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Climate Ready Trees
Climate Ready Trees
What are Climate Ready Trees?
Climate Ready Trees are species that are adapted to face current and future conditions.
As temperatures rise, Albuquerque’s climate is projected to resemble Las Cruces, and Las Cruces may resemble Tucson. To adapt, we need drought-tolerant, heat-resilient trees that can survive future conditions and support healthy communities.
How Does Climate Limit Trees?
Each season poses a unique threat to plants; cold, wind, drought, flooding and heat.
When planting a tree, you want to make sure that it can survive year- round and return.
You don’t want to invest in a tree not adapted to the local climate that dies as soon as it snows or when the temperature hits 100.
What are Plant Hardiness Zones?
To know which plants will be able to survive at a given location, the US Department of Agriculture created a standard, Plant Hardiness Zones.
The zones are based on the average minimum temperature in an area.
Each area on the map is given a zone number from 1 to 13. For example in Santa Rosa the average annual minimum is 0 to 5°F which corresponds to zone 7b. It could get colder then that but on average the coldest that it gets is 0°F.
Match Plant Zones to Hardiness Zones
Each plant also gets a zone number. These numbers indicate what temperature that plant is able to survive at.
For the plant tag to the left, it thrives in zone 8 to 10 which means that it doesn’t like it to get colder than 10°F.
When shopping for plants you want to select a plant that fits in your zone. If you choose the plant to the left and you live in Santa Rosa the plant will not be able to survive year round.
Find Your Current Hardiness Zone
Below are the current Plant Hardiness zones of New Mexico. Find your town and see what zone you are in. Do the average low temperatures sound right to you?
Find Your Future Hardiness Zone
The climate is rapidly changing and zones are shifting. Future Plant Hardiness Zones have been modeled for the end of the century.
Find your town and see what zone you will be in.
When picking out a plant you want to make sure it is adapted to your current and future zone numbers.
Climate Ready Tree Lists
To address the changing climate the State Forestry Division and many partners worked to develop a list of trees that are adapted to grow in cities now and for the next 100 years.
These trees were scored to be adapted to changing temperatures, heat, cold, a variety of soil types, and drought conditions. These trees are matched to Plant Hardiness Zones of the future (shown above).
Find your future climate zone and then click on the list to see what trees are recommended for you!
Zone 7B/8A List
Cities such as Las Vegas, Taos, Springer, Cimarron, Clayton, and Raton
Zone 8B List
Cities such as Cloudcroft, Ruidoso, Capitan, Santa Fe, Clovis, and Tucumcari
Zone 9A List
Cities such as Silver City, Carlsbad, Roswell, Socorro, and Albuquerque
Albuquerque Specific List
List for Albuquerque with species divided for specific planting areas.
Starred species should be used more cautiously as they were not unanimously chosen by the panel.
Other 9A cities can use this list but it includes species that are adapted to the increased impervious surface and water runoff of ABQ
Zone 9B List
Cities such as Las Cruces, T or C, and Alamogordo
Climate Ready Tree Demonstration Sites
Apply to be a Climate Ready Demonstration Site and receive free trees!
Governmental entities such as cities, schools, counties, or non-profits that have public spaces that they own and are open to the public within New Mexico can apply. These sites will provide educational opportunities for the public and allow for observations on how Climate Ready Trees perform under local and regional conditions.
The Climate Ready Trees Program is designed to identify climate-adaptable tree species that can survive current conditions and climatic changes over the next century and introduce these species into our urban landscape.
Using climate modeling, The Nature Conservancy determined future climate zones for New Mexico, then a rigorous review protocol evaluated potential tree species’ adaptability and tolerances to urban and climate conditions. Now demonstration sites are needed to introduce these new species into the urban landscape and to inform both nursery growers and the public about these new species.
- Read more about Goals & Requirements for being a Climate Ready Demonstration Site.
- View the Monitoring Form.
- Fill out an Application.
- Tree Species available for Fall 2025:
- Netleaf Hackberry (Celtis reticulata) Zone 3 to 9
- Persian Silktree (Albizia julibrissin) Zone 6 to 9
- Lacebark Elm (Ulmus parvifolia) Zone 4 to 9
- Osage Orange (Maclura pomifera) Zone 4 to 9
- Shumard Oak (Quercus shumardii) Zone 5 to 9
- Texas Redbud (Cercis canadensis var. texansis) Zone 5 to 9
- European Smoketree (Cotinus coggygria) Zone 5 to 8
For questions about the program and to submit completed applications, contact Kristen Sanders at Kristen.Sanders@emnrd.nm.gov