San Diego County spans 7 planting zones, from 8a to 11a, based on latest USDA’s plant hardiness zone data released in 2023.
Zone 8a occurs in eastern peaks like Mount Laguna, while Zones 8b/9a dominate inland regions such as Ramona and Alpine. Transitional Zones 9b/10a border urban centers, warmer Zone 10b spans central neighborhoods, and coastal Zone 11a includes La Jolla and Coronado.
Find your San Diego (CA) USDA zone using our three tools given below: zipcode search, location name lookup, or interactive zone maps.
San Diego Planting Zones by ZipCode
Enter your 5 digit San Diego Zipcode in search box below to find its USDA Planting Zone.
Planting Zones San Diego Map
Please select or type your San Diego location name in the selection box below, to find its USDA Growing Zone. You can also change map view by using layers option, top right corner button in mapview.
City Name
San Diego Area Planting Zone
Planting Zones
Planting Zones
San Diego Planting Zones Table
Following table lists all San Diego locations alongwith their USDA Hardiness Zones.
| San Diego Locations | Planting Zone |
|---|---|
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What are the 7 planting zones in San Diego?
1. Zone 8a
The dark blue colored areas on our map given above cover a small part of eastern San Diego County, which is mainly mountainous regions. This zone has the coldest temperatures in the county, with average annual minimum temperatures ranging from 10°F to 15°F (-12.2°C to -9.4°C). It includes high-elevation areas and parts of the Laguna Mountains.
2. Zone 8b
As depicted in light blue on the map we’ve provided, this zone covers larger parts of eastern San Diego County than Zone 8a and has average annual minimum temperatures between 15°F to 20°F (-9.4°C to -6.7°C). This zone includes more of the county’s mountainous regions and cover parts of the Cleveland National Forest.
3. Zone 9a
The teal-shaded regions on our custom map cover a significant part of inland San Diego County and represent a transition between colder mountain areas and warmer coastal regions. It has average annual minimum temperatures from 20°F to 25°F (-6.7°C to -3.9°C) and includes the county’s inland valleys and foothills.
4. Zone 9b
In our map above, the light green colored sections cover a large area of San Diego County, stretching from inland valleys towards the coast. With average annual minimum temperatures between 25°F to 30°F (-3.9°C to -1.1°C), this zone includes areas such as Poway, Santee, El Cajon, and eastern parts of San Diego city.
5. Zone 10a
The yellow-green areas in our custom map cover a significant part of San Diego County, including both coastal and inland areas. It has a mild climate suitable for various plants, with average annual minimum temperatures ranging from 30°F to 35°F (-1.1°C to 1.7°C).
This zone includes parts of San Diego city such as Rancho Bernardo (92127), Carmel Mountain Ranch (92128), Rancho Peñasquitos (92129), as well as areas served by PO Boxes (92150, 92172, 92197, 92198, and 92199).
6. Zone 10b
As shown in light yellow color on the map we’ve created, this zone covers much of coastal San Diego County and extends inland. It has average annual minimum temperatures between 35°F to 40°F (1.7°C to 4.4°C) and includes most of San Diego city and its suburbs, covering areas such as Golden Hill (92102), Hillcrest (92103), and Carmel Valley (92130).
7. Zone 11a
The pale yellow regions depicted on our custom map cover the warmest parts of San Diego County, mainly along the immediate coastline. This zone experiences the mildest winters in the county, with average annual minimum temperatures from 40°F to 45°F (4.4°C to 7.2°C).
It includes coastal areas of San Diego city such as La Jolla, Mission Beach, Ocean Beach, Point Loma, Coronado, and downtown, with specific areas like Centre City (92101) and Naval Base San Diego (92132, 92135, 92136, 92137, 92138, 92140).
How Geography influence San Diego Planting zones?
San Diego’s abundant sunshine and diverse geography shape its planting zones, from coastal Zones 10b and 11a to mountainous Zones 8a and 8b. Soil types vary, affecting water retention and plant suitability, with a long growing season allowing year-round cultivation. Each of these factor is explained below.
Best plants for San Diego?
Native plants like Coast Live Oak and Toyon thrive across all zones. Drought-tolerant and Mediterranean species are generally well-suited throughout California’s San Diego’s climate zones.
Zone 8a-9a (inland): Salvia, Manzanita, California Lilac.
Zone 9b-10a (transitional): Aloe vera, Protea, California Poppy.
Zone 10b-11a (coastal): Seaside Daisy, Bird of Paradise, Bougainvillea.