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

Planting zone for 98445 — Tacoma, WA

ZIP code 98445 (Tacoma, Pierce County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is April 11 and the first fall frost October 30.

Where ZIP 98445 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.

Zone8b15 to 20 °F
Coldest night−9.4 to −6.7 °C
Last frostApr 11
First frostOct 30
2012 zone8b

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 8b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Tacoma, 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 Tacoma, WA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 11median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 29only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 30median — 10% chance by Oct 13
Growing season202 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 16 and returns around November 14.

From the NOAA station Mcmillin Rsvr, WA — 7 miles away, elevation 581 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 98445

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 21
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 21 – Apr 4
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 18 – May 2
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 25 – May 9
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 4 – Sep 18
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 16 – Nov 20
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 11) and first fall frost (Oct 30) 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 98445 came on Feb 18 — 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 25).

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 Tacoma, WA.

Soil in Tacoma, WA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 98445 is Alderwood — gravelly sandy loam, moderately well drained.

TextureGravelly sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.8moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter9%high
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classPrime farmland if irrigatedUSDA classification

Map unit: Alderwood gravelly sandy loam, 8 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 98445; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Tacoma, WA

Summer high77 °Faverage high, August
Winter low33 °Faverage low, January
Hot days3days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights60nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,715base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 55 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 29 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation42.9 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 46 °F, low 33 °F 46°33° JanFebruary: average high 48 °F, low 33 °F 48°33° FebMarch: average high 52 °F, low 36 °F 52°36° MarApril: average high 57 °F, low 39 °F 57°39° AprMay: average high 64 °F, low 45 °F 64°45° MayJune: average high 69 °F, low 49 °F 69°49° JunJuly: average high 76 °F, low 52 °F 76°52° JulAugust: average high 77 °F, low 53 °F 77°53° AugSeptember: average high 70 °F, low 48 °F 70°48° SepOctober: average high 59 °F, low 42 °F 59°42° OctNovember: average high 50 °F, low 36 °F 50°36° NovDecember: average high 45 °F, low 33 °F 45°33° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″January: 5.83 in precipitation 5.8 JanFebruary: 4.57 in precipitation 4.6 FebMarch: 4.44 in precipitation 4.4 MarApril: 3.32 in precipitation 3.3 AprMay: 2.64 in precipitation 2.6 MayJune: 1.76 in precipitation 1.8 JunJuly: 0.78 in precipitation 0.8 JulAugust: 1.23 in precipitation 1.2 AugSeptember: 2.08 in precipitation 2.1 SepOctober: 3.89 in precipitation 3.9 OctNovember: 6.45 in precipitation 6.5 NovDecember: 5.89 in precipitation 5.9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Mcmillin Rsvr, WA (7 mi away); precipitation: Summit 1.1 Wsw, WA (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 8b.

984468b
Tacoma, WA · 1 mi
984448b
Tacoma, WA · 2 mi
983738b
Puyallup, WA · 4 mi
984388b
Mcchord Afb, WA · 4 mi
983758b
Puyallup, WA · 4 mi
984088b
Tacoma, WA · 5 mi
984398b
Lakewood, WA · 5 mi
984438b
Tacoma, WA · 5 mi

All 33 ZIP codes in Tacoma → · Washington planting zones →

Questions about 98445

What planting zone is ZIP code 98445?

ZIP code 98445 (Tacoma, 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 Tacoma, WA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 98445 is April 11; after April 29 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Mcmillin Rsvr station.

When is the first frost in Tacoma, WA?

The median first fall frost near 98445 is October 30, giving a median frost-free growing season of 202 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 98445?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 14 – Feb 28 and set transplants outside around Apr 18 – May 2, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 98445 get?

About 42.9 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Summit 1.1 Wsw station).

How hot do summers get in Tacoma, WA?

The average high peaks at 77 °F in August, with about 3 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 98445 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Alderwood at the center of ZIP 98445: gravelly sandy loam, moderately well drained, pH about 5.8 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Tacoma, WA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 98445 came on Feb 18 in 2026, 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 25), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Tacoma, WA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 98445 is 15 h 55 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).