What's Your Hardiness Zone?
When scouring catalogues, surfing the internet and reading plant tags and seed packets, you’ll see a hardiness zone listed. This is just one of the factors to consider when selecting a plant for your garden.
Most are referring to cold hardiness zones. These are designated areas based on the average minimum winter temperatures. See the USDA Plant Hardiness map to find your zone. Cold hardiness refers to a plant's ability to tolerate the cold temperatures in that zone.
Heat hardiness zones are used less frequently. It refers to the average number of days with temperatures over 86 degrees. Check out the American Horticultural Society's Plant Heat Zone Map to find your zone.
Perennials, trees and shrubs are rated for their cold and sometimes heat hardiness. Selecting plants that thrive in your zone will increase your gardening success.
A bit more information: Hardiness zones are just one of many factors to consider when selecting a plant. Soil, sunlight, wind and other factors are also important in growing healthy plants. When looking at the hardiness maps you can see where topography, elevation and large bodies of water influence the high and low temperatures of surrounding areas, causing small variations within larger hardiness zones.
Related
Audio
Audio
Categories
Upcoming Webinars & Appearances
Feb. 8, 2023
WEBINAR:
Indoor Container Garden Design & Display Ideas
Register now
Feb. 10-12, 2023
PBS Wisconsin
Garden & Landscape EXPO
Madison, Wisconsin
Feb. 15, 2023
WEBINAR:
10 Tips for Growing Better Dahlias!
Register now
Feb. 17-19, 2023
NARI Milwaukee Spring Home Improvement Show
West Allis, Wisconsin
Feb. 22, 2023
WEBINAR:
Grow Beautiful Water Gardens
Register now
March 1, 2023
WEBINAR:
How and When to Prune Shrubs
Register now
March 4, 2023
Milwaukee Public Libraries
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
March 8, 2023
WEBINAR:
Grow Your Own Flowers for Bouquets
Register Now
March 11, 2023
Home, Lawn & Garden Day
Bloomington, Illinois
Watch Melinda's past webinars ON DEMAND
Learn More