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

Planting zone for 85533 — Clifton, AZ

ZIP code 85533 (Clifton, Greenlee County) is in USDA zone 8a: the coldest winter night averages 10 to 15 °F. The median last spring frost is February 26 and the first fall frost November 23.

Where ZIP 85533 is

Outlined: the ZIP code area · 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.

Zone8a10 to 15 °F
Coldest night−12.2 to −9.4 °C
Last frostFeb 26
First frostNov 23
2012 zone9a

Was 9a on the 2012 map — a full zone colder now. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 8a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Clifton, 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 Clifton, AZ

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostFebruary 26median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 15only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 23median — 10% chance by Nov 10
Growing season268 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 5 and returns around December 5.

From the NOAA station Clifton, AZ — 17 miles away, elevation 3,521 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 85533

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 15 – Jan 29
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 15 – Feb 5
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 18 – Jan 1
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 5 – Feb 19
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Jan 29 – Feb 12
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 5 – Feb 19
LettuceSow outdoors · Jan 29 – Feb 12
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 5 – Feb 19
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 1 – Jan 15
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 5 – Mar 19
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 18 – Jan 1
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 12 – Mar 26
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 28 – Oct 12
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 9 – Dec 14
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Feb 26) and first fall frost (Nov 23) 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 85533 came on Feb 6 — 11 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 17).

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 Clifton, AZ.

Soil in Clifton, AZ

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 85533 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, Typic Haplustolls, and Aridic Calciustolls; 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 85533; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Clifton, AZ

Summer high100 °Faverage high, June
Winter low35 °Faverage low, January
Hot days135days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights30nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days6,621base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 21 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 57 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation17 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°110°32 °FJanuary: average high 61 °F, low 35 °F 61°35° JanFebruary: average high 66 °F, low 39 °F 66°39° FebMarch: average high 73 °F, low 45 °F 73°45° MarApril: average high 81 °F, low 51 °F 81°51° AprMay: average high 90 °F, low 59 °F 90°59° MayJune: average high 100 °F, low 69 °F 100°69° JunJuly: average high 100 °F, low 74 °F 100°74° JulAugust: average high 98 °F, low 72 °F 98°72° AugSeptember: average high 93 °F, low 66 °F 93°66° SepOctober: average high 83 °F, low 55 °F 83°55° OctNovember: average high 70 °F, low 42 °F 70°42° NovDecember: average high 60 °F, low 35 °F 60°35° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″January: 1.25 in precipitation 1.3 JanFebruary: 1.53 in precipitation 1.5 FebMarch: 0.85 in precipitation 0.8 MarApril: 0.47 in precipitation 0.5 AprMay: 0.49 in precipitation 0.5 MayJune: 0.43 in precipitation 0.4 JunJuly: 3.12 in precipitation 3.1 JulAugust: 3.28 in precipitation 3.3 AugSeptember: 1.71 in precipitation 1.7 SepOctober: 1.45 in precipitation 1.4 OctNovember: 1.33 in precipitation 1.3 NovDecember: 1.11 in precipitation 1.1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Clifton, AZ (17 mi away); precipitation: Clifton, AZ (17 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

7 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

855408b
Morenci, AZ · 20 mi
859228a
Blue, AZ · 21 mi
880517b
Mule Creek, NM · 33 mi
855368b
Fort Thomas, AZ · 37 mi
855318b
Central, AZ · 37 mi
855358b
Eden, AZ · 37 mi
855438b
Pima, AZ · 38 mi
855528b
Thatcher, AZ · 40 mi

Arizona planting zones →

Questions about 85533

What planting zone is ZIP code 85533?

ZIP code 85533 (Clifton, AZ) is in USDA hardiness zone 8a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 10 to 15 °F (−12.2 to −9.4 °C).

When is the last frost in Clifton, AZ?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 85533 is February 26; after March 15 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Clifton station.

When is the first frost in Clifton, AZ?

The median first fall frost near 85533 is November 23, giving a median frost-free growing season of 268 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 85533?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 1 – Jan 15 and set transplants outside around Mar 5 – Mar 19, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 85533 get?

About 17 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Clifton station).

How hot do summers get in Clifton, AZ?

The average high peaks at 100 °F in June, with about 135 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 85533 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Lithic Argiustolls at the center of ZIP 85533: extremely cobbly loam, well drained, pH about 7.2 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Clifton, AZ in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 85533 came on Feb 6 in 2026, 11 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 17), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Clifton, AZ?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 85533 is 14 h 21 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 85533 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 85533 in zone 9a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 8a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.