Generally — Most Areas
rice (zones 5-12) partially overlaps with Washington (4a-9a). It can grow in zones 5-9 within the state.
Your yard isn't the whole zone.
Rice is grown as an annual, so your winter zone isn't the deciding factor — your frost-free window is, and slope, trees, and low spots move the last-frost date across a single yard. Enter your address and we'll score rice against your parcel's actual frost dates, sun, and soil.
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Zone Comparison
Rice Needs
- USDA Zones: 5-12
- Soil pH: 4.5 - 9
- Sun: Full Sun
- Drainage: poorly (saturated >50% of year)
- Frost-Free Days: 80+
Washington Has
- USDA Zones: 4a-9a
- Last Frost: Mar 1 - Jun 1
- First Frost: Sep 15 - Nov 15
- Annual Rainfall: 6-90 inches
- Common Soils: Volcanic ash, Silt loam (Palouse), Sandy loam
Plant Zone Range (zones 5-12)
Preferred Soil pH
Plant data: USDA PLANTS Database / plant_species_v5.csv. State data: USDA ARS PHZM 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, NRCS SSURGO.
When to Plant Rice in Washington
The frost window
Across Washington, the last spring frost clears between Mar 1 and Jun 1, and the first fall frost lands between Sep 15 and Nov 15 (NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020). Counting from the latest last frost to the earliest first frost, that's a 106-day window you can count on — up to 259 days on a mild site in a kind year.
Frost tenderness
Rice is frost-tender — its listed minimum temperature is 50°F (USDA PLANTS Database) — so set plants out after the last frost has cleared your local site, not the state's earliest date.
Days to maturity vs. the window
At 120 days to maturity (USDA PLANTS Database), the fit is tight: Washington's dependable window runs 106 days. Starting seeds indoors and transplanting at the front of the window banks the difference.
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
Zone compatibility says you can survive winter here. Whether the growing season is long enough — and warm enough — is a different question.
Frost-free days
Rice wants 80+ frost-free days; a typical Washington site sees ~130 (NOAA Climate Normals). That leaves a workable window — start indoors to bank time.
Growing degree days
Rice needs ~2500 GDD (base 50°F) to ripen. The state median runs ~2250 GDD (USDA NRCS county aggregates), so Washington's typical season runs short on heat — pick a south-facing site and consider season extension.
Climate aggregates derive from USDA NRCS county-level hardiness data + Cornell CALS Extension GDD-by-region tables + MSU Extension chill-hours-by-zone (1991-2020 NOAA Climate Normals baseline).
Soil + Drainage Fit
Rice likes near-neutral soil (pH 4.5-9). That's the common-ground band across Washington's volcanic ash and silt loam (palouse) — a soil test confirms it for your site. Drainage requirement: poorly (saturated >50% of year). A soil-survey lookup (NRCS SSURGO) flags whether your specific site matches.
Plant pH and drainage requirements from USDA PLANTS Database. Washington soil profile from USDA NRCS SSURGO. Site-specific verification: a 30-minute soil test from your local Extension lab.
Rice in Washington — Quick Answer
- Verdict: Generally — Most Areas
- Plant Zones: 5-12 (USDA PLANTS Database)
- State Zones: 4a-9a (USDA ARS PHZM 2023)
- Growing Season: Mar 1 - Jun 1 to Sep 15 - Nov 15 (NOAA Climate Normals)
- Days to Maturity: 120 days
What Else to Consider
Zone compatibility tells you about winter cold survival — but Washington growers also need to think about:
Extreme rain divide: 90+ inches west, 6 inches east of Cascades
Plant to your side of the Cascades, not to the state — your exact spot's rainfall decides the whole plan.
East side requires irrigation — no rain from June through September
With no summer rain, drip lines and deep mulch are the growing season — set them up before June.
Slug and root rot pressure on the wet west side
Raise the beds, bait the slugs, and water mornings only — the wet-side trio that keeps roots and leaves healthy; extension has the details.
Short seasons at elevation in the Cascades and northeast corners
In the short-season corners, fast varieties plus a cold frame or tunnel reliably close the gap.
Washington Cooperative Extension
For Washington-specific cultivar recommendations, planting calendars, and pest pressure for rice, the canonical source is WSU Extension. Their fact sheets carry the local trial data we can't generalize across 50 states.
Is Rice native to Washington?
No — the USDA PLANTS Database lists Rice as introduced rather than native in the Lower 48, so it is not part of Washington's native flora. It grows here as a garden plant; pairing it with a few Washington natives keeps local pollinators fed too.
Looking for plants that belong here? The Washington 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 Rice in Washington
When can I plant Rice in Washington?
Washington's last spring frost clears between Mar 1 and Jun 1, and the first fall frost lands between Sep 15 and Nov 15 (NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020). Rice is frost-tender — its listed minimum temperature is 50°F (USDA PLANTS Database) — so wait until the last frost has cleared your specific site before planting out.
Can Rice mature before first frost in Washington?
It's close: Rice needs 120 days to mature (USDA PLANTS Database) against Washington's 106-day dependable window (NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020). Start seeds indoors and transplant right after last frost to bank the missing days.
What hardiness zone is Rice grown in across Washington?
Washington spans USDA hardiness zones 4a-9a (USDA ARS PHZM 2023). Rice carries a range of zones 5-12, so the overlap zones are where outdoor growing is most reliable.
How many frost-free days does a typical Washington site have?
A typical Washington site sees ~130 frost-free days per year (derived from NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020). Rice needs 80+ frost-free days, so check whether your local microclimate runs above or below the state average before settling on a planting date.
Is Rice native to Washington?
No — the USDA PLANTS Database lists Rice as introduced rather than native in the Lower 48, so it is not part of Washington's native flora. It grows here as a garden plant; pairing it with a few Washington natives keeps local pollinators fed too.
How should I amend the soil for Rice in Washington?
Rice prefers pH 4.5-9 and poorly (saturated >50% of year) drainage (USDA PLANTS Database). That sits in the common-ground band across Washington soils — a 30-minute soil test from a local Extension lab confirms it for your specific site.
Will Rice actually grow on my specific land in Washington?
State-level zone + climate data is a sketch. A Growable Ground parcel report scores rice 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 Washington
State-level data is a sketch. Your Growable Ground report scores rice against your parcel's exact soil, sun, drainage, and frost data — not zone averages.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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