What Growing Zone Is Chico?

Our records indicate the United States Department of Agriculture has given Chico a growing zone designation of 8b. Sometimes also called the planting or hardiness zone, this zone number gives you an idea of what plants can and cannot grow in Chico's climate based on the average extreme annual temperature.Our data is based on the latest 2023 USDA maps, which used Chico's weather data from 1991 - 2020 in their analysis.

Latest WA growing zone map

If you are looking for plants suitable for growing in the Chico area, head on over to our page on plants that grow well in Chico, WA.

Deluxe Plastic Watering Can

High-capacity watering can with comfortable grip and precise spout.

Worm Composting Kit

Complete kit for starting your own worm composting system.

Brass Watering Can

Elegant brass watering can with classic design and durability.

Shiitake Mushroom Kit

Grow your own delicious shiitake mushrooms at home.

Metal Seed Storage Box

Organized storage solution for your seed collection.

Latest WA growing zone map

The growing zone is a measure of the lowest temperature that a plant can survive based on average lowest year temperatures, helping you to decide what plants would grow best in your particular climate. Since Chico is in growing zone 8b this means that plants there can survive temperatures as low as 15 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Plants for Chico's climate should be chosen with this in mind, or plants should be moved inside to keep their core temperature in the right range if necessary.

USDA growing zone map of the United States

Some zones may have been changed by the USDA as of 2023. To see if the Chico area has been affected, refer to this map of half zone changes from the 2012 version of the USDA zones to the 2023 version.

map of usda hardiness zone changes from 2012 to 2023

Half zone changes from 2012 to 2023

The updated map shows that over half of the Southeast has warmed by about half a zone. For gardeners, that means you can now grow plants that tolerate a bit more heat and less frost than before. The tan areas reflect this shift. Meanwhile, the white areas had slight temperature changes, but not enough to move them into a new zone. In the Western U.S., a few spots shifted cooler. That’s not due to a colder climate, but because the new map uses a larger dataset, giving a more accurate picture of local conditions. It's important to keep track of these changes when planning your garden!

View this profile on Instagram
The Plant Guide Online (@plantguideonline) • Instagram photos and videos

Hardiness Zone FAQ

Have questions about hardiness zones and what they mean for your garden? Check out our FAQ below for quick answers to common questions about USDA hardiness zones and how they affect plant selection in Chico, WA.

The USDA hardiness zone is 8b for Chico. This is sometimes also referred to as the growing or planting zone. These terms are used interchangeably.

Chico's Growing Zone Details

USDA Growing Zone: 8b

Zip Codes: 98312, 98383

Longitude: -122.7193

Latitude: 47.6226

Lowest Avg Temperatures (F): 15 to 20

Brass Decorative Faucet Handle

Elegant brass handle to enhance your garden faucet.

Steel Hori Hori Weeding Knife

Versatile Japanese-style gardening knife for weeding and planting.

Wooden Chicken Coop

Spacious and secure home for your backyard chickens.

Rustic Iron Garden Trellis

Sturdy trellis for supporting climbing plants and vines.

Worm Composting Kit

Complete kit for starting your own worm composting system.

