Low Desert
Arizona and eastern California — hot summers, mild winters, and a long growing season that demands heat-tolerant plants and careful watering.
Southwest Climate Zones
Southwest Gardening Regions
An overview of the unique climate challenges and specific gardening zones that shape how plants grow across the arid Southwest.
The Challenge of Gardening in the Southwest
The Southwest climate is unique. Gardeners here navigate intense sun, low rainfall, and dramatic elevation changes — so advice from wetter regions often does not translate well.
This page introduces the main regional zones our contributors write about, from the low deserts of Arizona and eastern California up through the high deserts and mountains of New Mexico, Nevada, and Arizona, and across Texas from the Panhandle to the Gulf.
Southwest Intermediate Deserts
Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, California, and Texas — a middle band where summers stay hot but winters bring cooler nights and occasional frost.
High Desert and Mountains
New Mexico, Nevada, and Arizona — cooler temperatures, shorter growing seasons, and strong sun at elevation that require hardy, drought-wise choices.
Texas: Panhandle to Gulf
A wide north-to-south span from the cooler plains of the Panhandle down to the humid Gulf coast, each with its own timing and plant palette.
More Southwest Region Details
For the full description of each zone, including how elevation and rainfall shape plant selection, visit the About page.
About Southwest Gardening