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

Planting zone for 86023 — Grand Canyon, AZ

ZIP code 86023 (Grand Canyon, Coconino County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is May 2 and the first fall frost October 27.

Where ZIP 86023 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.

Zone7a0 to 5 °F
Coldest night−17.8 to −15 °C
Last frostMay 2
First frostOct 27
2012 zone7a

Same zone as on the 2012 map. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 7a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Grand Canyon, 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 Grand Canyon, AZ

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 2median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 18only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 27median — 10% chance by Oct 11
Growing season177 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 17 and returns around November 9.

From the NOAA station Grand Canyon Visitor Center, AZ — 6 miles away, elevation 7,084 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 86023

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 11
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
TomatoesTransplant · May 9 – May 23
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 16 – May 30
BeansSow outdoors · May 9 – May 23
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 9 – May 23
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 9 – May 23
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 1 – Sep 15
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 13 – Nov 17
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 2) and first fall frost (Oct 27) 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 86023 came on Feb 5 — 11 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 16).

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 7a in Arizona

457 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Arizona, and rated by the USDA to survive 0 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 7a. 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 95

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 190

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 140

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 Grand Canyon, AZ.

Soil in Grand Canyon, AZ

The center of ZIP 86023 is mapped as Lithic Haplocambids-Lithic Haplargids complex, bright angel and tapeats formations, 2 to 15 percent slopes: built-over ground without natural soil data. Garden soil here is usually imported or disturbed — test before you plant.

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 86023; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Grand Canyon, AZ

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low24 °Faverage low, December
Hot days7days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights114nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,628base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 37 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 42 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

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 42 °F, low 26 °F 42°26° JanFebruary: average high 45 °F, low 27 °F 45°27° FebMarch: average high 52 °F, low 31 °F 52°31° MarApril: average high 59 °F, low 36 °F 59°36° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 44 °F 68°44° MayJune: average high 80 °F, low 55 °F 80°55° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 59 °F 84°59° JulAugust: average high 81 °F, low 58 °F 81°58° AugSeptember: average high 75 °F, low 53 °F 75°53° SepOctober: average high 63 °F, low 41 °F 63°41° OctNovember: average high 51 °F, low 33 °F 51°33° NovDecember: average high 43 °F, low 24 °F 43°24° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″January: 1.82 in precipitation 1.8 JanFebruary: 1.39 in precipitation 1.4 FebMarch: 1.32 in precipitation 1.3 MarApril: 1.17 in precipitation 1.2 AprMay: 0.72 in precipitation 0.7 MayJune: 0.41 in precipitation 0.4 JunJuly: 2.35 in precipitation 2.4 JulAugust: 2.66 in precipitation 2.7 AugSeptember: 1.56 in precipitation 1.6 SepOctober: 1.36 in precipitation 1.4 OctNovember: 1.05 in precipitation 1.1 NovDecember: 1.16 in precipitation 1.2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Grand Canyon Visitor Center, AZ (6 mi away); precipitation: Grand Canyon Visitor Center, AZ (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

860526b
North Rim, AZ · 18 mi
860207b
Cameron, AZ · 29 mi
860166b
Gray Mountain, AZ · 29 mi
860467a
Williams, AZ · 43 mi
860016a
Flagstaff, AZ · 50 mi
864357a
Supai, AZ · 52 mi
860367b
Marble Canyon, AZ · 52 mi
860407b
Page, AZ · 55 mi

Arizona planting zones →

Questions about 86023

What planting zone is ZIP code 86023?

ZIP code 86023 (Grand Canyon, AZ) is in USDA hardiness zone 7a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 0 to 5 °F (−17.8 to −15 °C).

When is the last frost in Grand Canyon, AZ?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 86023 is May 2; after May 18 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Grand Canyon Visitor Center station.

When is the first frost in Grand Canyon, AZ?

The median first fall frost near 86023 is October 27, giving a median frost-free growing season of 177 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 86023?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 7 – Mar 21 and set transplants outside around May 9 – May 23, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 86023 get?

About 17 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Grand Canyon Visitor Center station).

How hot do summers get in Grand Canyon, AZ?

The average high peaks at 84 °F in July, with about 7 days a year at 90 °F or more.

Did spring come early in Grand Canyon, AZ in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 86023 came on Feb 5 in 2026, 11 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 16), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Grand Canyon, AZ?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 86023 is 14 h 37 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.