Conditional — Some Areas
cinnamon (zones 10-12) reaches only part of Oregon (5a-10a): zone 10 are in range, so where you are in the state decides it.
One zone short — what would close it
Cinnamon is hardy to zone 10, and the warmest ground in Oregon is zone 9 — 1 zone short. Planted in open ground it will not survive a Oregon winter. To grow it here, grow cinnamon in a container and move it under cover for the coldest weeks, or give it a greenhouse.
Season extension and overwintering under cover both work at this margin. How to buy the weeks →
Zone math from 10-12 (plant) against 5-9 (Oregon). Lift modeled by crop_engine Sprint 20B effective_zone_modifier (+2 zones) via api/fast_sections.py Unlock Engine v2.
Your yard isn't the whole zone.
Oregon spans zones 5a-10a, but your yard sits in exactly one — and slope, tree cover, and cold-air pockets nudge it further. Enter your address and we'll score cinnamon against your parcel's actual hardiness, soil, and sun.
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Zone Comparison
Cinnamon Needs
- USDA Zones: 10-12
- Frost-Free Days: 300+
- Sun: Full Sun
- Mature size: 45 ft tall
- Drought tolerance: Low
Oregon Has
- USDA Zones: 5a-10a
- Last Hard Freeze (28°F): Feb 25 - Apr 26
- First Hard Freeze (28°F): Oct 19 - Nov 26
- Annual Rainfall: 8-90 inches
- Common Soils: Volcanic, Silt loam (Willamette), Sandy loam
Plant Zone Range (zones 10-12)
Preferred Soil pH
Plant data: USDA PLANTS Database / Growable Ground plant catalog. State data: USDA ARS PHZM 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, NRCS SSURGO.
When to Plant Cinnamon in Oregon
The frost window
Across Oregon, the last spring hard freeze (28°F) clears between Feb 25 and Apr 26, and the first fall hard freeze lands between Oct 19 and Nov 26 (NOAA Regional Climate Centers ACIS, 1991-2020). Counting from the latest last freeze to the earliest first freeze, that's a 176-day window you can count on — up to 274 days on a mild site in a kind year. That marks the hard freeze, not the last light frost, so tender transplants usually wait another 2-3 weeks.
Winter standing
Cinnamon overwinters from USDA zone 10 and warmer (NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder), and Oregon runs as cold as zone 5, so it does not survive winter in the ground here. It is a woody plant rather than a crop you resow each spring, so neither a fall establishment date nor a harvest countdown describes it in Oregon — which is why this page gives neither. What it needs here is a way through winter, not a planting date.
Timing tuned to sub-state frost dates — Klamath County, not the statewide average.
Frost window: NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020. Plant timing fields: USDA PLANTS Database. Your site's own frost dates can run earlier or later than the state range — a parcel report pins them down.
Growing Season Fit
The zone check says cinnamon survives winter in part of Oregon, not across all of it. Whether the season is long enough — and warm enough — is a different question.
Frost-free days
Cinnamon wants 300+ frost-free days; a typical Oregon site sees ~213 (NOAA Regional Climate Centers ACIS, 1991-2020) — 87 days short of what it needs. A typical Oregon season does not carry this crop to harvest outdoors, and a gap that size is not one an earlier sowing date or a faster cultivar closes; growing it here means growing it under cover.
Growing degree days
Cinnamon needs ~5000 GDD (base 50°F) to ripen. The state median runs ~1666 GDD (from PRISM 1991-2020 climate normals), so Oregon's typical season runs short on heat — pick a south-facing site and consider season extension.
GDD and chill-hour figures are computed from PRISM 1991-2020 monthly climate normals; frost-free days from NOAA Regional Climate Centers ACIS, 1991-2020. Each is the state median across its counties (P25/P75 span the within-state spread). Hardiness-zone range is USDA PHZM 2023.
