What Is The Growing Zone For New Mexico?

Last Updated on June 16th, 2023

We may earn commissions for purchases made through links on our site. Learn more on our about us page.

Plants and vegetables can be categorized as suitable for growing in a certain region using a system of references known as growing zones or hardiness zones.

It was developed in the USA and covered 13 different subject areas. New Mexico is in 4-9 USDA plant growing/hardiness zones.

Some sunflower plants when the sun is rising - What Is The Growing Zone For New Mexico?

Does it Vary?

New Mexico planting zones vary largely, depending on location, from 4b through 9a. You can safely plant anything that is hardy in the zone in which you intend to grow it or a lower zone.

For example, plants hardy in zones 1–4 should do well in zone 4b. Avoid planting anything with a higher hardiness zone rating than yours since it may struggle to make it through the winter.

How Many Growing Zones Does NM Have?

New Mexico can be broken down into three distinct growing zones by calculating the average number of frost-free days and the average date of the last frost in the spring.

The average growing season in a given zone can be off by as much as 20 days from the growing season in a given garden.

Possible causes of this variation include changes in altitude, exposure, and ventilation. Gardens facing north, for instance, tend to be colder than those facing south.

As a result of the weight differential between cooler and warmer air, gardens in valleys are more vulnerable to frost than those that face out over the valley. Therefore, evaluate your garden’s individual needs when you select planting dates.

What are the Best Plants for New Mexico?

In New Mexico, you can grow a wide variety of flowers, including sunflowers, rudbeckias (gloriosa daisy and black-eyed Susan), Shasta daisies, and many others.

Even the plants will thrive in the fall and spring (sometimes in winter). You shouldn’t have any trouble locating flowering plants to cultivate, as there are likely more than you can fit into most settings.

Which Plants are Native to New Mexico?

Plants that are native to New Mexico include:

Abronia Fragrans
Red Baneberry
Sunset Hyssop
Pearly Everlasting
Rocky Mountain Columbine
Golden Columbine
White Sage
Prairie Sagebrush
Snowy Milkweed
Heath Aster
Desert Marigold
New England Asters
Tickseed Sunflower
False Boneset
Basket Flower

And many more!

Plants You Should Not Plant There

The growing zones for New Mexico are 4-9, so anything that requires zones 9-11 is not recommended for New Mexico as they are very unlikely to survive. These include:

Agave Artemisia
Orchid tree Buddleja
Cedar sedge
Elbow bush
Passionflower
Cacti and succulents
Liatris Rudbeckia

Final Thoughts on What Is The Growing Zone For New Mexico

The growing zones for New Mexico vary depending on the location you intend to grow in. As a whole, New Mexico covers growing zones 4-9. Always check the recommended growing zone before planting.

You can safely plant anything that is hardy in the zone in which you intend to grow it or a lower zone. For example, plants hardy in zones 1–4 should do well in zone 4b.

Trying to grow anything in your yard that requires a higher hardiness zone than yours is not a good idea.