Arizona Planting Zones

Looking for Arizona planting zones? You’ve come to the right place! Arizona has an arid to semi-arid climate, but even despite this difference, overall the state is known for its mild winters and extreme heat in the summer months at the lower elevations. Higher elevation areas will experience cold winters, but summer heat will be much milder and more tolerable. The state has a huge range in terms of precipitation and rainfall as well. Arizona has two distinct wet seasons; one in the winter with fronts coming from the Pacific Ocean, and an additional season of moisture during summer monsoon season. Anywhere from 3 inches of annual rain in the southwest areas to 40 inches in the east central mountains of rain is the norm. The southwest part of the state is hot desert. Winter temperatures rarely dip below the low 60s during the daytime hours and can soar for days on end into the triple digits. Desert night time temps will dip just below freezing in the winter months, but in other regions the winter nights will often be in the 20s. 

Arizona planting zones span a wide range from 4b to 10b. Planting a garden of fruits, vegetables, plants or flowers in Arizona may seem tricky, but when you know the hardiness zone of the specific region to be planted, it is a much easier process. Looking up zones is quick and easy with Gilmour’s Interactive Planting Zone Map. Once you easily determine what Arizona planting zone you are in, it is easier to decide what to plant.

Certain plants will do better than others in the different Arizona growing zones. Given the wide range of temperature and moisture, it is best to do the research before planting to ensure that what you are hoping to grow will, indeed, grow. Ironwood, prickly pear, desert willow and sunflowers all tend to do well in the central region of the state. While perhaps not quite intuitive at first, the hot dry climate of the state actually is good for growing several vegetables, including tomatoes, chilies and peppers, eggplant and other crops. Be sure to take into account the difference between cool- and warm-season crops. Cool season crops could include beets, cabbage, onions and radish. Warm-season crops that will do well are beans, cucumber, melons, sweet potatoes and tomatoes.