The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map has recently been updated! This map is the standard by which gardeners and growers can determine which plants are most likely to thrive in a specific location and is produced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
USDA Plant Hardiness Zones are based on the average annual minimum winter temperatures across the U.S. These minimum temperatures are broken down into 10-degree increments and provide a guide for which plants are cold hardy for a given area. Even within a zone, different micro-climates exist, such as large urban areas which may be warmer or land situated at different elevations.
If you are planning to plant perennial shrubs, trees and flowers, this map will help you choose the ones that will tolerate winter temperatures in your location.
Whether you shop at box stores, club stores, local garden centers, or online, plants are labeled with their hardiness zone. Make sure these match your zone for reliable perennial plant performance.
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, 2023. Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. Accessed from https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/
