When to plant sunflowers in Oregon

Sunflowers
Sow outdoors in Portland
Feb 25–Mar 18

Across Oregon the window opens between February 15 and June 9. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Sow outdoors, Portland
Feb 25–Mar 18
Last sowing for a harvest
Aug 9
Last frost, Portland
Feb 25

Sow outdoors up to 3 weeks after the last frost. Sow every two weeks until midsummer for flowers through fall.

Sunflowers planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PortlandFeb 25–Mar 18
SalemApr 3–Apr 24
EugeneApr 11–May 2
GreshamMar 16–Apr 6
HillsboroApr 16–May 7
BendJun 6–Jun 27
BeavertonApr 1–Apr 22
MedfordApr 8–Apr 29
CorvallisApr 17–May 8
SpringfieldApr 11–May 2
TigardApr 1–Apr 22
AlbanyApr 17–May 8
AlohaFeb 15–Mar 8
Lake OswegoMar 18–Apr 8
Grants PassApr 8–Apr 29
KeizerApr 3–Apr 24
RedmondJun 9–Jun 30
Oregon CityMar 18–Apr 8
McMinnvilleApr 5–Apr 26
WoodburnMar 16–Apr 6
BethanyFeb 15–Mar 8
Happy ValleyMar 18–Apr 8
TualatinApr 1–Apr 22
WilsonvilleMar 18–Apr 8
Forest GroveApr 16–May 7
NewbergMar 21–Apr 11
West LinnMar 18–Apr 8
RoseburgMar 23–Apr 13
HayesvilleApr 3–Apr 24
MilwaukieFeb 25–Mar 18
All 34 cities
CitySow outdoorsLast frost
PortlandFeb 25 to Mar 18Feb 25
SalemApr 3 to Apr 24Apr 3
EugeneApr 11 to May 2Apr 11
GreshamMar 16 to Apr 6Mar 16
HillsboroApr 16 to May 7Apr 16
BendJun 6 to Jun 27Jun 6
BeavertonApr 1 to Apr 22Apr 1
MedfordApr 8 to Apr 29Apr 8
CorvallisApr 17 to May 8Apr 17
SpringfieldApr 11 to May 2Apr 11
TigardApr 1 to Apr 22Apr 1
AlbanyApr 17 to May 8Apr 17
AlohaFeb 15 to Mar 8Feb 11
Lake OswegoMar 18 to Apr 8Mar 18
Grants PassApr 8 to Apr 29Apr 8
KeizerApr 3 to Apr 24Apr 3
RedmondJun 9 to Jun 30Jun 9
Oregon CityMar 18 to Apr 8Mar 18
McMinnvilleApr 5 to Apr 26Apr 5
WoodburnMar 16 to Apr 6Mar 16
BethanyFeb 15 to Mar 8Feb 11
Happy ValleyMar 18 to Apr 8Mar 18
TualatinApr 1 to Apr 22Apr 1
WilsonvilleMar 18 to Apr 8Mar 18
Forest GroveApr 16 to May 7Apr 16
NewbergMar 21 to Apr 11Mar 21
West LinnMar 18 to Apr 8Mar 18
RoseburgMar 23 to Apr 13Mar 23
HayesvilleApr 3 to Apr 24Apr 3
MilwaukieFeb 25 to Mar 18Feb 25
Klamath FallsJun 9 to Jun 30Jun 9
AshlandMay 6 to May 27May 6
SherwoodMar 21 to Apr 11Mar 21
LebanonMar 14 to Apr 4Mar 14

In Bend, Redmond, Klamath Falls the frost-free season is shorter than sunflowers need. Start plants indoors and pick early varieties.

Questions

When should I plant sunflowers in Oregon?

In Portland, sow outdoors from February 25 to March 18. Across Oregon the window opens between February 15 and June 9, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Sow outdoors up to 3 weeks after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

Is the season long enough for sunflowers everywhere in Oregon?

Not quite. In Bend, Redmond, Klamath Falls the frost-free season is shorter than the time sunflowers need to ripen. Start plants indoors and pick an early variety.

More for Oregon

Sunflowers in other states

Frost dates for every city in Oregon