Thanks to the four mountain ranges surrounding our beautiful city, the Tucson area has a variety of microclimates. These microclimates affect the plants that you can grow in your yard.
For example, if you’re located in Patagonia, you’re at over 4,000 feet in elevation, compared to around 2,500 feet in Tucson. Tucson also exhibits the effect of the urban heat island which more rural areas don’t experience. This changes your gardening zone. Tucson is considered to be Zone 9b (USDA) or Sunset Zone 12. Sierra Vista, on the other hand, is USDA Zone 8b and Sunset Zone 10.
You can also check out the plant list in the University of Arizona publication mentioned above, “Arizona Climate Zones and their Application to Growing Plants.”