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New Plant Hardiness Zone Map

12 years ago

The American Rose Society accounced that a new plant hardiness zone map has been released by the USDA; the first zone changes in over 20 years. According to the map, I've moved from 6b to 7a. Although, I guess your location can vary your zone within a zone anyway, but I thought it was interesting..

~Tammy

Here is a link that might be useful: New USDA Hardiness Map

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Comments (10)

karl_bapst_rosenut
12 years ago
Mine went from 5a to 5b. That's only 5 degrees but when you're talking below zero temps I'm still preparing for the worst.
stlgal
12 years ago
I went from 5b to 6b--never quite believed the 5b anyway, as my experiences never matched what the books said for our supposed zone. But my default Zone on here continues to be south z5 unless I change it for each new message, as the "Zone" link is broken and I'm not sure how else to change my default.
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Well...duno what happened to my post from last nite.......not here...???? But had said I didn't know.....so much appreciated for the heads up Not all of us are as in tune as to what's going on. And in my case, I already sit right on the cusp of 7a & b...it may affect me a bit. Cant find pic of VA map I can zoom in to see yet). But if nothing else..it WILL affect shipping time for mail order in some areas. So thanks again If this post has funky typos....its cuz GW. site and tablets don't get along too well I'm guessing.......or maybe just me with learning curve...lol But can't bear to go into house. On porch using it, enjoying first gentle spring rain....yeahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!
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I went from 7 to 9A according to the new map(small town, not very populated, mountains so one town is up / colder and one lower elevation and warmer, most maps had been pretty generic). I guess you could say my average winter night temp is in the 20's but I think of USDA 9 as my bay area location and can attest to the fact that a lot of the plants I brought with me cannot handle the winters here. Sunset zones still have me at their 7 which is more useful for me (I have SUCH a shorter growing season here). Our record lows tend to be high single digits to low teens, so I'll probably use that - like others every winter it seems we're hitting a "record low" and I don't want to have to run out and cover plants in a snowstorm.
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alabamanicole, This map has nothing to do with when you plant your garden. This map is made for plant selection. It is telling you that you can grow plants that can take temperatures as low as 5-10 F. You are still in zone 7a for frost dates and when you can safely plant your garden. Hope this helps you and maybe keeps others from planting to soon thinking they are now in zone 7b for planting time. Later Dwight
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Comments (18)
Albuquerque is zone 7A, but the same zones out west, particularly in the southwest, are just not the same as here in New England. For one thing, they get more sunshine hours because they are further south, and many more days of sunshine, because they don't get the storm systems and clouds very often the way we do. And finally, they get many milder breaks between the cold weather periods, again presumably because they are further south (means more hours of sunlight) and get so many more days of sunshine anyway. That means that it gets drier, and also the ground seldom freezes, and even if it does, it's not for long. St. George, UT and Cape Cod, MA are both zone 7A. I've been to St. George, and there are palm trees all over town. And not just the hardy ones like Windmill palms, which are zone 7 anyway, but even the Washingtonias. But I am sure that there is no way you will see them all over the Cape! It's the same zone, but a totally different climate. That's why I say zones are a guide, but ultimately it's up to each of us to try (or not try) to grow whatever we want, within reason. So no coconuts in Providence, but I do have camellias and Clerodendron. Not supposed to grow here, but the plants apparently haven't been told that, so they are fine!
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ken-n.ga.mts
12 years ago
Sitting on the edge of 7a/7b.
TNY78
Original Author
12 years ago
It explains why I've never the problems with my China and Tea roses that other zone 6 gardens have had. I knew I was on the 7a border before, and 7a seems a lot more accurate to me in terms of hardiness. I guess adding a few more teas and chinas is now justified!
~Tammy
hookoodooku
12 years ago
Wow, I'm up to an 8
seil zone 6b MI
12 years ago
I just went in and changed my profile to show my new zone. Don't forget to do that if yours has changed!
Laurie
12 years ago
Glad to see I'm in 7A now, instead of 6A or B, whatever it had been. This makes better sense to me based on my experience in recent years, but I was concerned about adding in plants which the zone chart previously said wouldn't work for me. Certainly opens up a whole new world of gardening!
mantis__oh
12 years ago
Southern Ohio is now in the same zone as southern Michigan. Let me tell you, there is a difference.
seil zone 6b MI
12 years ago
Well the difference is that the weather in areas along the lakes are very much tempered and affected by them. That's why the eastern lakeshores of the Michigan are in warmer zones. I've known this for years as I have been able to grow plants that were at least a zone warmer than the previous maps said we were without any problems. This just confirms it.
cactusjoe1
12 years ago
I am now 8a - the small change does not have any practical implication to me as we are at risk for the occasional deep freeze. Whatever the average annual extreme temperature, we are still at risk of going down to -15 to -20 C and those are the important temperatures I need to keep in mind. It helps me to keep my ambitious, adventurous but futile plant selection tendencies in check.

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