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What Can Grow in Hawaii?

Growing Zone Zone 12a
Frost-Free Days 365
Last Frost no frost
First Frost no frost

Hawaii is tropical with year-round warmth. Zone varies dramatically by elevation — coastal areas are Zone 11-12 while Mauna Kea slopes reach Zone 9. Year-round growing throughout.

Find your exact zone:
Hawaii spans 7 different growing zones. The planting calendar below uses the most common zone (Zone 12a). Use the search above or browse all zones here:
Zone 9b Zone 10a Zone 10b Zone 11a Zone 11b Zone 12a Zone 12b

📅 Planting Calendar for Hawaii

When to start seeds indoors and transplant outdoors, based on your average frost dates. Actual timing shifts year to year — use these as a starting point, not a fixed schedule.

Plant Start Indoors Transplant Out Direct Sow Harvest
🥒 Bitter Melon (Karela) Jan 1 Jan 1 — Feb 25 – Mar 12
🫚 Ginger Jan 1 Jan 1 — Aug 29 – Oct 28
🌳 Moringa (Drumstick Tree) Jan 1 Jan 1 — Apr 1 – Jun 30

Dates are averages based on Zone 12a frost dates (last frost: no frost, first frost: no frost). Frost can come earlier or later than usual — always check your 10-day forecast before transplanting.

🥦 Vegetables

⚠️ Worth Trying (Marginal)

These plants are outside the ideal zone range but possible with the right approach.

🗺️ USDA Plant Hardiness Zones

Zone 12 is shown in this colour on the map below
2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map — zones 1 to 13

2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map — public domain. USDA Agricultural Research Service

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

USDA zones run 1a–13b (26 half-zones). Each full zone above covers both the a and b half-zones. Browse all US zones →

Browse Related Zones

Zone 10b Zone 11a Zone 11b Zone 12a Zone 12b Zone 13a Zone 13b

Frequently Asked Questions

Hawaii is tropical with year-round warmth. Zone varies dramatically by elevation — coastal areas are Zone 11-12 while Mauna Kea slopes reach Zone 9. Year-round growing throughout. Vegetables like Bitter Melon (Karela), Ginger, Moringa (Drumstick Tree) all grow well here.
Year-round growing is possible. In the hottest months, focus on heat-tolerant tropicals and use shade cloth for cool-season greens.
Top vegetables for Hawaii: Bitter Melon (Karela), Ginger, Moringa (Drumstick Tree).
Most common herbs grow well in Zone 12a.