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

Planting zone for Tempe, AZ

Tempe, AZ is in USDA zones 9b to 10a across its 7 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is February 13 and the first fall frost December 5.

Tempe on the zone map

Outlined: its 4 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 codes7
Last frostFeb 13
First frostDec 5
Growing season298 days

9b 5 ZIPs   10a 2 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Tempe, 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 Tempe, 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 Tempe

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 85280 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 Tempe, AZ.

Soil in Tempe, AZ

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 85280 is Laveen — clay loam, well drained.

TextureClay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH8.2alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classPrime farmland if irrigatedUSDA classification

Map unit: Laveen clay loam, 0 to 1 percent slopes.

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 85280; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Tempe, AZ

Summer high106 °Faverage high, July
Winter low38 °Faverage low, December
Hot days179days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights10nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days8,036base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 22 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 56 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation8.8 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°110°120°32 °FJanuary: average high 71 °F, low 39 °F 71°39° JanFebruary: average high 74 °F, low 41 °F 74°41° FebMarch: average high 80 °F, low 46 °F 80°46° MarApril: average high 87 °F, low 51 °F 87°51° AprMay: average high 95 °F, low 59 °F 95°59° MayJune: average high 104 °F, low 67 °F 104°67° JunJuly: average high 106 °F, low 76 °F 106°76° JulAugust: average high 105 °F, low 75 °F 105°75° AugSeptember: average high 101 °F, low 69 °F 101°69° SepOctober: average high 91 °F, low 56 °F 91°56° OctNovember: average high 79 °F, low 45 °F 79°45° NovDecember: average high 69 °F, low 38 °F 69°38° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″January: 1.04 in precipitation 1.0 JanFebruary: 1.12 in precipitation 1.1 FebMarch: 0.96 in precipitation 1.0 MarApril: 0.23 in precipitation 0.2 AprMay: 0.18 in precipitation 0.2 MayJune: 0.06 in precipitation 0.1 JunJuly: 0.99 in precipitation 1.0 JulAugust: 1.30 in precipitation 1.3 AugSeptember: 0.71 in precipitation 0.7 SepOctober: 0.61 in precipitation 0.6 OctNovember: 0.65 in precipitation 0.7 NovDecember: 0.95 in precipitation 0.9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Tempe Asu, AZ (2 mi away); precipitation: Tempe Asu, AZ (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Tempe

852809b
25 to 30 °F
852819b
25 to 30 °F
8528210a
30 to 35 °F
852839b
25 to 30 °F
852849b
25 to 30 °F
8528510a
30 to 35 °F
852889b
25 to 30 °F

Arizona planting zones →

Questions about Tempe

What planting zone is Tempe, AZ?

Tempe, 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 Tempe, 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 Tempe, 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 Tempe, AZ?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 22 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Tempe, AZ get?

About 8.8 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).