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Plant Informational Database
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Absolute hardiness by climate zone is extremely difficult to measure, because while two different plants may succumb at temperatures below 32F, one may survive fine in winter regions where temperatures regularly drop between 32-40F, while the other may decline and eventually die if temperatures stay between 32-40F for more than a few days. Nevertheless, knowing the absolute minimum temperature a tropical/subtropical plant can tolerate can still be quite useful, so below we have listed a number of plants, sorted by minimum climate zone.

Plants are listed by USDA zone (click for more information), with general winter temperature minimums. Also note that these are general approximations, and within any species, individual plants can vary in hardiness. Additionally, local microclimates can both virtually raise or lower a climate zone. For example, Cocos nucifera, the coconut palm, generally will not grow anywhere outdoors in the state of California, but in a few sheltered locations-near buildings coconut palms can be grown outdoors.

If you live in Zone 9a for example, any plant listed in Zone 9a or lower is a candidate for your yard.

 

Below Zone 8 (below 10F/below -12C)
Actinidia arguta Hardy Kiwi (to -25F)

Cydonia oblonga

Quince

Salvia sclarea

Clary Sage

Vitis californica

California WIld Grape


Zone 8a (10 to 15F/-12 to -9.5C)

Actinidia chinensis

Golden Kiwi Fruit

Actinidia deliciosa

Kiwi Fruit

Butia capitata Jelly Palm
Butia eriospatha Wooly Jelly Palm

Camellia pitardii

Camellia

Eriobotrya japonica

Loquat

Morus nigra

Black Mulberry

Tecoma sambucifolia

Waranway


Zone 8b (15 to 20F/-9.5 to -6.5C)
Arbutus unedo Strawberry Tree

Berberis nevinii

Nevin's Baberry

Brahea armata

Mexican Blue Palm

Drimys winteri

Winter's Bark

Feijoa sellowiana

Feijoa

Morus macroura

Himalayan Mulberry

Myrtus communis Myrtle

Zone 9a (20 to 25F/-6.5 to -4C)

Acmena smithii

Lilly Pilly

Aegle marmelos

Bael Fruit

Araucaria bidwillii

Bunya-Bunya, False Monkey Puzzle Tree

Azara petiolaris Holly Azara
Brahea edulis Guadalupe Palm
Canna edulis Achira, Arrowroot
Carica quercifolia Oak Leaved Papaya

Carissa macrocarpa

Natal Plum

Caryota urens Wine Palm, Toddy Palm

Casimiroa edulis

White Sapote

Casimiroa tetrameria

Wooly-Leaved Sapote

Ceratonia siliqua Carob
Citrus sp. Citrus Fruits

Clausena lansium

Wampee

Dovyalis caffra Kei Apple

Eugenia aggregata

Cherry of the Rio Grande

Eugenia uniflora

Surinam Cherry

Fuchsia boliviana

Bolivian Fuchsia

Fuchsia triphylla

Honeysuckle Fuchsia

Macadamia integrifolia

Smooth Shelled Macadamia Nut

Malpighia glabra

Acerola

Myrciaria cauliflora

Jaboticaba

Prunus lyonii

Catalina Island Cherry

Vaccinium gaultheriifolium

Chinese Blueberry


Zone 9b (25 to 30F/-4 to -1C)
Aleurites moluccana Candlenut
Aleurites trisperma Otaheite Walnut

Annona cherimola

Cherimoya

Annona cherimola x squamosa

Atemoya

Annona montana

Mountain Soursop

Annona reticulata

Custard Apple

Annona squamosa

Sugar Apple

Antidesma bunius

Bignay

Aristolochia ringens

Gaping Dutchman's Pipe

Aristolochia trilobata

Dutchman's Pipe

Averrhoa carambola

Star Fruit

Brosimum alicastrum Breadnut
Calyptropsidium sartorianum Sartre Guava, Arrayan
Citrus sp. Citrus Fruits

Cyphomandra betacea

Tree Tomato

Davidsonia pruriens Davidson's Plum

Diospyros digyna

Black Sapote

Eugenia brasiliensis

Grumichama

Fuchsia procumbens

Creeping Fuchsia

Litchi chinensis

Lychee

Manilkara zapota

Sapodilla

Marliera edulis

Cambuca


Zone 10a (30 to 35F/-1 to 2C)

Anacardium occidentale

Cashew Nut

Ananas comosus Pineapple

Annona diversifolia

Ilama

Annona glabra

Pond Apple

Annona muricata

Soursop

Artocarpus heterophyllus

Jackfruit

Azadirachta indica Neem
Bixa orellana Lipstick Tree

Blighia sapida

Akee

Bunchosia armeniaca

Peanut Butter Fruit

Carica papaya

Papaya

Cereus repandus Peruvian Apple Cactus

Chrysophyllum cainito

Star Apple

Cinnamomum zeylanicum Cinnamon

Coccoloba uvifera

Sea Grape

Coffea arabica

Coffee

Dillenia indica Elephant Apple
Dimocarpus longan Longan

Eugenia reinwardtiana

Cedar Bay Cherry

Grewia subinaequalis

Phalsa

Harpephyllum caffrum Kaffir Plum
Hylocereus undatus Dragon Fruit

Inga edulis

Ice Cream Bean

Inga feuillei Pacay
Leucaena leucocephala Koa Haole, Leadtree

Mammea americana

Mamey Apple

Mangifera indica

Mango

Manilkara bidentata

Ausubo

Melicoccus bijugatus

Mamoncillo

Melicope ternata Wharangi, Gum Tree
Murraya koenigii Curry Leaf

Myrciaria dubia

Camu-camu


Zone 10b (35 to 40F/ 2 to 4.5C)

Pandanus tectorius

Screw Pine

Byrsonima crassifolia

Nance

Cocos nucifera Coconut

Durio dulcis

Durian

Eugenia megacarpa

Giant Lau Lau

Morinda citrifolia

Noni


Zone 11+ (40 to 45F/ 4.5 to 7C)

Cola acuminata

Cola Nut

Garcinia mangostana

Mangosteen

Lansium domesticum

Langsat


Zone 11+ (45 to 55F/ 7 to 13C)

Artocarpus altilis

Breadfruit


Zone 11+ (55+F/ 13+C)
Areca catechu Betel Nut

Bertholletia excelsa

Brazil Nut