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

Planting zone for 98227 — Bellingham, WA

ZIP code 98227 (Bellingham, Whatcom County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is April 1 and the first fall frost November 2.

Where ZIP 98227 is

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.

Zone8b15 to 20 °F
Coldest night−9.4 to −6.7 °C
Last frostApr 1
First frostNov 2
2012 zone8a

Was 8a 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 8b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Bellingham, WA…

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 Bellingham, WA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 1median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 24only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 2median — 10% chance by Oct 15
Growing season216 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 6 and returns around November 21.

From the NOAA station Bellingham 3 Ssw, WA — 3 miles away, elevation 16 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 98227

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 18 – Mar 11
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 21 – Feb 4
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 11 – Mar 25
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 4 – Feb 18
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 21 – Feb 4
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 15 – Apr 29
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 7 – Sep 21
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 19 – Nov 23
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 1) and first fall frost (Nov 2) 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 98227 came on Feb 17 — 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 23).

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 8b in Washington

614 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Washington, and rated by the USDA to survive 15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 8b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 32

Alaska cedar75 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −22 °FAmerican sycamore100 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −34 °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 °F

Shrubs 114

alderleaf buckthorn3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAllegheny serviceberry35 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine laurel1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −28 °FAmerican plum24 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Fantelope bitterbrush6 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −36 °FBarclay's willow15 ft · high shade tolerance · to −43 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 293

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 157

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 3

riverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Ftrumpet creeper2 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −13 °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 Bellingham, WA.

Soil in Bellingham, WA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 98227 is Whatcom — ashy silt loam, moderately well drained. Much of the area is built over (urban land); this is the natural soil underneath.

TextureAshy silt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.1slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter6%high
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Urban land-Whatcom-Labounty 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 98227; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Bellingham, WA

Summer high75 °Faverage high, July
Winter low35 °Faverage low, January
Hot days0days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights43nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,880base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day16 h 10 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 15 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation38.2 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 48 °F, low 35 °F 48°35° JanFebruary: average high 50 °F, low 35 °F 50°35° FebMarch: average high 54 °F, low 38 °F 54°38° MarApril: average high 59 °F, low 42 °F 59°42° AprMay: average high 66 °F, low 46 °F 66°46° MayJune: average high 70 °F, low 51 °F 70°51° JunJuly: average high 75 °F, low 54 °F 75°54° JulAugust: average high 75 °F, low 54 °F 75°54° AugSeptember: average high 69 °F, low 50 °F 69°50° SepOctober: average high 60 °F, low 44 °F 60°44° OctNovember: average high 52 °F, low 39 °F 52°39° NovDecember: average high 47 °F, low 35 °F 47°35° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 4.98 in precipitation 5.0 JanFebruary: 3.16 in precipitation 3.2 FebMarch: 3.89 in precipitation 3.9 MarApril: 2.99 in precipitation 3.0 AprMay: 2.41 in precipitation 2.4 MayJune: 1.78 in precipitation 1.8 JunJuly: 1.03 in precipitation 1.0 JulAugust: 1.13 in precipitation 1.1 AugSeptember: 2.03 in precipitation 2.0 SepOctober: 3.91 in precipitation 3.9 OctNovember: 5.83 in precipitation 5.8 NovDecember: 5.06 in precipitation 5.1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Bellingham 3 Ssw, WA (3 mi away); precipitation: Bellingham 2.4 Sw, WA (3 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.

982288b
Bellingham, WA · <1 mi
982258b
Bellingham, WA · <1 mi
982268a
Bellingham, WA · 4 mi
982298a
Bellingham, WA · 6 mi
982488b
Ferndale, WA · 10 mi
982628b
Lummi Island, WA · 10 mi
982478a
Everson, WA · 12 mi
982648a
Lynden, WA · 13 mi

All 5 ZIP codes in Bellingham → · Washington planting zones →

Questions about 98227

What planting zone is ZIP code 98227?

ZIP code 98227 (Bellingham, WA) is in USDA hardiness zone 8b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 15 to 20 °F (−9.4 to −6.7 °C).

When is the last frost in Bellingham, WA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 98227 is April 1; after April 24 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Bellingham 3 Ssw station.

When is the first frost in Bellingham, WA?

The median first fall frost near 98227 is November 2, giving a median frost-free growing season of 216 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 98227?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 4 – Feb 18 and set transplants outside around Apr 8 – Apr 22, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 98227 get?

About 38.2 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Bellingham 2.4 Sw station).

How hot do summers get in Bellingham, WA?

The average high peaks at 75 °F in July, with about 0 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 98227 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Whatcom at the center of ZIP 98227: ashy silt loam, moderately well drained, pH about 6.1 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Bellingham, WA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 98227 came on Feb 17 in 2026, 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 23), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Bellingham, WA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 98227 is 16 h 10 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 98227 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 98227 in zone 8a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 8b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.