What Growing Zone Is Arizona In?

Last updated September 6, 2026

USDA hardiness zones

6a to 10a

2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

Arizona spans USDA hardiness zone 6a to 10a across its major population centers, according to the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. That's a real range, not a single number: where you fall in it depends on where in the state you actually are.

Find your exact zone by ZIP code

Hardiness zone for ZIP 85003 (Phoenix)

US ZIP code

Your USDA hardiness zone

Zone 10a

Avg. annual minimum (°F)

30°F to 35°F

Avg. annual minimum (°C)

-1°C to 2°C

Nearest reference point: Phoenix, AZ

This is a regional estimate based on the nearest of 826 reference points, each matched to the official 2023 USDA zone map. It’s accurate to within about a half-zone across most of the country, but elevation shifts zones over short distances, so if you’re in mountainous terrain, check the official USDA map for your exact address (see Sources below).

Arizona's USDA Hardiness Zones

Here's how the zone shifts across Arizona's major cities:

City	USDA Zone
Flagstaff	6a
Tucson	9b
Phoenix	10a
Yuma	10a

For your exact zone by ZIP code, use the Hardiness Zone Finder, and for what a zone number actually measures (and doesn't), see how zones actually work.

Frost Dates in Arizona

Frost dates track zone, so they shift across Arizona the same way the zone number does:

High country (Flagstaff) (zone 6): average last frost Mar 29 - Apr 12, average first frost Oct 18 - Nov 1.
Low desert (Phoenix, Yuma) (zone 10): average last frost Jan 24 - Feb 7, average first frost Dec 24 - Jan 7.

These are averages, not guarantees. For your specific frost window, use the Frost Date Calculator. For a full vegetable-by-vegetable planting calendar already calculated from Arizona's frost dates, see the Arizona Planting Calendar.

Arizona's hardiness zones follow elevation more than latitude -- a roughly 145-mile drive from Phoenix (zone 9b/10a, about 1,100 ft) to Flagstaff (zone 6a, about 7,000 ft) crosses a roughly 30F year-round temperature swing, at a rate of about 3.5-5F cooler per 1,000 ft of elevation gain.

What Grows Well in Arizona's Zones

A few real, zone-appropriate picks recommended by University of Arizona Cooperative Extension for Arizona landscapes: not an exhaustive list, but a genuine starting point.

Desert willow (Chilopsis linearis)
Arizona cypress (Cupressus arizonica)
Red yucca (Hesperaloe parviflora)
Texas ranger (Leucophyllum spp.)
Chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus)
Velvet mesquite (Prosopis velutina)

Ready to find your exact zone? Use the Hardiness Zone Finder: enter your ZIP code for a precise match against the 2023 USDA map.

Arizona Growing Zone FAQ

What growing zone is Arizona in?

Arizona spans USDA hardiness zones 6a to 10a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Flagstaff is zone 6a and Tucson is zone 9b; enter your ZIP code in the Hardiness Zone Finder for your exact zone.

What growing zone is Phoenix, AZ?

Phoenix is in USDA hardiness zone 10a on the 2023 USDA map. Zones within a city can differ by half a zone, so check your ZIP code for an exact match.

What growing zone is Flagstaff, AZ?

Flagstaff is in USDA hardiness zone 6a on the 2023 USDA map. Zones within a city can differ by half a zone, so check your ZIP code for an exact match.

What growing zone is Tucson, AZ?

Tucson is in USDA hardiness zone 9b on the 2023 USDA map. Zones within a city can differ by half a zone, so check your ZIP code for an exact match.

What growing zone is Yuma, AZ?

Yuma is in USDA hardiness zone 10a on the 2023 USDA map. Zones within a city can differ by half a zone, so check your ZIP code for an exact match.

A home yard in the Sonoran desert, with a stucco wall, gravel paths, palo verde trees and saguaro cacti beyond, planted with desert willow, Arizona cypress and red yucca — Plants that suit Arizona: desert willow, Arizona cypress and red yucca. AI-generated image.

Free book · 23 pages, PDF

The Spacing & Planting Cheat Sheet

When to start, when to plant, how far apart.

Sources & further reading

Zone and city data checked against the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Plant recommendations sourced from University of Arizona Cooperative Extension. Climate note sourced from University of Arizona Cooperative Extension. For more on how we build and verify reference data across this site, see our methodology page.

Growing zones in nearby states

Gardening near a state line? Zones don't stop at the border:

Or browse all 51 state growing-zone guides.