What Grows in Creswell, Oregon

USDA Zones 5a-6b · 1K acres

Creswell, Oregon, sits in USDA hardiness zones 5a-6b — a range where zone-matched perennials and frost-aware annual timing set what succeeds.

These conditions suit hazelnut, blueberry, grape (pinot noir), and kale — a starting list any specific site will trim or extend with its own soil, sun, and drainage.

Score your parcel · free

Even in Creswell, no two yards are alike.

A low spot, a south-facing slope, or a stand of trees moves the frost date and sun across a single Creswell lot. Enter your address and we'll score 1,112 plants against your land's actual soil, sun, and frost.

We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.

No card required · your full report in seconds

Quick Facts

USDA Zones

5a-6b

Last Frost (state avg.)

Mar 1 - Jun 15

First Frost (state avg.)

Sep 1 - Nov 15

City Area

1K acres

Hardiness Zone Range

5a
6b
3a (Cold)13b (Hot)

Growing Season

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Last frost: Mar 1 - Jun 15First frost: Sep 1 - Nov 15

Zone maps are averages across Creswell. Your yard's slope, trees, and frost pockets shift what actually grows — see your land's exact reading.

Soil varies lot by lot — soil types explained.

Growing Challenges in Oregon

What an experienced grower plans around here — each one has a move.

West side: excessive rain and overcast skies reduce sun for warm-season crops

Map your sun honestly — a south-facing bed against a light wall recovers a surprising amount of the light the clouds take.

East side: arid conditions (8-15 inches rainfall) require irrigation

East of the Cascades, drip irrigation is infrastructure, not an accessory — plan it before the first planting.

Slug pressure is extreme in western Oregon

Evening patrols, iron-phosphate baits, and dry mulch edges knock slugs back — your extension guide covers the full toolkit.

Mountain areas have very short seasons (60-90 frost-free days)

At 60-90 frost-free days, season extension is the difference between a garden and a gamble — a high tunnel changes the math.

For cultivar selection, pest pressure, and planting-time guidance specific to Oregon, the OSU Extension Service is the authoritative local source.

Environmental Intelligence

Understanding what's nearby helps you make informed decisions about where and how to grow.

Total Sites

547

within ~10 miles of Creswell

Risk Level

High

Highest-severity

6 Superfund sites

Severity Distribution

within ~10 miles of Creswell

High9Moderate78Low460

Highest-Severity Sites

Coe Civil Dorena Dam
Superfund · Superfund (Non-NPL)
Helena Mine
Superfund · Superfund (Non-NPL)
Inwood Lane Mercury Response
Superfund · Superfund (Non-NPL)
Pleasant Hill Asbestos Emergency Response
Superfund · Superfund (Non-NPL)
Rainbow Water District
PFAS Sampling · PFAS Detected

A note from Gnorman

What an experienced grower watches for around here

In and around Creswell, Underground Storage Tanks runs higher than the national average — 368 sites nearby. Knowing it is half the work — and it's nothing a thoughtful grower can't plan for.

Underground Storage Tanks: Underground storage tanks are the single most common source of soil contamination near homes and gardens.

Use raised beds with imported soil — this eliminates the primary soil-contact pathway.

Free Report

Check your specific parcel in Creswell

Get exact proximity distances to contamination sources for your specific parcel — plus soil, sun, drainage, and 1,112 plant recommendations.

Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:

Your soil pHYour frost-free daysYour sun & shade

We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.

25+ data sources analyzed in seconds

Your Specific Parcel Matters

Creswell Average

  • USDA Zones 5a-6b
  • Generic soil type for the area
  • State-average frost dates

YOUR Parcel

  • Your exact hardiness zone
  • Your SSURGO soil type & pH
  • Your sun exposure, cast in 3D

See MY Growing Report

Free Report

Read your specific parcel in Creswell

Pull a site-specific report for your exact address in Creswell, Oregon — soil, sun, drainage, frost risk, and scored plant recommendations.

Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:

Your soil pHYour frost-free daysYour sun & shade

We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.

25+ data sources analyzed in seconds

Key Growing Facts for Creswell, Oregon

  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 5a-6b (USDA PHZM 2023)
  • Last Spring Frost (state avg.): Mar 1 - Jun 15 (NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals)
  • First Fall Frost (state avg.): Sep 1 - Nov 15 (NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals)
  • Land Area: 1K acres (US Census TIGER 2025)

Zone data: USDA ARS Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023. Climate data: NOAA NCEI. Boundaries: US Census TIGER/Line 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions

What hardiness zone is Creswell, Oregon?

Creswell sits in USDA hardiness zones 5a-6b, per the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023. Zones reflect average annual extreme minimum temperatures from 1991–2020 weather data.

When does frost risk typically end in Creswell?

Creswell follows Oregon's statewide frost window: last spring frost around Mar 1 - Jun 15 and first fall frost around Sep 1 - Nov 15, per NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020). Frost dates shift with elevation and local microclimate, so watch your own site's cold pockets.

What vegetables grow in Creswell?

Creswell's zones 5a-6b support a wide range — strong performers include Hazelnut, Blueberry, Grape (Pinot Noir), Kale, and Hop. What actually takes on any one site comes down to its soil, sun, and drainage, and we score each plant against the real conditions at your address.

Which hardiness zone is Creswell, really?

Officially, Creswell sits in USDA zones 5a-6b (USDA PHZM 2023) — but a zone is a 30-year average of winter's coldest night across an area, and it can't see any one yard. A south-facing slope, a tree line, or a low frost pocket can shift a single site by half a zone either way, which is why neighboring gardeners often quote different numbers. We read the conditions at your exact address — soil, sun, slope, and frost — and score 1,112 plants against what's actually there.

Is the soil safe to grow vegetables in Creswell?

The federal record around Creswell runs heavier than most — 547 documented sites — so test the soil before planting food in the ground, and raised beds with clean imported soil grow well in the meantime. Even here, proximity to a documented site is information, not a diagnosis of any one yard; the contamination map shows exactly what's recorded and where.

How do I protect my plants from frost in Creswell?

As the season closes around Oregon's first fall frost near Sep 1 - Nov 15 (NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020)), a few moves buy time: cover tender plants with floating row cover or an old sheet on still, clear nights, water the soil the afternoon before a freeze so it holds warmth overnight, and harvest frost-tender crops like tomatoes, peppers, and basil before the first hard night. Hardy greens and root crops shrug off light frost and often sweeten after it, so leave them in.

Everything on this page is a Creswell average. Your yard writes its own version — we read soil, sun, drainage, and frost at your exact address. Try it for 14 days — no card required.