Zone 13 Planting Guide
Tropical Hot — Hawaii (lowest elevations), Guam, American Samoa
- Min Winter Temp
- 60 to 70 °F / 16 to 21 °C
- Last Spring Frost
- None
- First Fall Frost
- None
- Growing Season
- Year-round (365 days)
- Annual Rainfall
- 40–200 in
Climate overview
Zone 13 is a true tropical paradise for plant growers. No temperature constraint exists — any tropical plant on earth can survive outdoors here. The rhythms of gardening are defined by monsoon patterns, hurricane seasons, and the position of the sun. Hawaii's lowest-elevation coastal areas are warm and sunny year-round with light sea breezes. Guam and the Pacific Islands have a wet season from July–December and a drier season from January–June. American Samoa is wet year-round. In these climates, gardeners focus on soil building, water management, and choosing the most productive and culturally important crops — from breadfruit and taro to vanilla orchids and cacao.
States & regions
- Hawaii (lowest coastal elevations)
- Guam
- American Samoa
- Northern Mariana Islands
- US Pacific Territories
Example cities
- Agana (Hagåtña), Guam
- Pago Pago, American Samoa
- Saipan, CNMI
- South Kona, HI
- Kalapana, HI
Soil notes
Volcanic and coral-derived soils. Young lava flows are extremely infertile; older volcanic soils are deeply rich. Coral-derived soils on Pacific islands are alkaline and require acidification for many crops.
- Temperature range
- 60 to 70 °F / 16 to 21 °C
- Growing season
- Year-round (365 days)
- Annual rainfall
- 40–200 inches
Challenges
- Typhoon and hurricane risk
- Extremely high year-round pest pressure
- Very high rainfall can waterlog crops
- Coral and young volcanic soils have poor fertility
Advantages
- Zero temperature constraints — any tropical plant can grow
- Can grow vanilla, cacao, coffee, and rare tropical crops
- Year-round growing with no seasonality driven by cold
- Some of the most biodiverse growing environments on Earth
Gardening strategies for Zone 13
- 1
Build soil fertility aggressively — compost, biochar, organic matter
- 2
Grow traditional Pacific staples: breadfruit, taro, coconut, banana
- 3
Use agroforestry approaches — integrate fruit trees with ground crops
- 4
Install proper drainage to handle intense rainfall events
- 5
Grow cacao, coffee, and vanilla for high-value specialty crops
Monthly planting calendar
What to sow, transplant, and harvest each month in Zone 13.
Browse by sun exposure
Find the best plants for your specific spot in Zone 13.
Browse by plant category
Targeted guides for vegetables, herbs, fruits, and flowers in Zone 13.