8 Planting zones in New Mexico with Map

New Mexico has 8 USDA planting zones, ranging from zone 5a to 8b, based on the USDA latest official data.

Zone 5a, the coldest, is limited to a small area in the northernmost part of New Mexico. Zones 5b and 6a cover the northern mountainous regions, while zones 6b and 7a covers most of the central areas. The southern part of the state falls into the warmer zones 7b, 8a, and 8b, with 8b being limited to the southernmost tip along the US-Mexico border.

You can find your New Mexico planting zone by using our ZIP code tool or the New Mexico city planting zone map. Both tools, provided below in the post, will help you determine your exact USDA growing zone.

Search New Mexico Planting Zones by ZipCode

Planting Zones New Mexico Map

Select your New Mexico city from the selection box given below. Please use top right corner button in mapview to change map layers.

What are the 8 planting zones in New Mexico?

1. Zone 5a

Zone 5a, shown in dark purple colored areas on our map above, is the coldest planting zone in New Mexico. With average annual minimum temperatures ranging from -20°F to -15°F (-28.9°C to -26.1°C), this zone is limited to a small area in the northernmost part of the state. It has only one major city in it Costilla, indicating its very limited geographical coverage.

2. Zone 5b

Shown in a navy blue color on our map, Zone 5b covers more area than 5a but is still primarily confined to the northern regions of New Mexico. This zone experiences average annual minimum temperatures between -15°F to -10°F (-26.1°C to -23.3°C). Some locations in this zone are Chama, Dulce, and Tierra Amarilla, mostly situated in the mountainous areas near the Colorado border.

3. Zone 6a

Zone 6a, shown in a blue color on the map above, covers most of northern New Mexico and some higher elevation areas in the western part of the state. With temperatures ranging from -10°F to -5°F (-23.3°C to -20.6°C), this zone includes cities like Taos, Raton, and Gallup. It covers a large area of the state’s mountainous regions and high plateaus.

4. Zone 6b

The light teal colored areas on our map above, Zone 6b covers a broad area across northern and central New Mexico. Average annual minimum temperatures in this zone range from -5°F to 0°F (-20.6°C to -17.8°C). Some cities in this zone are Santa Fe, Las Vegas, and Aztec, covering both mountainous areas and parts of the eastern plains.

5. Zone 7a

Zone 7a, shown in a dark-green color on the map, covers a large area of central New Mexico and extends into some southern areas. With temperatures ranging from 0°F to 5°F (-17.8°C to -15°C), this zone includes various landscapes. Some cities in this zone are Farmington, Los Alamos and Clovis, representing both urban centers and rural areas across the state.

6. Zone 7b

Shown in a light green color on our map above, Zone 7b covers large areas in central and southern New Mexico. This zone experiences average annual minimum temperatures between 5°F to 10°F (-15°C to -12.2°C). Major cities in this zone are Albuquerque, Las Cruces, Roswell, and Socorro, covering both the Rio Grande Valley and parts of the eastern plains.

7. Zone 8a

Zone 8a, shown in a yellowish-green color on the map, is primarily found in the southern regions of New Mexico. With temperatures ranging from 10°F to 15°F (-12.2°C to -9.4°C), this zone covers warmer, lower elevation areas. Cities here are Carlsbad, Deming, and Alamogordo, representing the state’s desert and semi-arid regions.

8. Zone 8b

The warmest planting zone in New Mexico, 8b, the brightest green areas on our map. It’s limited to the southernmost parts of the state, with average annual minimum temperatures between 15°F to 20°F (-9.4°C to -6.7°C). This zone have cities like Sunland Park and parts of Las Cruces, primarily in the Mesilla Valley and along the US-Mexico border.

Planting Zones in New Mexico with Cities

USDA hardiness zones for New Mexico Cities, Towns and Counties. Data Source: Latest USDA release (2023)

