What Growing Zone Is Nevada In?
USDA hardiness zones
5a to 9b
2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
Nevada spans USDA hardiness zone 5a to 9b 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 89501 (Reno)
Your USDA hardiness zone
Zone 7b
Avg. annual minimum (°F)
5°F to 10°F
Avg. annual minimum (°C)
-15°C to -12°C
Nearest reference point: Reno, NV
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).
Nevada's USDA Hardiness Zones
Here's how the zone shifts across Nevada'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 Nevada
Frost dates track zone, so they shift across Nevada the same way the zone number does:
- Eastern high desert (Ely, Elko) (zone 5): average last frost Apr 8 - Apr 22, average first frost Oct 8 - Oct 22.
- Las Vegas Valley (zone 9): average last frost Feb 8 - Feb 22, average first frost Dec 8 - Dec 22.
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 Nevada's frost dates, see the Nevada Planting Calendar.
Nevada's zone range is one of the widest in the country for a single state, running from 5a in the high eastern desert (Ely) to 9b in the Las Vegas Valley -- a spread the Western Regional Climate Center attributes almost entirely to the state's dramatic elevation changes.
What Grows Well in Nevada's Zones
A few real, zone-appropriate picks recommended by University of Nevada, Reno Extension for Nevada landscapes: not an exhaustive list, but a genuine starting point.
- Curlleaf mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus ledifolius)
- Cliffrose (Purshia mexicana)
- Firecracker penstemon (Penstemon eatonii)
- Prince's plume (Stanleya pinnata)
- Nettleleaf giant hyssop (Agastache urticifolia)
Ready to find your exact zone? Use the Hardiness Zone Finder: enter your ZIP code for a precise match against the 2023 USDA map.
Nevada Growing Zone FAQ
What growing zone is Nevada in?
Nevada spans USDA hardiness zones 5a to 9b on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Ely is zone 5a and Elko is zone 5b; enter your ZIP code in the Hardiness Zone Finder for your exact zone.
What growing zone is Reno, NV?
Reno is in USDA hardiness zone 7b 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 Las Vegas, NV?
Las Vegas 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 Ely, NV?
Ely is in USDA hardiness zone 5a 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 Elko, NV?
Elko is in USDA hardiness zone 5b 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 University of Nevada, Reno Extension. Climate note sourced from Western Regional Climate Center. 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:
- California growing zones
- Arizona growing zones
- Oregon growing zones
- Utah growing zones
- Idaho growing zones
Or browse all 51 state growing-zone guides.