Northern New Mexico’s planting zones range from 5a to 7b. The coldest area is in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The warmest area is along the Rio Grande.
The planting zones, also called growing zones or hardiness zones, help gardeners and growers determine which plants are best suited for their location. Plants in zone 5 must be able to tolerate cold temperatures while plants in zone 7 must be able to handle the heat. Because northern New Mexico’s overall precipitation is low, the plants you choose need to be drought-tolerant, too.
Key takeaways
- Northern New Mexico’s growing zones range from 5a to 7b. The coldest areas are in the northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The warmest area is along the Rio Grande.
- Most of northern New Mexico’s most populous towns and cities are between 6a and 7b, including Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, South Valley, Santa Fe, Farmington, and Gallop.
Planting zones in northern New Mexico
Northern New Mexico’s growing zones, also called planting zones or hardiness zones, range from 5a to 7b. 5a is in small pockets in the northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains, primarily by Ute Mountain. 7b is along the Rio Grande, largely in Sandoval, Bernalillo, and Valencia Counties.
The USDA explains: “The Plant Hardiness Zone Map (PHZM) is based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature, displayed as 10-degree F zones ranging from zone 1 (coldest) to zone 13 (warmest).” Each zone is divided into half zones designated as ‘a’ (colder) and ‘b’ (warmer), and there is a 5-degree difference between the two.
To learn more, check out How to Use the Plant Hardiness Zone Map in Your Yard.
As the fifth largest state in land mass, it’s not surprising that New Mexico covers a number of hardiness zones. Here are the most populated cities in Northern New Mexico and their hardiness zones.
- Albuquerque/Rio Rancho: 7b
- Santa Fe: 6b
- South Valley: 7b
- Farmington: 7a
- Gallop: 6a
Other significant towns in northern New Mexico and their hardiness zones:
- Taos: 5b
- Clayton: 6b
- Tucumcari: 7a
- Raton: 6a
- Grants: 6a
- Las Lunas: 7a
“All Plant Hardiness Zone Maps (PHZM) should serve as general guides for growing perennial plants,” according to the USDA.
Below, we’ve included some perennials suited for each hardiness zone, but many of these plants are suitable for multiple regions. For more information, check out New Mexico Native Plants for Your Landscape.
For more general information, check out New Mexico Planting Zones.
Here’s Southern New Mexico Planting Zones for information on southern New Mexico.
Zone 5
In northern New Mexico, zone 5 is found in the northern areas of the Sangre de Cristo and Jemez Mountains and the Black Range, west of the Rio Grande. Cities and towns in Zone 5 include Taos, Tiera Amarilla, and parts of Cibola and Catron Counties.
Average low temperature: 5a is -20 to -15 degrees; 5b is -15 to -10 degrees
Average first frost: Oct. 13 to 21
Average last frost: April 7 to 30
Average annual rainfall: Pockets of 35 to 40 inches in the mountains, tapering off to 10 to 15 inches in the foothills. The north central area, near Ute Mountain, receives about 5 to 10 inches.
Zone 5 plant types: Choose cold-hardy, drought-tolerant plants that can handle cold winter temperatures, warm summers, and high altitudes.
Zone 5 perennials: Common yarrow, western red columbine, Colorado blue columbine, shooting star, purple geranium, and narrow goldenrod.
Zone 6
This zone in northern New Mexico is in the foothills of the Jemez and Sangre de Cristo Mountains and the Black Range. It covers the majority of the northeastern and north-central regions as well as the central western part of the state. Cities and towns in Zone 6 include Santa Fe, Clayton, and Grants.
Average low temperature: 6a is -10 to -5 degrees; 6b is -5 to 0 degrees
Average first frost: Oct. 17 to 31
Average last frost: April 1 to 21
Average annual rainfall: The northeastern part of Zone 6 receives about 15 to 20 inches of rain. The central and central western area receives about 10 to 15 inches, about 5 inches more closer to the mountains and 5 inches less near the Chaco Canyon.
Best plants: Choose plants that tolerate chilly winters, warm summers, and low rainfall.
Best perennials: Hairy golden aster, antelope sage, chocolate daisy, blackfoot daisy, and bee blossom.
Zone 7
This zone in northern New Mexico is in the northwest, near the Colorado Plateau and central New Mexico, along the Rio Grande Valley. Cities and towns in Zone 7 include Farmington and Albuquerque.
Average low temperature: 7a is 0 to 5 degrees; 7b is 5 to 10 degrees
Average first frost: Oct. 29 to Nov. 15
Average last frost: March 22 to April 3
Average annual rainfall: The areas close to the Rio Grande, Chaco, and San Juan Rivers only receive 5 to 10 inches, but further away from these rivers, zone 7 receives about 10 to 15 inches.
Zone 7 plant types: Select plants that tolerate cool winters, hot summers, and low to moderate rainfall.
Zone 7 perennials: Desert willow, cardinal flower, flax, azure blue sage, and African marigold.
Related links:
- When to Plant Grass in New Mexico
- The Best Grass for New Mexico Lawns
- The Best Grass for Northern New Mexico
Should I hire a professional?
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Main Image Credit: Wallace Schultz | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY-SA 4.0
