Gardening in Tucson
and Southeastern Arizona

Selecting Plants for Tucson and Surrounding Communities

• Choose plants that grow in your USDA hardiness zone. Also be aware of Arizona's reversed rainfall pattern. Some non-native plants cannot cope with hot rainy summers sandwiched between a dry spring and fall.
• Because we have severe temperature extremes every 10 years or so, consider choosing plants that will survive in a hardiness zone number one less and one-half greater than yours. For example, if you live in USDA zone 9a, plants which have a hardiness range that includes zones 8a and 9b will more likely survive long-term.
• The table below lists the standard USDA hardiness zone and average elevation (feet above sea level) for each location. Actual zone identification requires measurements of lowest winter temperatures over several years at your site. Some towns straddle several zones and have a wide variance in elevation.

• Avoid water-hungry plants. The high desert region receives limited rain and have endured many years of drought. Plants with low water needs require less maintenance.
• For the mountains, select plants that accept pH 7.0 (neutral) soil. In valleys, select plants that accept pH 7.5 - 8.0 (alkaline) soil. Acid-loving plants will require heavy soil modification and periodic soil maintenance to survive. Water supplies are also slightly alkaline, putting further stress on acid-loving plants.
• Choose desert-compatible plants that desperately hungry wild critters dislike. These drought-resistant plants are less tasty to wildlife and often grow back quickly when nibbled.