Soil + Drainage Fit
Cinnamon likes near-neutral soil (pH 5-7). That's the common-ground band across Oregon's volcanic and silt loam (willamette) — a soil test confirms it for your site. It will grow across that whole span, but it does best between pH 5.5 and 6.5 — worth knowing before you decide whether a Oregon soil test result is a problem or just a number. Drainage matters: this plant wants well (dry spells). If your Oregon site is heavier clay or sits in a low spot, raised beds or amendment with compost solve it.
Your land, not the state average
Oregon's soils run mostly silt loam, but SSURGO maps the series, texture, and drainage under your exact parcel. Cinnamon needs about 59 inches of workable depth, so it is that horizon — not the surface — you are testing for. That map unit, not the state average, decides how cinnamon performs.
Check your parcel → Source: USDA NRCS SSURGO.
Plant pH and drainage requirements from USDA PLANTS Database. Oregon soil profile from USDA NRCS SSURGO. Site-specific verification: a 30-minute soil test from your local Extension lab.
Cinnamon in Oregon — Quick Answer
- Verdict: Conditional — Some Areas
- Plant Zones: 10-12 (USDA PLANTS Database)
- State Zones: 5a-10a (USDA ARS PHZM 2023)
- Growing Season: 28°F hard freezes about Feb 25 - Apr 26 to Oct 19 - Nov 26 (NOAA Regional Climate Centers ACIS, 1991-2020)
- Days to Maturity: 365 days
What Else to Consider for Cinnamon in Oregon
Zone compatibility tells you about winter cold survival — but Oregon growers also need to think about:
West side: excessive rain and overcast skies reduce sun for warm-season crops
East side: arid conditions (8-15 inches rainfall) require irrigation
Slug pressure is extreme in western Oregon
Mountain areas have very short seasons (60-90 frost-free days)
Growing cinnamon here specifically
At ~365 days to harvest, cinnamon barely fits Oregon's ~213 frost-free days — there's little slack if spring runs cold.
Give cinnamon an indoor head start and a row cover in fall to beat the first freeze. How to handle it →
What to actually do about these — and the constraints that apply to every Oregon grower, not just cinnamon — is covered on the Oregon growing guide.
Timing shifts within Oregon
Oregon isn't one climate. In Klamath County, the last hard freeze (28°F) holds until about Jun 9 — roughly 67 days later than the recorded state median — so plant cinnamon to your county's window, not the statewide date.
Cinnamon needs about 300 days of frost-free season to complete its cycle. 1 of Oregon’s 36 counties give it that outright. The tightest that does is Lincoln County at 308 frost-free days — 8 to spare. Below that line you are transplanting or extending the season, not direct-sowing.
Across Oregon’s 36 counties the frost-free season runs from 86 days in Klamath County to 308 days in Lincoln County — a spread of 222 days, which is why a single statewide planting date misleads. The median Oregon county sees 213 frost-free days, which is 87 days short of what cinnamon needs — so on a typical Oregon parcel this is a transplant-or-protect crop, not a direct-sow one.
County last-freeze dates and frost-free day counts: NOAA Regional Climate Centers ACIS (1991-2020), county 28°F freeze (earlier than the folk 32°F "last frost"). Cinnamon's 300-day requirement: USDA PLANTS / Growable Ground plant database (minimum frost-free days). A parcel report resolves your address's own frost dates.
Pollinator + Wildlife Value
Cinnamon draws honeybees (low value, Growable Ground Plant Database). Planting it near vegetable beds can lift fruit set on neighboring crops. Outdoors, cinnamon can only work that bloom inside Oregon's frost window — roughly 213 days, opening after the last 28°F freeze (Feb 25 - Apr 26) and closing at the first (Oct 19 - Nov 26), per NOAA Regional Climate Centers ACIS, 1991-2020.