Map of the Chico Area

All Towns In WA

Aberdeen Aberdeen Gardens Acme Addy Ahtanum Airway Heights Albion Alder Alderton Alderwood Manor Alger Algona Allyn Almira Altoona Amanda Park Amboy Ames Lake Anacortes Anatone Anderson Island Arlington Arlington Heights Artondale Ashford Asotin Auburn Bainbridge Island Bangor Base Banks Lake South Barberton Baring Barstow Basin City Battle Ground Bay Center Bay View Beacon Hill Beaux Arts Village Belfair Bell Hill Bellevue Bellingham Benton City Bethel Beverly Bickleton Big Lake Bingen Birch Bay Black Diamond Blaine Blyn Bonney Lake Bothell Bothell East Bothell West Boulevard Park Bow Boyds Brady Bremerton Brewster Bridgeport Brier Brinnon Browns Point Brush Prairie Bryant Bryn Mawr-Skyway Buckley Bucoda Buena Bunk Foss Burbank Burien Burley Burlington Camano Camas Canterwood Canyon Creek Carbonado Carlsborg Carnation Carson Cascade Valley Cashmere Castle Rock Cathcart Cathlamet Cavalero Centerville Central Park Centralia Chain Lake Chehalis Chelan Chelan Falls Cheney Cherry Grove Chewelah Chico Chinook Clallam Bay Clarkston Clarkston Heights-Vineland Clayton Cle Elum Clear Lake Clearview Cliffdell Clinton Clover Creek Clyde Hill Cohassett Beach Colfax College Place Colton Colville Conconully Concrete Connell Conway Copalis Beach Cosmopolis Cottage Lake Cougar Coulee City Coulee Dam Country Homes Coupeville Covington Cowiche Crescent Bar Creston Crocker Curlew Curlew Lake Cusick Custer Dallesport Danville Darrington Dash Point Davenport Dayton Deep River Deer Park Deming Des Moines Desert Aire Disautel Dixie Donald Duluth DuPont Duvall East Cathlamet East Port Orchard East Renton Highlands East Wenatchee Eastmont Easton Eatonville Edgewood Edison Edmonds Elbe Electric City Elk Plain Ellensburg Elma Elmer City Endicott Enetai Entiat Enumclaw Ephrata Erlands Point Eschbach Esperance Everett Everson Fairchild AFB Fairfield Fairwood Fall City Farmington Federal Way Felida Fern Prairie Ferndale Fife Fife Heights Finley Fircrest Five Corners Fobes Hill Fords Prairie Forks Fort Lewis Four Lakes Fox Island Frederickson Freeland Friday Harbor Garfield Garrett Geneva George Gig Harbor Glacier Gleed Glenwood Gold Bar Goldendale Gorst Graham Grand Coulee Grand Mound Grandview Granger Granite Falls Grapeview Grayland Grays River Green Bluff Greenwater Hamilton Hansville Harrah Harrington Hartline Hat Island Hatton Hazel Dell Herron Island High Bridge Hobart Hockinson Home Hoodsport Hoquiam Humptulips Hunts Point Ilwaco Inchelium Index Indianola Ione Issaquah Jamestown Kahlotus Kalama Kapowsin Kayak Point Keller Kelso Kendall Kenmore Kennewick Kent Ketron Island Kettle Falls Key Center Keyport Kingston Kirkland Kitsap Lake Kittitas Klickitat Krupp La Center La Conner La Grande Lacey LaCrosse Lake Bosworth Lake Cassidy Lake Cavanaugh Lake Forest Park Lake Goodwin Lake Holm Lake Ketchum Lake Marcel-Stillwater Lake McMurray Lake Morton-Berrydale Lake Roesiger Lake Shore Lake Stevens Lake Stickney Lake Tapps Lakeland North Lakeland South Lakeview Lakewood Lamont Langley Larch Way Latah Laurier Leavenworth Lebam Lewisville Lexington Liberty Lake Lind Lochsloy Lofall Long Beach Longbranch Longview Longview Heights Loomis Loon Lake Lower Elochoman Lyle Lyman Lynden Lynnwood Mabton Machias Malden Malo Malone Malott Maltby Manchester Mansfield Manson Maple Falls Maple Heights-Lake Desire Maple Valley Maplewood Marblemount Marcus Marietta-Alderwood Marine View Markham Marrowstone Martha Lake Maryhill Marysville Mattawa May Creek McChord AFB McCleary McKenna McMillin Mead Meadow Glade Meadowdale Medical Lake Medina Mercer Island Mesa Metaline Metaline Falls Methow Midland Mill Creek Mill Creek East Millwood Milton Mineral Minnehaha Mirrormont Moclips Monroe Monroe North Montesano Morton Moses Lake Moses Lake North Mossyrock Mount Vernon Mount Vista