Texas growing zones range from 6b to 10a. If you're not sure what Texas planting zone you're in or if you don't know what plants will grow best in your area, a local nursery can help. Remember that it's OK to plant lower than your area, but not higher. Zones 9a and 9b extend along the southern tip of the state and the Gulf Coast.
From Del Rio to Galveston and Beaumont. Temperatures in this area are usually mild. Frosts are rare, with average minimum temperatures in winter of 9 to 20 to 25 °F and 9 to 25 to 30 °F. Citrus farms dot the landscape and grow heat-tolerant varieties that are sent for sale to everyone the United States.
The coldest area indicated by the USDA Texas plantation map is 6b, located in the northern part of the state. The rest of Texas enjoys very warm weather all year round, including the winter months. The remaining areas of Texas include zones 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 10a, and 10b. Winter lows may drop a -5 degrees F.
Or set a temperature of up to 20 degrees F. Based on the 1990 USDA hardiness zone map, this interactive version covers the state of Texas, from USDA zone 6a to USDA zone 9b. When making a plant selection, it is important to know the areas where the plant will grow best. Labeling and plant growth information are sometimes limited to “Texas,” making it difficult to identify which of the many USDA Texas areas are appropriate places for cultivation.
This zone covers a strip that extends from the New Mexico border in western Texas to small sections of the eastern borders of Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana. Knowing your specific area can make the difference between losing the least resistant plants due to winter frosts and preventing them from freezing in the extreme heat of higher areas. As the second largest state in the United States, the Texas landscape includes four different USDA zones. Once you've identified your area, read magazines, catalogs, and websites and visit nurseries to find out which plant palette will be most suitable nice for your garden.
Experienced gardeners rely on plant information from the hardiness zone established by the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture). Zone 6b, in the northernmost part of the state, around the cities of Amarillo, Canyon and Hereford, averages 18 inches of snow per year. It's important to know your specific growing zone to ensure that the time you spend in your garden is the best chance of success. You can also expand your plant options a little beyond your area if your property includes areas with microclimates at a different height or with more or less protection from the elements, making temperatures and conditions slightly different within your property or general location.
This system divides the United States and Canada into eleven zones, based on the average minimum temperatures in winter. While the Texas zone map doesn't guarantee plant survival, it does provide a very solid framework for planning a garden. If your gardening wish list includes plants that aren't hardy in your area, consider planting them in pots that can be brought indoors during extreme winter. Monitoring your gardening experiences can show that you can grow plants in slightly colder or warmer areas.