Good to Know Before You Plant Cinnamon
Cinnamon is listed as toxic to dogs, cats (bark) at a mild level (Pet Poison Helpline). Most listed plants only cause brief upset — a raised bed or a fenced corner usually keeps curious pets clear. Worth knowing for placement: cinnamon is woody and hardy only from zone 10, against a Oregon low of zone 5, so it is overwintered under cover here rather than left standing outside — which is where it will be in reach.
Recommended Cinnamon Varieties for Oregon
Oregon publishes no state variety trial for cinnamon, so we won't invent a "best for Oregon" list. Choose types rated to your USDA hardiness zone (5a-10a), and confirm winter survival and drainage against your own parcel.
Oregon Cooperative Extension
For Oregon-specific cultivar recommendations, planting calendars, and pest pressure for cinnamon, the canonical source is OSU Extension Service. Their fact sheets carry the local trial data we can't generalize across 50 states.
Is Cinnamon native to Oregon?
No — the USDA PLANTS Database lists Cinnamon as introduced rather than native in the Lower 48, so it is not part of Oregon's native flora. It grows here as a garden plant; pairing it with a few Oregon natives keeps local pollinators fed too.
Looking for plants that belong here? The Oregon growing guide lists USDA-documented natives for the state.
Native-range data: USDA PLANTS Database state-distribution records, accessed 2026-07-01.
Common Questions About Growing Cinnamon in Oregon
When can I plant Cinnamon in Oregon?
Oregon's last spring hard freeze (28°F) clears between Feb 25 and Apr 26, and the first fall hard freeze lands between Oct 19 and Nov 26 (NOAA Regional Climate Centers ACIS, 1991-2020). Cinnamon overwinters only from USDA zone 10 and warmer, and Oregon runs as cold as zone 5, so it does not survive winter in the ground here — the question for Oregon growers is how to carry it through winter under cover, not which week to plant it.
What hardiness zone is Cinnamon grown in across Oregon?
Oregon spans USDA hardiness zones 5a-10a (USDA ARS PHZM 2023). Cinnamon carries a range of zones 10-12, so the overlap zones are where outdoor growing is most reliable.
How many frost-free days does a typical Oregon site have?
A typical Oregon site sees ~213 frost-free days per year (derived from NOAA Regional Climate Centers ACIS, 1991-2020). Cinnamon needs 300+ frost-free days, so check whether your local microclimate runs above or below the state average before settling on a planting date. In cooler counties like Klamath, the freeze-free season runs shorter than the state average, so verify your own county's window.
Is Cinnamon native to Oregon?
No — the USDA PLANTS Database lists Cinnamon as introduced rather than native in the Lower 48, so it is not part of Oregon's native flora. It grows here as a garden plant; pairing it with a few Oregon natives keeps local pollinators fed too.
How should I amend the soil for Cinnamon in Oregon?
Cinnamon prefers pH 5-7 and well (dry spells) drainage (FAO ECOCROP). That sits in the common-ground band across Oregon soils — a 30-minute soil test from a local Extension lab confirms it for your specific site.
Will Cinnamon actually grow on my specific land in Oregon?
State-level zone + climate data is a sketch. A Growable Ground parcel report scores cinnamon against your address's exact soil pH, drainage, sun, and frost-date data drawn from USDA SSURGO, NOAA, and PRISM — not state averages.
Check your specific parcel in Oregon
State-level data is a sketch. Your Growable Ground report scores cinnamon against your parcel's exact soil, sun, drainage, and frost data — not zone averages.
Three things about your lot that Oregon cinnamon averages can't show:
We read public map data around Oregon — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
25+ data sources read at your address, not the Oregon cinnamon average
Explore More
Growing guides for cinnamon
Analysis by the Growable Ground research team, grounded in USDA PLANTS, USDA NRCS SSURGO, NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020), and named Cooperative Extension sources. How we know →
Cite this dataset
Kirchick, M. (2026). Growable Ground Plant Database [Data set]. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21435643
Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. DOI 10.5281/zenodo.21435643
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