR (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

978407a
Oxbow, OR · 13 mi
978346b
Halfway, OR · 17 mi
979056b
Durkee, OR · 20 mi
836107a
Cambridge, ID · 20 mi
979077a
Huntington, OR · 27 mi
836727a
Weiser, ID · 31 mi
836126a
Council, ID · 32 mi
978836b
Union, OR · 33 mi

Oregon planting zones →

Questions about 97870

What planting zone is ZIP code 97870?

ZIP code 97870 (Richland, 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 Richland, OR?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 97870 is May 10; after May 29 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Richland station.

When is the first frost in Richland, OR?

The median first fall frost near 97870 is October 1, giving a median frost-free growing season of 141 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 97870?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 15 – Mar 29 and set transplants outside around May 17 – May 31, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 97870 get?

About 21.3 inches of precipitation a year and 62 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Halfway station).

How hot do summers get in Richland, OR?

The average high peaks at 92 °F in July, with about 52 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 97870 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Balm at the center of ZIP 97870: loam, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 8.2 (alkaline).

Did spring come early in Richland, OR in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 97870 came on Mar 17 in 2026, 14 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 31), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Richland, OR?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 97870 is 15 h 35 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).