What Growing Zone Is California In?
USDA hardiness zones
6a to 11a
2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
California spans USDA hardiness zone 6a to 11a 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.
Hardiness zone for ZIP 95814 (Sacramento)
Your USDA hardiness zone
Zone 9b
Avg. annual minimum (°F)
25°F to 30°F
Avg. annual minimum (°C)
-4°C to -1°C
Nearest reference point: Sacramento, CA
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).
California's USDA Hardiness Zones
Here's how the zone shifts across California's major cities:
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 California
Frost dates track zone, so they shift across California the same way the zone number does:
- Inland mountain areas (zone 6): average last frost Mar 29 - Apr 12, average first frost Oct 18 - Nov 1.
- Coastal Southern California (zone 11): average last frost Effectively frost-free, average first frost Effectively frost-free.
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 California's frost dates, see the California Planting Calendar.
California's own Sunset Western Garden Book zone system, used alongside the USDA map by UC Cooperative Extension, documents winter lows around 20-33F in the coastal Los Angeles basin versus 10-28F in interior valleys and hilltops at similar latitudes -- a real, mapped 10-15F coastal-to-inland swing.
What Grows Well in California's Zones
A few real, zone-appropriate picks recommended by UC Master Gardener Program, Sonoma County (UC ANR) for California landscapes: not an exhaustive list, but a genuine starting point.
- Coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia)
- Ceanothus (California lilac), 'Ray Hartman' (Ceanothus 'Ray Hartman')
- Western redbud (Cercis occidentalis)
- Manzanita, 'Dr. Hurd' (Arctostaphylos manzanita 'Dr. Hurd')
- Blue oak (Quercus douglasii)
Ready to find your exact zone? Use the Hardiness Zone Finder: enter your ZIP code for a precise match against the 2023 USDA map.
California Growing Zone FAQ
What growing zone is California in?
California spans USDA hardiness zones 6a to 11a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Julian is zone 9a and San Francisco is zone 10b; enter your ZIP code in the Hardiness Zone Finder for your exact zone.
What growing zone is Sacramento, CA?
Sacramento 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 Los Angeles, CA?
Los Angeles is in USDA hardiness zone 10b 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 Julian, CA?
Julian is in USDA hardiness zone 9a 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 San Francisco, CA?
San Francisco is in USDA hardiness zone 10b on the 2023 USDA map. Zones within a city can differ by half a zone, so check your ZIP code for an exact match.
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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 UC Master Gardener Program, Sonoma County (UC ANR). Climate note sourced from UC Cooperative Extension, Sunset Western Garden Book zone map. 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.