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

Planting zone for Scottsdale, AZ

Scottsdale, AZ is in USDA zones 9b to 10a across its 15 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is February 13 and the first fall frost December 5.

Scottsdale on the zone map

Outlined: its 11 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.

Zones9b–10a25 to 35 °F
ZIP codes15
Last frostFeb 13
First frostDec 5
Growing season298 days

9b 7 ZIPs   10a 8 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Scottsdale, 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 Scottsdale, AZ

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostFebruary 13median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 9only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostDecember 5median — 10% chance by Nov 18
Growing season298 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around January 16 and returns around December 19.

From the NOAA station Tempe Asu, AZ, elevation 1,168 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 Scottsdale

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 2 – Jan 16
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 2 – Jan 23
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 5 – Dec 19
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Jan 23 – Feb 6
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Jan 16 – Jan 30
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Jan 23 – Feb 6
LettuceSow outdoors · Jan 16 – Jan 30
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Jan 23 – Feb 6
TomatoesStart indoors · Dec 19 – Jan 2
TomatoesTransplant · Feb 20 – Mar 6
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 5 – Dec 19
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Feb 27 – Mar 13
BeansSow outdoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Oct 10 – Oct 24
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 21 – Dec 26
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Feb 13) and first fall frost (Dec 5) 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 85258 came on Jan 19 — 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 23).

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 9b in Arizona

499 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Arizona, and rated by the USDA to survive 25 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 9b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 26

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 113

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 199

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 century plant6 ft · blooms indeterminate · high shade tolerance · to 12 °F

Grasses 152

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 Scottsdale, AZ.

Soil in Scottsdale, AZ

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 85258 is Mohall — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH8.2alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classPrime farmland if irrigatedUSDA classification

Map unit: Mohall loam MLRA 40.

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 85258; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Scottsdale, AZ

Summer high104 °Faverage high, July
Winter low43 °Faverage low, January
Hot days161days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights3nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days8,567base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 23 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 55 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation9.2 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°110°32 °FJanuary: average high 67 °F, low 43 °F 67°43° JanFebruary: average high 69 °F, low 46 °F 69°46° FebMarch: average high 76 °F, low 52 °F 76°52° MarApril: average high 83 °F, low 58 °F 83°58° AprMay: average high 92 °F, low 67 °F 92°67° MayJune: average high 102 °F, low 76 °F 102°76° JunJuly: average high 104 °F, low 83 °F 104°83° JulAugust: average high 103 °F, low 82 °F 103°82° AugSeptember: average high 98 °F, low 75 °F 98°75° SepOctober: average high 87 °F, low 63 °F 87°63° OctNovember: average high 75 °F, low 51 °F 75°51° NovDecember: average high 65 °F, low 43 °F 65°43° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″January: 1.15 in precipitation 1.1 JanFebruary: 1.29 in precipitation 1.3 FebMarch: 1.18 in precipitation 1.2 MarApril: 0.31 in precipitation 0.3 AprMay: 0.18 in precipitation 0.2 MayJune: 0.07 in precipitation 0.1 JunJuly: 0.65 in precipitation 0.7 JulAugust: 1.31 in precipitation 1.3 AugSeptember: 0.81 in precipitation 0.8 SepOctober: 0.64 in precipitation 0.6 OctNovember: 0.60 in precipitation 0.6 NovDecember: 0.97 in precipitation 1.0 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Scottsdale Municipal Airport, AZ (4 mi away); precipitation: Paradise Valley 2.4 Nne, AZ (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Scottsdale

852509b
25 to 30 °F
852519b
25 to 30 °F
852529b
25 to 30 °F
8525410a
30 to 35 °F
8525510a
30 to 35 °F
852569b
25 to 30 °F
852579b
25 to 30 °F
8525810a
30 to 35 °F
8525910a
30 to 35 °F
8526010a
30 to 35 °F
8526110a
30 to 35 °F
852629b
25 to 30 °F
8526610a
30 to 35 °F
8526710a
30 to 35 °F
852719b
25 to 30 °F

Arizona planting zones →

Questions about Scottsdale

What planting zone is Scottsdale, AZ?

Scottsdale, AZ is in USDA hardiness zones 9b to 10a on the 2023 map (9b: 25 to 30 °F; 10a: 30 to 35 °F).

When is the last frost in Scottsdale, AZ?

The median last spring frost is February 13 and the median first fall frost is December 5 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Tempe Asu station).

When can I plant a garden in Scottsdale, AZ?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Jan 2 – Jan 23; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Feb 20, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Scottsdale, AZ?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 23 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Scottsdale, AZ get?

About 9.2 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).