USDA hardiness zone
Zone 12 — 50 to 60°F
Hawaii (lowland), Puerto Rico (parts) · 365-day growing season
What grows in Zone 12
Zone 12 suits the following plants based on temperature tolerance and growing-season length:
- Mango, papaya, banana, breadfruit
- Cacao
- Coffee (mid-elevation)
- Coconut
- Pineapple
- Tropical greens
- Hot peppers
- Sweet potatoes
- Cassava
- Tropical herbs
- Plumeria, hibiscus, bougainvillea
- Orchids (outdoor)
Climate notes for Zone 12
Heat-sensitive temperate crops fail. The growing constraint is heat tolerance, not cold tolerance.
Frost dates and timing
| Average last spring frost | no frost |
|---|---|
| Average first fall frost | no frost |
| Growing season length | ~365 days |
| Temperature range (F) | 50 to 60°F |
| Temperature range (C) | 10 to 16°C |
These are zone-wide averages. Local microclimates (south-facing slopes, urban heat, lakeside warmth) can shift dates by 1-2 weeks within the same zone.
Source and methodology
Temperature ranges from the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023). Frost-date averages from NOAA Climate Data Online national averages within each zone. Plant recommendations curated by the Growli editorial team from US extension service references.
What to plant in Zone 12
Crop-by-crop sowing, transplant, and harvest dates for zone 12:
- When to plant tomatoes in zone 12
- When to plant peppers in zone 12
- When to plant basil in zone 12
- When to plant bush beans in zone 12
- When to plant cucumbers in zone 12
- When to plant summer squash in zone 12