New Mexico spans multiple USDA Plant Hardiness Zones due to its varied geography and climate. The state includes zones from as cold as 4b in the northern mountainous areas to as warm as 9a in the southern desert regions. More specifically:
- The northern parts, such as the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, fall into colder zones like 4b and 5a.
- Most populous cities like Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Roswell lie between zones 6b and 8b.
- Southern New Mexico, including cities like Las Cruces, Deming, and Carlsbad, is typically in zones 8a to 9a.
- Zones 7 and 8 cover large portions of central and southern New Mexico, with zone 7 including places like Albuquerque and Roswell, and zone 8 covering the Chihuahuan Desert region
Thus, New Mexico's planting zones range broadly from 4b to 9a, reflecting its diverse climate from mountainous cold to desert warmth.
