USDA Planting Zone 9 with Map

What is Zone 9 USDA Planting Zone?

Zone 9 of the USDA Plant Hardiness Zones features mild winter temperatures (20°F to 30°F/-6.7°C to -1.1°C) and spans the southern United States. Key regions include north Florida, southern Louisiana, southern Texas, and the Central Valley and inland valleys of California, extending inland to parts of Arizona.

Search USDA Planting Zones 9 by ZipCode

USDA Planting Zones 9 Map

Toggle zone 9a and 9b layers using, top right corner button in mapview.

Zone 9 is further divided into two subzones:

Zone 9a

Zone 9a features a 20°F to 25°F (-6.7°C to -3.9°C) temperature range and spans inland areas of the Southeast (e.g., North Florida, Southern Louisiana) and Southwest regions. Its 9-10 month growing season supports year-round cultivation in some areas.

• Temperature range: 20°F to 25°F (-6.7°C to -3.9°C)
• Climate characteristics: Mild winters with rare freezes, hot summers
• Growing season: Approximately 9-10 months, with some areas experiencing year-round growing conditions

Zone 9b

Zone 9b spans coastal and southern regions, including California, Arizona, Florida, and Texas. California and Arizona feature a Mediterranean climate with dry summers, while Florida and Texas maintain higher humidity levels.

• Temperature range: 25°F to 30°F (-3.9°C to -1.1°C)
• Climate: Very mild winters, hot and often dry summers
• Growing season: Nearly year-round, with reduced growth during peak summer heat

Zone 9 Frost Dates

In Zone 9, the typical last spring frost comes on March 12 in 9a and February 16 in 9b, and the first fall frost on November 17 in 9a and December 5 in 9b. The table gives the median date for every ZIP code in each subzone and the range that covers 8 of 10 ZIP codes, from NOAA 1991–2020 weather-station records; in 7 of 10 years, the frost comes before the spring date and after the fall date. The growing season is the number of days between the two dates. Frost dates for one garden come from its ZIP code: frost dates by ZIP code.

Subzone	Last spring frost	First fall frost	Growing season
Zone 9a	Mar 12 (Feb 28–Mar 31)	Nov 17 (Nov 7–Dec 1)	250 days
Zone 9b	Feb 16 (Jan 22–Mar 11)	Dec 5 (Nov 23–Dec 26)	292 days

When to Plant in Zone 9?

In Zone 9, plant garlic from October 15 to November 30; in 6 of 10 Zone 9 ZIP codes, the cloves spend 6–8 weeks in the refrigerator first. Tulip bulbs go in from December 15 to January 15, after 12–14 weeks in the refrigerator, because winters in most Zone 9 ZIP codes are too mild to chill them in the ground. Dates for one ZIP code: When to Plant Garlic and When to Plant Tulip Bulbs.

November is the main cool-season planting month in Zone 9: What to Plant in November lists vegetables, flowers, and cover crops by zone. Planting dates for more crops: When to Plant: Planting Dates by ZIP Code.

What are the States of USDA Zone 9?

The states containing USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 9 areas are:

1. California

Zone 9 spans California’s Central Valley and inland valleys, divided into Subzone 9a (light green) and 9b (yellow) on the USDA map. Subzone 9a covers the cooler valley edges, the North Bay, and the high desert, while 9b includes most of the Central Valley and the inland Bay Area.

Major Zone 9 cities include Sacramento (9b), San Jose (mostly 9b), and Fresno (9b); Merced and Grass Valley are 9a, while Santa Rosa (9a/9b) and Palmdale (8b/9a) sit on zone lines. The zone experiences average winter lows of 20°F to 30°F (-6.7°C to -1.1°C), with 9b being marginally warmer. Three drought-tolerant plants thrive here: California poppy, coast live oak, and manzanita.

2. Texas

Zone 9 spans Texas’ Gulf Coast, central, and southern regions, divided into Subzone 9a (light green on our map) and 9b (yellow on our map) on the USDA map. Subzone 9a covers inland areas such as San Antonio and Austin, while 9b includes the Houston area, the upper coast, and parts of South Texas.

