USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 11

Zone 11 covers winter lows from 40°F to 50°F, split into 11a (40 to 45°F) and 11b (45 to 50°F).

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 11 is one of the warmest zones in the United States, defined by an extreme minimum winter temperature range of 40 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. This means gardens here are effectively frost-free, and winter cold is almost never the factor that limits what will survive. For practical purposes, plants that overwinter in Zone 11 are limited far more by heat, humidity, and storms than by low temperatures.

Climate and where it is found

Zone 11 has a tropical to subtropical climate with warm to hot conditions all year and no meaningful winter. In the United States it is found mainly in the far southern tip of Florida and the Florida Keys, in Hawaii, and in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, along with a few very warm coastal pockets of Southern California. Many of these areas run on a wet-and-dry seasonal pattern rather than a cold-and-warm one, so rainfall timing often matters more than temperature. The growing season is essentially continuous, giving gardeners the ability to plant and harvest something in every month of the year.

States most often in Zone 11

Based on locations in our database, these states have the most ZIP codes falling in Zone 11:

What grows in Zone 11

Because hard freezes do not occur, tender tropical and subtropical plants that would die in colder zones thrive here year-round. Tropical fruit trees, palms, and frost-sensitive perennials overwinter easily, and many warm-season vegetables and herbs can be grown across multiple planting cycles. Heat- and humidity-tolerant selections do best, since the challenge is thriving through hot, moist conditions rather than surviving cold. One notable limit is that temperate fruit trees needing a long period of winter chill often perform poorly, since Zone 11 rarely gets cold enough to satisfy their chilling requirement.

• Mango
• Papaya
• Banana
• Avocado
• Pineapple
• Guava
• Taro
• Okra

Gardening tips for Zone 11

With no frost to plan around, gardeners here schedule planting by heat, rainfall, and storm season rather than by a last or first frost date. Cool-season vegetables generally do best when set out during the milder, drier months, while heat-loving crops can run through much of the year. Season extension is usually about managing sun and heat, for example using shade cloth and mulch to keep roots cool and soil moisture steady, rather than protecting against cold. When choosing plants, favor heat- and humidity-tolerant, low-chill, and salt- or wind-tolerant varieties near the coast, and be prepared for the wettest months and hurricane season in tropical areas.

Sample locations in Zone 11

Open any location for its live weather, frost dates, and planting calendar:

Related tools

Hardiness zones tell you what survives winter. To decide when to plant, check your frost dates and planting calendar, and browse crops and growing guides for individual plants.

Zone boundaries follow the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, which is based on 1991-2020 winter minimum temperatures. Local microclimates, elevation, and unusual winters can differ from the map. Page updated Aug 4, 2026.