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In the gardening world a commonly asked question is “what zone are you in?”
So what does that even mean?
According to Wikipedia “A hardiness zone is a geographic area defined as having a certain
average annual minimum temperature, a factor relevant to the survival of many plants. In some
systems other statistics are included in the calculations. The original and most widely used
system, developed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) as a rough guide for
landscaping and gardening, defines 13 zones by long-term average annual extreme minimum
temperatures. It has been adapted by and to other countries (such as Canada) in various forms.
A plant may be described as ‘hardy to zone 10’: this means that the plant can withstand a
minimum temperature of 30 to 40 °F (−1.1 to 4.4 °C).”
Hardiness zones are designed to help you choose plants & trees that will grow well in your area.
For example, citrus trees, which do well in warm climates, are obviously not going to grow in a
harsh winter climate so knowing that ahead of time saves you time, money & frustration.
Knowing your zone helps you choose your perennial plants. Perennials are plants that come
back every season- think P for permanent- as opposed to annuals which need to be replanted
each year or “annually”. Trees, flowering bushes, berry plants, most grasses these are all a
permanent part of our landscape & knowing which variety will grow best in your area is
important, that’s where USDA hardiness zones shine. See Map below courtesy of Almanac.com
The zones are set up with the lower numbers, 1-5, being cold, harsh winter weather requiring
plants built to withstand frigid temperatures. Zones 5B through 6B are more moderate on both
ends of the spectrum- summer & winter. The higher zones 7-11 are mild winters with much
warmer summers.
In the east it can be a bit simpler to know your zone as entire states tend to have the same
climate. All of Minnesota, for example, has a long cold winter with plenty of snow. All of Florida
is warm & temperate. There may be a slight fluctuation between 2 similar zones but you’re not
going to have a huge variation.
In the west it gets quite a bit trickier & your zone is most often in direct proportion to your
elevation. In California you might live at sea level & you could be in Zone 9 or 10. You can grow
almost anything in those zones & that is why so much of our food supply is grown in the coastal
areas of California. But if you are in the mountains of California, you could be in Zone 5A with
temperatures as low as negative 5 degrees. So, it’s important to know your zone & keep that in
mind when purchasing trees, bushes & other perennials. It’s also important to know your
weather in your exact location due to ‘micro’ climates which could mean that your particular spot
could be warmer or colder than your zone suggests. A good example of that is our area in the
high desert of Oregon. Our official zone is 6B, which has a low of negative 20. Several times in
the 20 plus years we have been here it has dropped below negative 20. One winter it went as
low as negative 35! Knowing this, we purchase plants & trees that are rated to at least negative 40, that way we know they will survive a regular winter with no problem & even our extra cold
winters shouldn’t be an issue.
The best place to learn about Hardiness Zones & what your zone is, is at the USDA website
2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map | USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
You can also contact your local Extension Service or Master Gardner Program. They will be
able to help you with questions about your area & the best plants to grow there.
It is also important to remember that your Hardiness Zone is your guideline to planting your
landscaping- trees, bushes, perennial flowers etc. Your zone has nothing to do with when it is
safe to plant your garden-that is all about your Last Frost Date which tells you the likely time
your area should be frost free & safe to plant out your cold sensitive garden crops. It doesn’t
matter what your zone is if you plant out your tomatoes before your last frost it’s going to get
ugly!
Your Last Frost Date (LFD) is also something you should be able to Google or ask your
Extension Service. Last Frost dates vary widely which is why you’ll see some people planting as
early as February or March & others (like us) not planting until mid-June. It’s important to keep
that in mind while scrolling Instagram & Facebook & not letting when someone else is planting
influence when you plant -even if they are in your same zone! Their LFD may be weeks ahead
of yours! Our “official” LFD is sometime in the middle of June each year. But even with that we
have had snow past our LFD & a few years back, we had a HARD freeze on July 3 & we were
scrambling to cover every pumpkin in the field!. That’s a memory that sticks with you! Our
situation is a little different as our elevation is so high we “technically” have a chance of frost at
any time. Most places are not like that- we apparently just like the challenge! In most cases your
LFD is going to be a reliable indicator of when it is safe to plant.
So remember, know your Zone & know your LFD. Happy planting!
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