Planting Zones in New Mexico	Temp Range (°F)	Cities
7b	5 to 10	Albuquerque, Algodones, Arenas Valley, Artesia, Bayard, Belen, Bent, Bernalillo, Bosque, Bosque Farms, Buckhorn, Cannon Afb, Causey, Cliff, Conchas Dam, Corrales, Crossroads, Dexter, Dora, Elida, Floyd, Fort Bayard, Gila, Glencoe, Hagerman, Hanover, Hondo, Hope, Isleta, Kenna, Kirtland Afb, La Joya, La Luz, Lake Arthur, Las Cruces, Lemitar, Los Lunas, Lovington, Mc Donald, Milnesand, Mimbres, Monticello, Mule Creek, Pep, Picacho, Pinon, Pinos Altos, Placitas, Polvadera, Redrock, Rio Rancho, Rogers, Roswell, San Acacia, San Antonio, San Patricio, Santa Clara, Santo Domingo Pueblo, Silver City, Socorro, Tatum, Timberon, Tinnie, Tyrone, Veguita
6a	-10 to -5	Amalia, Angel Fire, Aragon, Bluewater, Buena Vista, Canjilon, Carson, Chacon, Chamisal, Chimayo, Cimarron, Continental Divide, Counselor, Cuba, Datil, Eagle Nest, Estancia, Fence Lake, Fort Wingate, Gallup, Gladstone, Grants, Guadalupita, Holman, Jamestown, Llano, Luna, Maxwell, Mc Intosh, Mentmore, Miami, Milan, Mora, Moriarty, Ocate, Ojo Feliz, Penasco, Prewitt, Quemado, Questa, Rainsville, Ramah, Ranchos De Taos, Raton, Red River, Rehoboth, Reserve, San Rafael, Smith Lake, Springer, Taos, Taos Ski Valley, Tererro, Thoreau, Truchas, Ute Park, Vadito, Valmora, Vanderwagen, Wagon Mound, Watrous, Zuni
6b	-5 to 0	Amistad, Anton Chico, Aztec, Blanco, Brimhall, Casa Blanca, Church Rock, Clayton, Cleveland, Clines Corners, Cordova, Coyote, Crownpoint, Cubero, Des Moines, Dixon, Edgewood, Encino, Flora Vista, Folsom, Gallina, Gamerco, Glorieta, Grenville, Ilfeld, Jemez Springs, La Madera, La Plata, Lamy, Las Vegas, Mexican Springs, Mills, Montezuma, Mosquero, Nageezi, Navajo, Navajo Dam, New Laguna, Paguate, Pecos, Petaca, Pueblo Of Acoma, Ribera, Rociada, Rowe, Roy, San Fidel, San Jose, Santa Fe, Sapello, Sedan, Serafina, Stanley, Tesuque, Torreon, Trampas, Vallecitos, Villanueva, Willard, Yatahey, Youngsville
7a	0 to 5	Abiquiu, Alcalde, Alto, Bard, Bloomfield, Broadview, Canones, Capitan, Carrizozo, Cedar Crest, Cerrillos, Claunch, Cloudcroft, Clovis, Cochiti Lake, Cochiti Pueblo, Corona, Cuervo, El Rito, Embudo, Espanola, Farmington, Fort Stanton, Fort Sumner, Fruitland, Garita, Glenwood, Grady, Hernandez, House, Jarales, Jemez Pueblo, Kirtland, La Loma, Laguna, Lincoln, Logan, Los Alamos, Magdalena, Mayhill, Mc Alister, Medanales, Melrose, Mescalero, Mountainair, Nara Visa, Newcomb, Newkirk, Nogal, Ojo Caliente, Pena Blanca, Peralta, Ponderosa, Portales, Quay, Ruidoso, Ruidoso Downs, Sacramento, San Jon, San Juan Pueblo, San Ysidro, Sandia Park, Sanostee, Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, Santa Rosa, Sheep Springs, Shiprock, Solano, Sunspot, Taiban, Texico, Tijeras, Tohatchi, Tome, Trementina, Tucumcari, Vaughn, Velarde, Waterflow, Weed, Winston, Yeso
5b	-15 to -10	Arroyo Hondo, Arroyo Seco, Capulin, Cebolla, Cerro, Chama, Dulce, El Prado, La Jara, Lindrith, Los Ojos, Pie Town, Pinehill, Regina, San Cristobal, Tierra Amarilla, Tres Piedras, Valdez
8a	10 to 15	Alamogordo, Albuquerque, Animas, Anthony, Arrey, Artesia, Caballo, Carlsbad, Columbus, Deming, Derry, Elephant Butte, Eunice, Faywood, Garfield, Hachita, Hatch, High Rolls Mountain Park, Hillsboro, Hobbs, Holloman Air Force Base, Hurley, Jal, Lakewood, Las Cruces, Loco Hills, Lordsburg, Loving, Malaga, Maljamar, Monument, Orogrande, Playas, Radium Springs, Rincon, Rodeo, Salem, Santa Teresa, Truth Or Consequences, Tularosa, Whites City, Williamsburg
5a	-20 to -15	Costilla
8b	15 to 20	Berino, Chamberino, Chaparral, Fairacres, La Mesa, Las Cruces, Mesilla, Mesilla Park, Mesquite, Organ, San Miguel, Sunland Park, Vado, White Sands Missile Range

Best plants for New Mexico?

Here are eight plants well-suited to New Mexico’s usda hardiness zones, from the coldest (5a) to the warmest (8b):

1. Zone 5a: Colorado Blue Spruce (Picea pungens) – Thrives in cold, mountainous regions.
2. Zone 5b: Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa) – Adaptable to high-altitude, cold-hardy environments.
3. Zone 6a: Rocky Mountain Juniper (Juniperus scopulorum) – Drought-tolerant and suited for northern New Mexico.
4. Zone 6b: New Mexico Olive (Forestiera pubescens) – Native shrub adapted to cooler central regions.
5. Zone 7a: Desert Willow (Chilopsis linearis) – Drought-resistant tree for central and southern areas.
6. Zone 7b: Yucca (Yucca glauca) – Versatile plant for various landscapes across the state.
7. Zone 8a: Mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) – Heat-tolerant tree for southern desert regions.
8. Zone 8b: Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia spp.) – Thrives in the warmest, southernmost parts of New Mexico.