We all want our plants and garden to thrive. Whether they thrive, barely survive, or never sprout at all has a lot to with your gardening zone. If you’re new to gardening finding out your gardening zone is extremely helpful. This will help you determine what you can grow. Knowing your planting zone can also help you determine whether or not a particular plant will thrive or have difficulties growing. What is your planting zone?
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What is my Planting Zone?
Everything You Need to Know about Gardening or Plant Zones
- Arizona Planting Zones
- Types of Gardening Zone Maps
- How is a gardening zone determined?
- What do gardening zones mean?
- USDA Hardiness Zone Map
- How to choose plants for your gardening zone?
What is my Planting Zone? Arizona Gardening Zone
One state can have multiple plant hardiness zones. For example, about half of the state of Arizona falls into the 9a to 9b zone, however the other half ranges from 6a to 7a with a few areas as cold as plant hardiness zone 4b.
Other areas in the same zone include parts of the Oregon Coast, California, Texas, Florida, and Louisiana. While all of these states may have a similar plant hardiness zone their environments are very different. In addition to the USDA plant hardiness zones there are a couple other gardening zone maps to assist in successful gardening.
What Planting Zone is Phoenix?
Phoenix, Arizona is in USDA plant hardiness zone 9b.
In the gardening world, Phoenix is usually referred to as low or subtropical desert. Under 5,000 feet in elevation, we are located in the Sonoran desert.
This means it is very hot and dry in the summer and cooler but still dry in the winter. Rainfall that we receive usually happens in short bursts in the winter and during the monsoon season.
Gardening Zone Maps
There are three main gardening zone maps including:
Phoenix, Arizona is in the following gardening zone: USDA gardening zone 9b, Sunset Zone 13, and in Plant Heat Zone 11.
How is the Gardening Zone determined?
No matter where you live in the U.S. it is helpful to know your gardening zone. Why?
This information tells you how a plant will survive during the winter months, how well it will manage heat in your gardening zone and how well it will thrive in your particular zone.
With this knowledge you can choose plant varieties that will have a greater chance of success in it’s environment.
USDA Chart – Will the plant survive winter in this zone?
USDA charts are used to determine how cold of temperatures a plant can survive. It looks at winter temperatures in the area and determines if the plant will survive winter.
Sunset Climate – Will the plant thrive year round in the zone?
The Sunset climate zone chart takes into account the geographical location, elevation, start & end frost dates, and humidity levels. It considers where the plant will thrive year round. For this reason, the Sunset Climate map is a more thorough reference for growing in the desert.
Plant heat zone – Will THis Plant survive the heat in the zone?
Another gardening zone map is the Plant Heat Zone map from the American Horticultural Society. This chart uses the National Weather Service’s average number of days with a temperature over 86 degrees to determine the plant heat zone. Phoenix is in heat zone 11.
What do the Gardening Zones Mean?
Plants have a maximum hardiness zone, a minimum hardiness zone, a maximum heat zone and a minimum heat zone.
Phoenix is in Sunset gardening zone 13, which offers gardeners an opportunity to grow many plants year round.
However, for the best results it is important to plant your vegetables and flowers the right time of year.
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
How to Choose Plants for Your Garden Zone
When choosing plants you want to make sure that they will be able to grow where you live and if it will produce vegetables or fruit. Nothing is more disheartening than watching your beautiful plant wither and die.
If you purchase seeds the package will tell you the ideal temperature for the plant and also usually includes best planting times for your area of the country with a color key.
When you purchase a starter plant the tag generally states the USDA plant hardiness zone.
Sometimes plants tagged as annual will continue to flower for several seasons if taken care of. For example, tomato plants are annual plants, however with the right care they can last many years.
Now that you know what gardening zone Phoenix is in let’s get our hands dirty and grow something.
