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

Planting zone for 97885 — Wallowa, OR

ZIP code 97885 (Wallowa, Wallowa County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is June 7 and the first fall frost September 9.

Where ZIP 97885 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 7
First frostSep 9
2012 zone6a

Was 6a on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. 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 Wallowa, 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 Wallowa, OR

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostJune 7median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJuly 7only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 9median — 10% chance by Aug 24
Growing season91 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 11 and returns around September 24.

From the NOAA station Wallowa, OR — 6 miles away, elevation 2,923 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 97885

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 26 – May 10
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 26 – May 17
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · May 17 – May 31
Onion setsPlant outdoors · May 10 – May 24
PotatoesPlant outdoors · May 17 – May 31
LettuceSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · May 17 – May 31
TomatoesStart indoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
TomatoesTransplant · Jun 14 – Jun 28
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 21 – Jul 5
BeansSow outdoors · Jun 14 – Jun 28
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Jun 14 – Jun 28
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Jun 14 – Jun 28
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Jul 15 – Jul 29
GarlicPlant cloves · Aug 26 – Sep 30
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Jun 7) and first fall frost (Sep 9) 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 97885 came on Mar 23 — 23 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 15).

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 Wallowa, OR.

Soil in Wallowa, OR

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 97885 is Albee — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.5neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Albee-Bocker complex, 2 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 97885; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Wallowa, OR

Summer high88 °Faverage high, July
Winter low19 °Faverage low, December
Hot days37days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights171nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,846base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 42 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 41 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation18 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall48 inper year

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 36 °F, low 20 °F 36°20° JanFebruary: average high 43 °F, low 22 °F 43°22° FebMarch: average high 52 °F, low 27 °F 52°27° MarApril: average high 60 °F, low 32 °F 60°32° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 38 °F 69°38° MayJune: average high 77 °F, low 43 °F 77°43° JunJuly: average high 88 °F, low 47 °F 88°47° JulAugust: average high 88 °F, low 45 °F 88°45° AugSeptember: average high 79 °F, low 38 °F 79°38° SepOctober: average high 63 °F, low 31 °F 63°31° OctNovember: average high 46 °F, low 25 °F 46°25° NovDecember: average high 36 °F, low 19 °F 36°19° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″January: 1.75 in precipitation, 12.4 in snowfall 1.8❄12 JanFebruary: 1.61 in precipitation, 10.4 in snowfall 1.6❄10 FebMarch: 1.59 in precipitation, 3.2 in snowfall 1.6❄3 MarApril: 1.64 in precipitation, 1 in snowfall 1.6❄1 AprMay: 2.16 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 2.2 MayJune: 1.59 in precipitation 1.6 JunJuly: 0.51 in precipitation 0.5 JulAugust: 0.78 in precipitation 0.8 AugSeptember: 0.74 in precipitation 0.7 SepOctober: 1.52 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 1.5 OctNovember: 1.95 in precipitation, 5.8 in snowfall 1.9❄6 NovDecember: 2.14 in precipitation, 14.8 in snowfall 2.1❄15 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Wallowa, OR (6 mi away); precipitation: Wallowa, OR (6 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.

978276b
Elgin, OR · 17 mi
978287a
Enterprise, OR · 19 mi
978576a
Lostine, OR · 20 mi
978246b
Cove, OR · 24 mi
978416b
Imbler, OR · 24 mi
978766b
Summerville, OR · 27 mi
978466a
Joseph, OR · 32 mi
994017a
Anatone, WA · 33 mi

Oregon planting zones →

Questions about 97885

What planting zone is ZIP code 97885?

ZIP code 97885 (Wallowa, 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 Wallowa, OR?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 97885 is June 7; after July 7 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Wallowa station.

When is the first frost in Wallowa, OR?

The median first fall frost near 97885 is September 9, giving a median frost-free growing season of 91 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 97885?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Apr 12 – Apr 26 and set transplants outside around Jun 14 – Jun 28, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 97885 get?

About 18 inches of precipitation a year and 48 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Wallowa station).

How hot do summers get in Wallowa, OR?

The average high peaks at 88 °F in July, with about 37 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 97885 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Albee at the center of ZIP 97885: silt loam, well drained, pH about 6.5 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Wallowa, OR in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 97885 came on Mar 23 in 2026, 23 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 15), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Wallowa, OR?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 97885 is 15 h 42 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 97885 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 97885 in zone 6a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.