Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for Payson, AZ

Payson, AZ is in USDA zones 8a to 8b across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 29 and the first fall frost October 24.

Payson on the zone map

Outlined: its 1 ZIP code areas · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zones8a–8b10 to 20 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostApr 29
First frostOct 24
Growing season176 days

8a 1 ZIP   8b 1 ZIP

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Payson, AZ…

Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in Payson, AZ

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 29median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 20only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 24median — 10% chance by Oct 11
Growing season176 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 10 and returns around November 6.

From the NOAA station Payson, AZ, elevation 4,849 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in Payson

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 8
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
TomatoesTransplant · May 6 – May 20
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 13 – May 27
BeansSow outdoors · May 6 – May 20
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 6 – May 20
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 6 – May 20
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 29 – Sep 12
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 10 – Nov 14
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 29) and first fall frost (Oct 24) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 85547 came on Feb 4 — 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 13).

JanFebMarAprMayJun

The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).

Native plants for zone 8a in Arizona

472 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Arizona, and rated by the USDA to survive 10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 8a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 24

Arizona cypress50 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °FArizona madrone30 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −4 °FArizona sycamore80 ft · blooms early spring · high shade tolerance · to −8 °FArizona walnut50 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −33 °Fblack locust60 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −37 °Fblue spruce100 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Shrubs 100

alderleaf mountain mahogany15 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −41 °FAmerican plum24 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican tarwort3 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −23 °Fantelope bitterbrush6 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −36 °FApache plume6 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −23 °Fbig sagebrush4 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −43 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 195

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine bistort1 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine mountainsorrel1 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −43 °FAmerican alpine speedwell1 ft · blooms summer · medium shade tolerance · to −28 °FAmerican bistort1.5 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Grasses 144

alkali cordgrass3 ft · blooms late summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falkali sacaton3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine timothy1.4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −43 °Fanalogue sedge1.5 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °FArizona cottontop4 ft · blooms late summer · high shade tolerance · to −13 °FArizona fescue2 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −23 °F

Vines 1

western white clematis1 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Source: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov), National Plant Data Team — state distribution, native status and the “Temperature, Minimum” characteristic. Check light, moisture and soil needs before buying; local nurseries and your state native plant society can confirm what thrives in Payson, AZ.

Soil in Payson, AZ

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 85547 is Lithic Argiustolls — extremely cobbly loam, well drained.

TextureExtremely cobbly loama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.2neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Lithic Argiustolls, Cumulic Haplustolls, rarely flooded, and Typic Ustorthents; warm mesic ustic mountains.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 85547; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Payson, AZ

Summer high93 °Faverage high, July
Winter low26 °Faverage low, January
Hot days65days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights125nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,626base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 27 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 52 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation19.8 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall19 inper year; 5 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 56 °F, low 26 °F 56°26° JanFebruary: average high 59 °F, low 28 °F 59°28° FebMarch: average high 65 °F, low 32 °F 65°32° MarApril: average high 72 °F, low 36 °F 72°36° AprMay: average high 80 °F, low 43 °F 80°43° MayJune: average high 90 °F, low 51 °F 90°51° JunJuly: average high 93 °F, low 60 °F 93°60° JulAugust: average high 91 °F, low 59 °F 91°59° AugSeptember: average high 86 °F, low 52 °F 86°52° SepOctober: average high 76 °F, low 41 °F 76°41° OctNovember: average high 64 °F, low 31 °F 64°31° NovDecember: average high 55 °F, low 26 °F 55°26° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″January: 2.27 in precipitation, 4.7 in snowfall 2.3❄5 JanFebruary: 2.33 in precipitation, 4.9 in snowfall 2.3❄5 FebMarch: 1.89 in precipitation, 2 in snowfall 1.9❄2 MarApril: 0.82 in precipitation, 2 in snowfall 0.8❄2 AprMay: 0.54 in precipitation 0.5 MayJune: 0.21 in precipitation 0.2 JunJuly: 2.81 in precipitation 2.8 JulAugust: 2.60 in precipitation 2.6 AugSeptember: 1.54 in precipitation 1.5 SepOctober: 1.26 in precipitation 1.3 OctNovember: 1.48 in precipitation, 1.3 in snowfall 1.5❄1 NovDecember: 2.09 in precipitation, 3.6 in snowfall 2.1❄4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Payson, AZ (4 mi away); precipitation: Payson, AZ (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Payson

855418b
15 to 20 °F
855478a
10 to 15 °F

Arizona planting zones →

Questions about Payson

What planting zone is Payson, AZ?

Payson, AZ is in USDA hardiness zones 8a to 8b on the 2023 map (8a: 10 to 15 °F; 8b: 15 to 20 °F).

When is the last frost in Payson, AZ?

The median last spring frost is April 29 and the median first fall frost is October 24 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Payson station).

When can I plant a garden in Payson, AZ?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 18 – Apr 8; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 6, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Payson, AZ?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 27 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Payson, AZ get?

About 19.8 inches of precipitation a year and 19 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).