USDA Hardiness Zone 9A Growing Guide
Source: USDA Agricultural Research Service Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023
Subtropical Florida and Southern California — citrus and tropical fruit territory.
Where Zone 9A sits on the national map
Zone Position
Key Facts — Zone 9A
- Avg. coldest night: 20°F to 25°F (-6.7°C to -3.9°C) — the band of average annual extreme minimum temperatures that defines this zone (USDA ARS PHZM 2023)
- What that means: in an average year your coldest night lands somewhere in that 5°F window. Actual lows can drop colder in extreme winters; daytime highs are not bounded by this number.
- Found In: 17 US states, including California, Texas, Florida and 14 more
- Growing Considerations: Subtropical Florida and Southern California — citrus and tropical fruit territory.
What Is Zone 9A?
USDA Hardiness Zone 9A is defined by an average annual extreme minimum temperature between 20°F and 25°F (-6.7°C to -3.9°C), according to the USDA ARS Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023.
Coldest avg. low
20°F
USDA PHZM 2023
Warmest avg. low
25°F
USDA PHZM 2023
Coldest avg. low (°C)
-6.7°C
USDA PHZM 2023
States
17
Where Is Zone 9A Found?
Zone 9A appears across 17 states:
Plants That Thrive in Zone 9A
Plants well-adapted to the temperature range of this zone.
Orange
Lemon
Avocado
Bougainvillea
Your Zone Is Just One Factor
Zone 9A covers 186 counties across 13 states, and their growing seasons are not the same. El Dorado County, California measures 256 frost-free days a year; San Bernardino County, California measures 328 — a 72-day difference under the same winter low, before you get to soil drainage, summer heat, flood risk, or contamination proximity. Your Growable Ground report scores 1,112 plants against all of it for your specific address.
Measured across the 186 counties whose USDA PHZM centroid falls in Zone 9A — NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals, 28°F killing freeze. Median 299 days.
Your zone is a starting point — your parcel is the whole story
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Frequently Asked Questions
What plants grow in Zone 9A?
Subtropical Florida and Southern California — citrus and tropical fruit territory. Common plants that thrive include Orange, Lemon, Avocado, Bougainvillea. Actual suitability depends on your parcel's soil, drainage, and microclimate.
What states have Zone 9A?
Zone 9A appears across 17 US states: California, Texas, Florida, Georgia, Oregon, Washington, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Carolina, Utah.
What temperature is USDA Zone 9A?
USDA Hardiness Zone 9A is defined by an average annual extreme minimum temperature between 20°F and 25°F (-6.7°C to -3.9°C), per the USDA ARS Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023.