Zone 10: Types of Plants to Grow in USDA Hardiness Zone 10

Zone 10 is one of thirteen climate zones that comprise the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, which outlines the regional average temperatures and frost dates in the US, including Puerto Rico. Unlike the coldest zones of the country, Zone 10 represents mild climates characterized by warm temperatures and high humidity. The average minimum winter temperature in Zone 10 is thirty to forty degrees Fahrenheit, making it ideal for winter gardening.

Zone 10 of the map includes equatorial parts of North America, including southern California, southern Florida, and Hawaii. There are two subsets of Zone 10: 10a and 10b. Zone 10a is slightly cooler than Zone 10b, with about five degrees of difference between the two. Tropical plants thrive in Zone 10, but the intense summer heat is not ideal for many cold-hardy plants.

Zone 10 plants have a long growing season that lasts from January to December. In this gardening zone, the first frost of winter occurs in early December, and the last frost falls around late January. The lack of extremely low temperatures in this area makes it possible to start planting your specimens in the ground as early as February.

Planting schedules vary depending on the type of flower, fruit, or shrub you’re planting. As a general guide, plant leafy vegetables in March for a late fall harvest. Most flowers bloom year-round in Zone 10, so plant them after the last frost of winter has reliably passed.

One of the main advantages of planting in Zone 10 is that it has very mild winters free of freezing temperatures that trigger plant dormancy. These mild temperatures make this planting zone a perfect environment for growing heat-tolerant plants year-round. Read on for a list of Zone 10 plants and gardening tips:

1. 1. Azaleas: Also known as rhododendrons, azaleas are perennial shrubs showcasing dark green leaves against bright blooms in various colors, including red, pink, orange, purple, and white. Some azalea varieties are cold-hardy, but most grow best in regions with mild winters and hot summers. When planting azaleas in Zone 10, choose a planting spot with slightly acidic soil that receives full sun and partial shade. Your azalea blooms will last from early spring to late summer, attracting helpful pollinators like hummingbirds and butterflies.
2. 2. Aloe: This low-maintenance succulent grows well as an indoor houseplant or outdoor plant in Zone 10. The plant’s long, fleshy, blue-green leaves contain a soothing gel that is a popular remedy for sunburns and cold sores. Plant your aloe vera in a spot that receives bright, indirect sunlight. While warm temperatures promote aloe vera growth, direct sunlight can hinder the plant’s maturation. As a succulent, aloe is drought-tolerant and makes a great addition to low-water xeriscaping setups and rock gardens.
3. 3. Beets: Many beet varieties make great companion plants—or crops that increase growth productivity—for your vegetable garden. Beets are also one of the easiest crops to grow. The summer heat of Zone 10 is too intense for beets, but the cool-season temperatures of fall and winter in this region are perfect for them. Other vegetables that grow well in Zone 10 include radishes, okra, cucumbers, pumpkin, and spinach.
4. 4. Hibiscus: Hibiscus plants bloom striking flowers featuring a wide range of sunset colors from bright pink to dark purple. Some hibiscus species can tolerate cold temperatures, but most are tropical and prefer the summer heat of warm, sunny climates. When planting hibiscus in Zone 10, water your flowers regularly and deadhead old blooms to encourage new growth.
5. 5. Hydrangea: Hydrangeas are flowering shrubs—in classic and dwarf varieties—featuring a range of striking colors. Snowball hydrangea is one of the most common hydrangea varieties native to Zone 10. These low-maintenance shrubs flourish in shade or sun, but they bloom best with plenty of sunlight. When planting hydrangea shrubs in your garden, add a layer of mulch over their roots to protect them from low winter temperatures.
6. 6. Orchids: Orchids (Orchidaceae) are tall tropical flowering plants with an evolved lip, three petals, and sepals surrounding them. The orchid family is robust, containing over 25,000 natural species and more than 200,000 hybrids. Orchid blossoms come in a wide range of colors, from white to orange to pink. These tropical plants are rarely hardy in temperatures below sixty degrees Fahrenheit, and Zone 10 provides them with the year-round summer heat and sunny climate they need to thrive.
7. 7. Papaya: This sweet orange fruit grows on tall, thin fruit trees. Papaya trees need a warm climate with well-draining soil to grow, and full sun spots sheltered from the wind. These conditions make Zone 10 an ideal region for planting papaya trees.
8. 8. Petunias: Planting petunia flowers is an easy way to incorporate explosions of color into your landscape, either in garden beds, or cascading from hanging baskets and window boxes. These popular flowering annuals with cheerful, gramophone-shaped blossoms are easy to grow and maintain. Petunias thrive in Zone 10 because they need plenty of sunlight and humidity to foster their showy blooms.
9. 9. Verbena: This herbaceous flowering plant has long, thin stems with colorful flower heads made up of tiny bloom clusters. In Zone 10, you can grow verbena as an ornamental plant or medicinal herb to soothe a sore throat or cough. For optimal growth, plant verbena in a site with well-draining soil and full sun. From late spring to early fall, you’ll have beautiful verbena blooms covering your landscape.
10. 10. Watermelon: Watermelons need at least eighty days of warm sun to grow and bloom fruit. Zone 10’s hot summer temperatures and mild winters make it an ideal place for growing watermelon. Plant your watermelon seeds at the start of spring for plenty of fresh fruit to enjoy, come early summer. Keep in mind that the watermelon plant prefers plenty of sun and lots of room. Watermelon vines can sprawl eighteen to twenty feet depending on the particular variety, so it’s generally best to plant seeds in soil hills four feet apart, with about six feet between rows if you’re growing a whole patch.

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