What Planting Zones Are in Nevada?
Nevada spans USDA hardiness zones 5a to 10a, where the average coldest winter night ranges from −20 °F to 35 °F (−28.9 °C to 1.7 °C). Zone 9b covers the most ZIP codes, 24%, and zones 7a to 9b together cover 74% of the state.
- Zone 5a1% · 3 ZIPs
- Zone 5b4% · 10 ZIPs
- Zone 6a4% · 11 ZIPs
- Zone 6b10% · 24 ZIPs
- Zone 7a18% · 45 ZIPs
- Zone 7b11% · 27 ZIPs
- Zone 8a1% · 3 ZIPs
- Zone 8b6% · 14 ZIPs
- Zone 9a21% · 52 ZIPs
- Zone 9b24% · 60 ZIPs
- Zone 10a<1% · 1 ZIP
Bars show each zone's share of the 250 Nevada ZIP codes in the official 2023 USDA ZIP code table; select a zone for its temperatures and hardy plants.
What Hardiness Zone Are Nevada Cities In?
Las Vegas is in zone 9a, Henderson is in zone 9b, North Las Vegas is in zone 9a and Reno is in zone 7b. The table lists the zone, winter low and average frost dates for 18 Nevada cities, using the ZIP code nearest each city center.
| City | ZIP | Zone | Winter low | Last frost | First frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas | 89129 | 9a | 20 °F to 25 °F | Jan 24 | Dec 10 |
| Henderson | 89012 | 9b | 25 °F to 30 °F | Jan 20 | Dec 15 |
| North Las Vegas | 89086 | 9a | 20 °F to 25 °F | Feb 1 | Dec 8 |
| Reno | 89503 | 7b | 5 °F to 10 °F | Apr 28 | Oct 27 |
| Sparks | 89436 | 7a | 0 °F to 5 °F | May 3 | Oct 10 |
| Carson City | 89701 | 7a | 0 °F to 5 °F | May 4 | Oct 6 |
| Fernley | 89442 | 7a | 0 °F to 5 °F | May 9 | Oct 1 |
| Mesquite | 89034 | 9a | 20 °F to 25 °F | Mar 16 | Nov 13 |
| Elko | 89815 | 5b | −15 °F to −10 °F | Jun 16 | Sep 13 |
| Boulder City | 89044 | 9a | 20 °F to 25 °F | Feb 4 | Dec 5 |
| Fallon | 89408 | 7a | 0 °F to 5 °F | Apr 18 | Oct 25 |
| Winnemucca | 89446 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | May 31 | Sep 17 |
| West Wendover | 89883 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | May 12 | Sep 30 |
| Ely | 89315 | 5a | −20 °F to −15 °F | Jun 12 | Sep 13 |
| Yerington | 89447 | 7a | 0 °F to 5 °F | Apr 29 | Oct 15 |
| Carlin | 89822 | 5b | −15 °F to −10 °F | Jun 2 | Sep 17 |
| Lovelock | 89419 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | May 19 | Sep 24 |
| Wells | 89835 | 5b | −15 °F to −10 °F | Jun 10 | Sep 16 |
Zone: 2023 USDA ZIP code table for the ZIP code nearest each city's Census center point. Frost dates: 50% (median) dates from the nearest NOAA station, 1991–2020 normals. Cities: the largest Nevada places by 2024 Census population estimates, spread across the state, plus the largest place in each common zone. Large cities can span two half zones.
Which Parts of Nevada Are in Each Zone?
Zone 5a, the coldest Nevada zone, covers 1% of ZIP codes around Ely. Zone 9b, the warmest with towns, covers 24% around Henderson. The table lists the largest places in every zone.
| Zone | Avg. coldest night | Share of ZIPs | Largest places in this zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 5a | −20 °F to −15 °F | 1% (3) | Ely |
| Zone 5b | −15 °F to −10 °F | 4% (10) | Elko, Carlin, Wells |
| Zone 6a | −10 °F to −5 °F | 4% (11) | Rural ZIP codes only |
| Zone 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | 10% (24) | Winnemucca, West Wendover, Lovelock |
| Zone 7a | 0 °F to 5 °F | 18% (45) | Sparks, Carson City, Fernley, Fallon |
| Zone 7b | 5 °F to 10 °F | 11% (27) | Reno |
| Zone 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | 1% (3) | Rural ZIP codes only |
| Zone 8b | 15 °F to 20 °F | 6% (14) | Rural ZIP codes only |
| Zone 9a | 20 °F to 25 °F | 21% (52) | Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Mesquite, Boulder City |
| Zone 9b | 25 °F to 30 °F | 24% (60) | Henderson |
| Zone 10a | 30 °F to 35 °F | <1% (1) | Rural ZIP codes only |
Places: incorporated places with 1,000+ residents, assigned the zone of the ZIP code nearest their Census center point.
