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Planting zones · Scottsdale, Arizona

What Planting Zone Is Scottsdale?

Scottsdale is in USDA zone 9b–10a. Northeast Valley Sonoran Desert at about 1,500 ft with about 8.7 in. of precipitation. A 32°F freeze occurs in about 70% of years at Scottsdale Airport, far more often than at Phoenix Sky Harbor.

  • USDA zone (2023)9b–10a
  • Coldest night (avg.)25 to 30°FZIP 85251
  • Median last frostJan 632°F
  • Median first frostDec 2632°F
  • Annual precipitation8.7 inches
  • Frost-free season353 days

Scottsdale hardiness zone by ZIP code

On the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, the ZIP codes we sampled in Scottsdale fall in zones 9b to 10a; 85251 (zone 9b) has an average annual extreme minimum of 25 to 30°F. Choose perennials, shrubs, and trees rated at least to zone 9.

2023 USDA zone for sampled Scottsdale ZIP codes
ZIPZoneAvg. coldest night
852519b25 to 30°F
8525410a30 to 35°F
8526010a30 to 35°F
852629b25 to 30°F

Not listed? Look up any ZIP code.

Frost dates and when to plant

The median last spring frost (32°F) at Scottsdale Airport is Jan 6 and the median first fall frost is Dec 26, a typical frost-free season of about 353 days. A 32°F freeze doesn't happen every winter there (about 70% of years), so treat these dates as a guide rather than a rule.

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 Scottsdale

Average annual precipitation is 8.7 inches (Scottsdale Airport, 1991–2020), and 60% 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 104°F and the average low in December is about 43°F, measured at about 1,470 ft.

That is why a zone rating alone isn't enough for a xeriscape here: pick plants that are both cold-hardy to zone 9 and rated very low or low water once established.

Low-water plants for Scottsdale

52 plants in our database are hardy to zone 9 and suited to zone 9. Here are 12, driest first, across plant types.

See all zone 9 plants

Frequently asked questions

What planting zone is Scottsdale?

Scottsdale, AZ is in USDA hardiness zone 9b–10a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, based on the ZIP codes we sampled (85251: 9b, 85254: 10a, 85260: 10a, 85262: 9b). In 85251, the average coldest night of the year is 25 to 30°F.

When is the last frost in Scottsdale?

The median last spring frost (32°F) at Scottsdale Airport is Jan 6 and the median first fall frost is Dec 26, a typical frost-free season of about 353 days. A 32°F freeze doesn't happen every winter there (about 70% of years), so treat these dates as a guide rather than a rule.

How much rain does Scottsdale get?

Average annual precipitation is 8.7 inches (Scottsdale Airport, 1991–2020), and 60% 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

  1. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, Scottsdale Airport (USW00003192). ncei.noaa.gov
  2. USDA ARS 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map, by ZIP. planthardiness.ars.usda.gov