Planting zone for 90264 — Malibu, CA
ZIP code 90264 (Malibu, Los Angeles County) is in USDA zone 11a: the coldest winter night averages 40 to 45 °F. The median last spring frost is January 24 and the first fall frost December 15.
Where ZIP 90264 is
tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoomNot 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.
Was 10b on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 11a means →
Frost forecast — next 7 nights
live from the National Weather ServiceLoading the forecast for Malibu, CA…
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 Malibu, CA
A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around December 31 and returns around December 26.
From the NOAA station Woodland Hills Pierce College, CA — 18 miles away, elevation 791 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 90264
Counted from the median last spring frost (Jan 24) and first fall frost (Dec 15) 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 90264 came on Jan 15 — 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 20).
Jan 202026
Jan 15
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).
Soil in Malibu, CA
The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 90264 is Xerorthents — loam, well drained. Much of the area is built over (urban land); this is the natural soil underneath.
Map unit: Urban land-Xerorthents, landscaped, complex, rarely flooded, 0 to 5 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 90264; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.
Climate in Malibu, CA
Average high and low, by month
Precipitation by month inches
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Santa Monica Pier, CA (18 mi away); precipitation: Thousand Oaks 2.1 Wsw, CA (13 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.
Nearby ZIP codes
8 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.
Questions about 90264
What planting zone is ZIP code 90264?
ZIP code 90264 (Malibu, CA) is in USDA hardiness zone 11a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 40 to 45 °F (4.4 to 7.2 °C).
When is the last frost in Malibu, CA?
The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 90264 is January 24; after March 5 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Woodland Hills Pierce College station.
When is the first frost in Malibu, CA?
The median first fall frost near 90264 is December 15, giving a median frost-free growing season of 329 days.
When should I plant tomatoes in 90264?
Start tomato seeds indoors around Nov 29 – Dec 13 and set transplants outside around Jan 31 – Feb 14, one to three weeks after the median last frost.
How much rain and snow does 90264 get?
About 16.1 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Thousand Oaks 2.1 Wsw station).
How hot do summers get in Malibu, CA?
The average high peaks at 70 °F in August, with about 1 days a year at 90 °F or more.
What kind of soil does 90264 have?
The USDA soil survey maps Xerorthents at the center of ZIP 90264: loam, well drained, pH about 7.4 (slightly alkaline).
Did spring come early in Malibu, CA in 2026?
Spring leaf-out near 90264 came on Jan 15 in 2026, 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 20), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.
What kind of onions grow in Malibu, CA?
Intermediate onions: the longest day near 90264 is 14 h 25 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.
Did the zone for 90264 change?
Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 90264 in zone 10b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 11a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.