Planting zones · Palm Springs, California
What Planting Zone Is Palm Springs?
Palm Springs is in USDA zone 10a. Colorado Desert (Coachella Valley): about 4.6 in. of rain and average July highs near 109°F. A 32°F freeze occurs in only about one year in ten at the airport.
- USDA zone (2023)10a
- Coldest night (avg.)30 to 35°FZIP 92262
- Annual precipitation4.6 inches
Palm Springs hardiness zone by ZIP code
On the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, the ZIP codes we sampled in Palm Springs fall in zone 10a; 92262 (zone 10a) has an average annual extreme minimum of 30 to 35°F. Choose perennials, shrubs, and trees rated at least to zone 10.
| ZIP | Zone | Avg. coldest night |
|---|---|---|
| 92262 | 10a | 30 to 35°F |
| 92264 | 10a | 30 to 35°F |
Not listed? Look up any ZIP code.
Frost dates and when to plant
A 32°F freeze occurs in only about 11% of years at Palm Springs Intl Airport, so median frost dates aren't meaningful. Frost-tender plants still need protection on the rare cold night.
In the low desert, fall is the preferred planting season: roots grow through the mild winter before the first summer heat. Avoid planting in midsummer.
Rainfall and heat in Palm Springs
Average annual precipitation is 4.6 inches (Palm Springs Intl Airport, 1991–2020), and 80% of it falls November–March. Summers are dry (June is the driest month), so plants lean on stored soil moisture and supplemental water through their first summer.
The average high in July is about 109°F and the average low in December is about 46°F, measured at about 420 ft.
That is why a zone rating alone isn't enough for a xeriscape here: pick plants that are both cold-hardy to zone 10 and rated very low or low water once established.
Low-water plants for Palm Springs
18 plants in our database are hardy to zone 10 and suited to zone 10. Here are 12, driest first, across plant types.
'Desert Museum' Palo VerdeParkinsonia 'Desert Museum'Zones 8–11 · Very low water
Adam's Needle YuccaYucca filamentosaZones 4–10 · Very low water
Blue GramaBouteloua gracilisZones 3–10 · Very low water
Blueblossom CeanothusCeanothus thyrsiflorusZones 8–10 · Very low water
California FuchsiaEpilobium canum (syn. Zauschneria californica)Zones 8–10 · Very low water
Trailing RosemarySalvia rosmarinus Prostratus GroupZones 8–10 · Low water
Blue Palo VerdeParkinsonia floridaZones 8–11 · Very low water
Red YuccaHesperaloe parvifloraZones 5–10 · Very low water
Undaunted Ruby MuhlyMuhlenbergia reverchonii 'PUND01S' (UNDAUNTED®)Zones 5–10 · Low water
Common ManzanitaArctostaphylos manzanitaZones 8–10 · Very low water
DamianitaChrysactinia mexicanaZones 7–10 · Very low water
Arizona CypressHesperocyparis arizonica (syn. Cupressus arizonica)Zones 7–11 · Low water
Frequently asked questions
What planting zone is Palm Springs?
Palm Springs, CA is in USDA hardiness zone 10a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, based on the ZIP codes we sampled (92262: 10a, 92264: 10a). In 92262, the average coldest night of the year is 30 to 35°F.
When is the last frost in Palm Springs?
A 32°F freeze occurs in only about 11% of years at Palm Springs Intl Airport, so median frost dates aren't meaningful. Frost-tender plants still need protection on the rare cold night.
How much rain does Palm Springs get?
Average annual precipitation is 4.6 inches (Palm Springs Intl Airport, 1991–2020), and 80% of it falls November–March. Summers are dry (June is the driest month), so plants lean on stored soil moisture and supplemental water through their first summer.
Sources
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, Palm Springs Intl Airport (USW00093138). ncei.noaa.gov
- USDA ARS 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map, by ZIP. planthardiness.ars.usda.gov