United States regional guide · AZ

Permaculture in Arizona

Arizona ranges from low Sonoran Desert to high plateaus and cold mountain forests. Productive systems depend on matching elevation, capturing episodic rainfall, building shade, and selecting plants for both heat and drought.

USDA span

4b–10b

Census region

West

Climate starting point

USDA hardiness zones in Arizona

Arizona includes USDA zones 4b–10b. Hardiness zones describe typical annual extreme minimum temperatures; within-state elevation, wind, water, soil, and urban heat can change what succeeds on a particular site.

Zone 4bZone 5aZone 5bZone 6aZone 6bZone 7aZone 7bZone 8aZone 8bZone 9aZone 9bZone 10aZone 10b

Regional plant starting points

Plants to explore for a Arizona design

These plants are useful starting points for researching a design in Arizona. Confirm each choice against your exact zone, site conditions, local ecology, and management goals.

01Zones 8–11

Honey Mesquite

Neltuma glandulosa

Layer: Sub-Canopy
Type: Deciduous Tree

02Zones 8–11

Prickly Pear Tuna

Opuntia engelmannii

Layer: Shrub
Type: Perennial

03Zones 4–8

Yucca Soap

Yucca glauca

Layer: Shrub
Type: Perennial

04Zones 7–9

Arizona Walnut

Juglans major

Layer: Canopy
Type: Deciduous Tree

05Zones 8–10

Pomegranate

Punica granatum

Layer: Sub-Canopy
Type: Deciduous Tree

06Zones 6–9

Jujube

Ziziphus jujuba

Layer: Canopy
Type: Deciduous Tree

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