What Do the Hardiness Zones Mean for Nevada Gardeners?
A Nevada gardener in zone 10a sees winter lows about 50 °F milder than one in zone 5a, so a shrub or perennial that thrives in one part of the state can die in another. Choose plants rated to your own ZIP code's zone or colder.
Hardiness zones follow latitude, elevation and large bodies of water rather than state lines. Higher ground and inland valleys that trap cold air usually sit in colder half zones, while cities, coasts and large lakes moderate winter lows. Within Nevada, a plant labelled “zones 7–9” survives winter in at least 74% of ZIP codes, but plants at the edge of their range benefit from mulch and a sheltered spot. Enter a ZIP code in the USDA hardiness zone finder by ZIP code to check your exact half zone before buying perennials.
A zone describes winter cold only. Summer heat, humidity, rainfall and soil decide whether a cold-hardy plant thrives, and planting dates for vegetables follow frost dates, not zones: two Nevada towns in the same zone can have last frosts weeks apart.
What Plants Grow Well Across Nevada?
156 plants in PlantoScan's catalogue are hardy in every zone from 7a to 9b, the zones that cover 74% of Nevada ZIP codes. Popular examples include hydrangea, chrysanthemum and poppy.
Hydrangea
Hydrangea macrophylla
Zone 5 – 9
AI generated
Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemum morifolium
Zone 5a – 9b
PlantoscanAI generated
Poppy
Papaver somniferum
Zone 3a – 9b
AI generated
Carnation
Dianthus caryophyllus
Zone 5a – 9b
AI generated
Azalea
Azalea indica
Zone 6a – 9b
AI generated
Arugula
Eruca sativa
Zone 5a – 10b
AI generated
Alfalfa
Medicago sativa
Zone 3a – 10a
AI generated
Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum
Zone 5a – 9b
AI generated
Snapdragon
Antirrhinum majus
Zone 7a – 10b
AI generated
Hardiness ranges come from PlantoScan's plant database; gardeners in Nevada's colder or warmer edge zones should check each plant's full range.
When Is the Last Frost in Nevada?
Across most Nevada ZIP codes, the average last spring frost falls between January 24 and June 4, from January 20 in Henderson to June 16 in Elko. Tender vegetables such as tomatoes go out 1 to 2 weeks after the local date.
The last and first frost dates for Nevada cities include the safer 90% planting date, the fall frost date, growing season length and a tomato planting table for each city.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What planting zone is Nevada?
- Nevada spans USDA hardiness zones 5a to 10a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zone 9b is the most common, covering 24% of the state's 250 ZIP codes, and zones 7a to 9b together cover 74%.
- What hardiness zone is Las Vegas, Nevada?
- Las Vegas is in USDA hardiness zone 9a (ZIP 89129), where the average coldest winter night reaches 20 °F to 25 °F. Its average last spring frost is January 24 and its first fall frost December 10.
- What hardiness zone is Henderson, Nevada?
- Henderson is in USDA hardiness zone 9b (ZIP 89012), where the average coldest winter night reaches 25 °F to 30 °F. Its average last spring frost is January 20 and its first fall frost December 15.
- What hardiness zone is North Las Vegas, Nevada?
- North Las Vegas is in USDA hardiness zone 9a (ZIP 89086), where the average coldest winter night reaches 20 °F to 25 °F. Its average last spring frost is February 1 and its first fall frost December 8.
- What is the coldest hardiness zone in Nevada?
- Zone 5a (−20 °F to −15 °F) is the coldest zone in Nevada, found in 3 ZIP codes around Ely. The warmest is zone 10a (30 °F to 35 °F).
Zones: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP code table, USDA Agricultural Research Service and the PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University, used without changes. Frost dates: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals. City locations and populations: U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer files and Vintage 2024 population estimates. PlantoScan is not affiliated with or endorsed by these agencies.