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

Planting zone for 86326 — Cottonwood, AZ

ZIP code 86326 (Cottonwood, Yavapai County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is March 30 and the first fall frost November 10.

Where ZIP 86326 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.

Zone8b15 to 20 °F
Coldest night−9.4 to −6.7 °C
Last frostMar 30
First frostNov 10
2012 zone8b

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 8b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Cottonwood, 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 Cottonwood, AZ

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 30median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 21only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 10median — 10% chance by Oct 25
Growing season223 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 5 and returns around November 20.

From the NOAA station Tuzigoot, AZ — 5 miles away, elevation 3,471 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 86326

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 16 – Mar 2
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 16 – Mar 9
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 19 – Feb 2
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 9 – Mar 23
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 2 – Mar 16
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 2 – Mar 16
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 2 – Feb 16
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 6 – Apr 20
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 19 – Feb 2
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 13 – Apr 27
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 15 – Sep 29
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 27 – Dec 1
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 30) and first fall frost (Nov 10) 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 86326 came on Feb 3 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 5).

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 8b in Arizona

482 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Arizona, and rated by the USDA to survive 15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 8b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 25

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 105

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 196

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 147

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 Cottonwood, AZ.

Soil in Cottonwood, AZ

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 86326 is Mingus — extremely gravelly clay loam, well drained.

TextureExtremely gravelly clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH8.0alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Mingus soils, Tapco soils and Urban land, 3 to 12 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 86326; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Cottonwood, AZ

Summer high101 °Faverage high, July
Winter low29 °Faverage low, December
Hot days128days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights63nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,464base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 29 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 49 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation15.3 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 30 °F 61°30° JanFebruary: average high 65 °F, low 33 °F 65°33° FebMarch: average high 71 °F, low 38 °F 71°38° MarApril: average high 79 °F, low 43 °F 79°43° AprMay: average high 88 °F, low 51 °F 88°51° MayJune: average high 99 °F, low 59 °F 99°59° JunJuly: average high 101 °F, low 67 °F 101°67° JulAugust: average high 98 °F, low 66 °F 98°66° AugSeptember: average high 93 °F, low 58 °F 93°58° SepOctober: average high 83 °F, low 47 °F 83°47° OctNovember: average high 71 °F, low 36 °F 71°36° NovDecember: average high 60 °F, low 29 °F 60°29° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″January: 1.72 in precipitation 1.7 JanFebruary: 1.34 in precipitation 1.3 FebMarch: 1.17 in precipitation 1.2 MarApril: 0.46 in precipitation 0.5 AprMay: 0.43 in precipitation 0.4 MayJune: 0.25 in precipitation 0.3 JunJuly: 1.91 in precipitation 1.9 JulAugust: 2.87 in precipitation 2.9 AugSeptember: 1.58 in precipitation 1.6 SepOctober: 1.18 in precipitation 1.2 OctNovember: 0.98 in precipitation 1.0 NovDecember: 1.38 in precipitation 1.4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Tuzigoot, AZ (5 mi away); precipitation: Cottonwood 1.4 Wsw, AZ (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

863258b
Cornville, AZ · 7 mi
863318b
Jerome, AZ · 7 mi
863248b
Clarkdale, AZ · 10 mi
863278a
Dewey, AZ · 11 mi
863428a
Lake Montezuma, AZ · 13 mi
863518b
Sedona, AZ · 14 mi
863418b
Sedona, AZ · 15 mi
863368b
Sedona, AZ · 15 mi

Arizona planting zones →

Questions about 86326

What planting zone is ZIP code 86326?

ZIP code 86326 (Cottonwood, AZ) is in USDA hardiness zone 8b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 15 to 20 °F (−9.4 to −6.7 °C).

When is the last frost in Cottonwood, AZ?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 86326 is March 30; after April 21 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Tuzigoot station.

When is the first frost in Cottonwood, AZ?

The median first fall frost near 86326 is November 10, giving a median frost-free growing season of 223 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 86326?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 2 – Feb 16 and set transplants outside around Apr 6 – Apr 20, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 86326 get?

About 15.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Cottonwood 1.4 Wsw station).

How hot do summers get in Cottonwood, AZ?

The average high peaks at 101 °F in July, with about 128 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 86326 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Mingus at the center of ZIP 86326: extremely gravelly clay loam, well drained, pH about 8.0 (alkaline).

Did spring come early in Cottonwood, AZ in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 86326 came on Feb 3 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 5), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Cottonwood, AZ?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 86326 is 14 h 29 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.