USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 9

Zone 9 covers winter lows from 20°F to 30°F, split into 9a (20 to 25°F) and 9b (25 to 30°F).

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 9 covers areas where the average coldest winter temperature falls between 20 and 30 degrees Fahrenheit. This puts it among the mild, near-frost-free zones, where hard freezes are brief and occasional rather than a defining feature of winter. Gardeners here can grow many tender and subtropical plants that would not survive colder zones, though the warmest summers can be the bigger limiting factor for cool-season crops.

Climate and where it is found

Zone 9 is found across the warm southern and coastal fringes of the country, including much of central and northern Florida, the Gulf Coast of Louisiana and Mississippi, southern and coastal Texas, the low deserts of southern Arizona, the Central Valley and inland areas of California, and pockets of coastal Oregon and Washington. Winters are short and mild, with only a handful of freezing nights, while summers range from humid and hot in the Southeast to dry and intensely hot in the desert Southwest. The frost-free growing season is long, commonly running 9 to 11 months or more, which allows for spring, summer, fall, and even winter planting windows. In many Zone 9 areas the practical challenge is not surviving winter but managing summer heat, which can push cool-season vegetables into an early spring finish.

States most often in Zone 9

Based on locations in our database, these states have the most ZIP codes falling in Zone 9:

What grows in Zone 9

Because hard freezes are rare and brief, a wide range of subtropical and warm-climate plants overwinter reliably in Zone 9. Citrus, figs, pomegranates, olives, and many hardy palms can live outdoors year round, along with warm-season perennials, ornamental grasses, and a broad palette of evergreen shrubs. Cool-season vegetables and cold-hardy greens often grow straight through the mild winter, making fall and winter a productive part of the calendar rather than a dormant one. Only the most cold-sensitive tropicals, such as those needing consistently frost-free conditions, may still need protection during an unusual cold snap.

• Citrus such as oranges, lemons, and grapefruit
• Figs, pomegranates, and olives
• Tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant
• Okra, sweet potatoes, and southern peas
• Cool-season greens like lettuce, kale, and collards for fall and winter
• Broccoli, cabbage, and other brassicas
• Herbs such as rosemary and thyme
• Hardy palms and warm-climate ornamentals

Gardening tips for Zone 9

With a long frost-free season, gardeners can plant warm-season crops early in spring and often get a second planting in late summer for a fall harvest. Track your local first and last frost dates rather than relying on the zone alone, since brief freezes still occur and can damage tender new growth; a row cover, cold frame, or old blanket over sensitive plants gets most gardens through the occasional cold night. In hotter Zone 9 areas, use fall and winter for cool-season greens and root crops, and time heat-sensitive plants to mature before peak summer temperatures arrive. When choosing perennials, trees, and shrubs, look for selections rated hardy to Zone 9 or lower so they can shrug off your coldest expected nights.

Sample locations in Zone 9

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.