At the high elevations, winters bring snow, sub-zero temperatures and frozen soils. The growing season for plants varies from 90 to 120 days. Precipitation averages 20 to 25 inches per year, sometimes more. The last killing frost in spring generally occurs in late May, but below-freezing temperatures have been recorded as late as mid-June.
Typical Zone 1 landscape plants include species, hybrids and cultivars of Crabapple (Malus sp.), Lilac (Syringa sp.), orange-berried Pyracantha (Pyracantha sp.), Juniper (Juniperus), flowering Quince (Chaenomeles sp.), Spruce (Picea sp.), and Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia).
Cross Reference to Other Plant Hardiness/Climate Zone Systems
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone System: roughly equivilent to USDA Zone 5 (Average Annual Minimum Temperature = -20 to -10 degrees F).
Sunset Western Climate Zone System: equivilent to Sunset Zone 1 described in Sunset Western Garden Book.
Back to Arizona Climate Zone Map
Back to Yavapai County Horticulture Page