Key cities in this zone are Houston (9b), San Antonio (9a), and Laredo (9b). Three heat-tolerant plants thrive here: Texas sage, yucca, and Gulf muhly grass.

3. Florida

Zone 9 spans northern and central Florida, divided into Subzone 9a (light green) and 9b (yellow) on the our USDA map, given above. Subzone 9a covers the Panhandle and inland North Florida, while 9b spans Jacksonville, the hills west of Orlando, and the north side of Tampa Bay.

Key cities in this zone include Tallahassee (9a), Jacksonville (mostly 9b), and northern Tampa (9b); Orlando is zone 10a. Three native plants example that thrive here are: crape myrtle, Southern magnolia, and coontie.

4. Arizona

Zone 9 spans central and southern Arizona, divided into Subzone 9a (cooler desert basins between Phoenix and Tucson) and 9b (the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas). Key cities include Phoenix (9b), Tucson (9b), and Casa Grande (9a); Flagstaff is zone 6a. Drought-tolerant plants thrive here includes: desert marigold, palo verde, and ocotillo.

5. Louisiana

Zone 9 covers southern Louisiana, including coastal areas, with Subzone 9a (inland) and 9b (immediate coast). Major cities are New Orleans (9b), Baton Rouge (9a), and Lafayette (9a). Suitable native plants that thrive here includes southern live oak, Louisiana iris, and bald cypress.

6. Georgia

Zone 9 is limited to Georgia’s southeastern coast, including Savannah and Brunswick. Coastal-adapted plants well-suited for this zone include Confederate jasmine, saw palmetto, and loblolly bay.

7. Alabama

Zone 9 in Alabama is found along the Gulf Coast in the southern part of the state. Subzone 9a is shown as light green on our map above, while 9b is limited to a small coastal area of the state.

Cities in this zone are Mobile (9a), Gulf Shores (mostly 9a), and Dauphin Island (9b). Suitable plants for this zone in Alabama are Southern wax myrtle, oakleaf hydrangea, and Gulf Coast muhly grass.

8. Mississippi

Zone 9 in Mississippi is limited to the coastal areas along the Gulf of Mexico. Cities in this zone include Gulfport (9a) and Biloxi (9a). Plants well-suited for this zone in Mississippi include Southern magnolia, American beautyberry, and yaupon holly.

9. South Carolina

Zone 9 in South Carolina is found only in a small area along the southern coast. Cities in this zone are Hilton Head Island and parts of Charleston. Suitable plants for this zone in South Carolina include palmetto palm, sweetgrass, and Carolina jessamine.

10. Nevada

Zone 9 in Nevada is limited to the southern tip of the state. The primary city in this zone is Las Vegas (9a/9b). Plants well-suited for this zone in Nevada include desert marigold, Joshua tree, and red yucca.

11. Oregon

Zone 9 in Oregon is found in small pockets along the southern coast. Cities in this zone include parts of Brookings and Gold Beach. Suitable plants for this zone in Oregon include Pacific wax myrtle, evergreen huckleberry, and Oregon grape.

12. Washington

Zone 9 in Washington is limited to small areas along the southern coast. This zone includes parts of Long Beach Peninsula. Plants well-suited for this zone in Washington include salal, Pacific rhododendron, and shore pine.

13. North Carolina

Zone 9 in North Carolina is found only in the Outer Banks region. This zone includes parts of Hatteras Island and Ocracoke Island. Suitable plants for this zone in North Carolina include sea oats, yaupon holly, and live oak.

How does Zone 9 differ from neighbouring zones?

USDA Zone 9 is warmer than Zone 8 and cooler than Zone 10. Plants that thrive in Zone 9 may not survive colder winters in Zone 8, While some tropical plants that do well in Zone 10, such as banana trees (Musa spp.), bird of paradise (Strelitzia reginae), plumeria (Plumeria spp.), and certain varieties of orchids, might struggle with Zone 9’s occasional cold weather.