Mountlake Terrace Moxee Mukilteo Naches Napavine Naselle Navy Yard City Neah Bay Neilton Nespelem Nespelem Community Newcastle Newport Nile Nisqually Indian Community Nooksack Normandy Park North Bend North Bonneville North Fort Lewis North Lynnwood North Omak North Puyallup North Sultan North Yelm Northport Northwest Stanwood Oak Harbor Oakesdale Oakville Ocean City Ocean Park Ocean Shores Ocosta Odessa Okanogan Olympia Omak Onalaska Orchards Orient Oroville Orting Oso Othello Otis Orchards-East Farms Outlook Oyehut Pacific Pacific Beach Packwood Palouse Parker Parkland Parkwood Pasco Pataha Pateros Pe Ell Peaceful Valley Picnic Point Pine Grove Point Roberts Pomeroy Port Angeles Port Angeles East Port Gamble Tribal Community Port Hadlock-Irondale Port Ludlow Port Orchard Port Townsend Porter Poulsbo Prairie Heights Prairie Ridge Prescott Prosser Puget Island Pullman Purdy Puyallup Queets Qui-nai-elt Village Quilcene Quincy Raft Island Rainier Ravensdale Raymond Reardan Redmond Renton Republic Richland Ridgefield Ritzville River Road Riverbend Riverpoint Riverside Roche Harbor Rochester Rock Island Rockford Rockport Rocky Point Ronald Roosevelt Rosalia Rosburg Rosedale Roslyn Roy Royal City Ruston Ryderwood Salmon Creek Sammamish Santiago Satsop Schwana Seabeck SeaTac Seattle Sedro-Woolley Sekiu Selah Sequim Shadow Lake Shelton Shoreline Silvana Silver Firs Silverdale Sisco Heights Skamokawa Valley Skokomish Skykomish Snohomish Snoqualmie Snoqualmie Pass Soap Lake South Bend South Cle Elum South Creek South Hill South Prairie South Wenatchee Southworth Spanaway Spangle Spokane Spokane Valley Sprague Springdale St. John Stansberry Lake Stanwood Starbuck Startup Steilacoom Steptoe Stevenson Sudden Valley Sultan Sumas Summit Summit View Sumner Suncrest Sunday Lake Sunland Estates Sunnyside Sunnyslope Suquamish Swede Heaven Tacoma Taholah Tampico Tanglewilde Tehaleh Tekoa Tenino Terrace Heights Thorp Three Lakes Tieton Tokeland Toledo Tonasket Toppenish Torboy Touchet Town and Country Tracyton Trout Lake Tukwila Tumwater Twin Lakes Twisp Union Union Gap Union Hill-Novelty Hill Uniontown University Place Upper Elochoman Vader Valley Vancouver Vantage Vashon Vaughn Venersborg Verlot Waitsburg Walla Walla Walla Walla East Waller Wallula Wapato Warden Warm Beach Washougal Washtucna Waterville Wauna Waverly Wenatchee West Clarkston-Highland West Pasco West Richland Westport Wheeler Whidbey Island Station White Center White Salmon White Swan Wilbur Wilderness Rim Wilkeson Willapa Wilson Creek Winlock Winthrop Wishram Wollochet Woodinville Woodland Woods Creek Woodway Yacolt Yakima Yarrow Point Yelm Zillah

Worm Composting Kit

Complete kit for starting your own worm composting system.

Deluxe Plastic Watering Can

High-capacity watering can with comfortable grip and precise spout.

Raised Garden Planter

Elevated planter for easy access and better drainage.

Large Greenhouse Kit

Spacious greenhouse for extending your growing season.

Rustic Iron Garden Trellis

Sturdy trellis for supporting climbing plants and vines.

Plants For Other States

Looking for the best plants in a different area of the United States? Click on a button below to find plants that are ideal for that state's temperatures.

Steel Hori Hori Weeding Knife

Versatile Japanese-style gardening knife for weeding and planting.

Deluxe Plastic Watering Can

High-capacity watering can with comfortable grip and precise spout.

Brass Watering Can

Elegant brass watering can with classic design and durability.

Hoeing Ain't Easy Garden Sign

Fun and decorative garden sign to add personality to your space.

Fiskars Garden Harvest Basket

Sturdy basket for collecting and carrying your garden harvest.

To see our latest gardening and homesteading projects, you can find us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.