Southern New Mexico’s planting zones range from 5b to 8b. The coldest areas are in the Black Range. The warmest area is in the White Sands area just north of the Mexico border.
These planting zones, also called growing zones or hardiness zones, help gardeners and growers determine which plants are best suited for their location. Most of southern New Mexico’s populous towns and cities are in zones 7b and 8b, including Las Cruces, Roswell, Carlsbad, Clovis, and Hobbs.
Key takeaways
- Southern New Mexico’s growing zones range from 5b to 8b. The coldest areas are in the Black Range. The warmest area is in the White Sands.
- Most of southern New Mexico’s most populous towns and cities are between 7b and 8b, including Las Cruces, Roswell, Carlsbad, Clovis, and Hobbs.
Planting zones in southern New Mexico
Southern New Mexico’s growing zones, also called planting zones or hardiness zones, range from 5b to 8b. 5b is in the Black Range. 8b is in south New Mexico, coinciding with the Chihuahuan Desert, including The White Sands National Park.
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 there are so many hardiness zones. Here are the most populous cities in southern New Mexico and their hardiness zones.
- Las Cruces: 8b
- Roswell: 7b
- Hobbs: 8a
- Carlsbad: 8a
- Clovis: 7b
Other significant towns in southern New Mexico and their hardiness zones:
- Reserve: 6a
- Socorro: 7b
- Lovington: 7b
- Alamogordo: 8a
- Lordsburg: 7b
- Truth or Consequences: 8a
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, see New Mexico Planting Zones.
Here’s Northern New Mexico Planting Zones for information on northern New Mexico.
Zone 5
In southern New Mexico, zone 5 is in the Black Range in Catron County, west of the Rio Grande. Cities and towns in Zone 5 are small and include Omega, Quemado, and Pie Town.
Average low temperature: 5a is -20 to -15 degrees; 5b is -15 to -10 degrees
Average first frost: October 13 to 21
Average last frost: April 7 to 30
Average annual rainfall: Primarily 10 to 15 inches with pockets receiving 15 to 20 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
In southern New Mexico, zone 6 is in the foothills of the Black Range. It covers the northeastern part of southern New Mexico. Cities and towns in Zone 6 include Alma, Cruzville, and Reserve.
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 majority of the area gets 10 to 15 inches but as much as 35 to 40 inches in scattered areas of the Gila National Forest, just east of the San Francisco River.
Zone 6 plant types: Choose plants that tolerate cool winters, warm summers, and low rainfall.
Zone 6 perennials: Hairy golden aster, antelope sage, chocolate daisy, blackfoot daisy, and bee blossom.
Zone 7
Zone 7 zig zags through lower and central New Mexico but cuts the widest swatch through the eastern counties of Lincoln, Debaca, Chavez, Roosevelt, and Curry. Cities and towns in Zone 7 include Roswell, Socorro, and Silver City.
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: About 5-10 inches along the Rio Grande, except for a 50-mile stretch south of the Caballo Reservoir which gets an average of 10 to 15 inches. The Great Plains sees 15 to 20 inches but drops to 10 to 15 close to the Pecos River. The Black Range foothills get 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.
Zone 8
Zone 8 covers most of southern New Mexico, including the Chihuahuan Desert. Cities in Zone 8 include Las Cruces, Deming, and Carlsbad. It also includes White Sands National Park.
Average low temperature: 8a is 10 to 15 degrees; 5b is 15 to 20 degrees
Average first frost: Nov. 7 to 28
Average last frost: March 13 to 28
Average annual rainfall: Most of Zone 8 in New Mexico receives 10 to 15 inches. White Sands gets just 5 to 10 inches. Patches in southwest and south central New Mexico see 15 to 20 inches, and even smaller patches receive 20 to 25 inches.
Zone 8 plant types: Select drought-tolerant plants that tolerate mild winters, scorching summers, little rainfall, and well-drained soil.
Zone 8 perennials: Texas ranger, common sunflower, common zinnia, ocotillo, and peacock flower.
Related links:
- When to Plant Grass in New Mexico
- The Best Grass for New Mexico Lawns
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Main Image Credit: AllenS | Wikimedia Commons | Public Domain
