I just saw this Paul, we are now in 6a!

Thanks Paul. Mine changed to 9b.

-Babka

I'm still 6a.

Karen

All around me is 6A except for my neighborhood which remains 5b. :(

Steve

Darn, I just did a search by my zip code, all around me is 6A too but I remain in 5b.

Steve, Chelmsford is now 6A, but it might have a microclimate of 5B, which was our old zone up there.

My zone in Mobile is now 9A, which is going the wrong way for me to grow hostas, but the right way for my tropicals and bananas.

The years they used ended in 2005 to set this new zones, and the coldest two years we've had in my lifetime was in 2009 and 2010, when we went cold and stayed there for two weeks at a stretch.

And some say there is no climate change afoot. Harummmmpp!
Should I be changing my zone indicator in GW?

I'm glad they have the zip code option. Just looking at the map I'm stuck between a couple zones. Out here a zip code is a rather tight area, as I think we have at least 4 different zip codes in my city of 130K people. Sunset magazine has better zones, IMHO, as they take into account micro climates, elevation, mountains, valleys, and ocean/bay influences.

Whatever, I realize that I'm at the very outlying edge of growing hostas that need to be chilled to thrive, but I'm glad that I can grow them in pots and enjoy them.

-Babka

Babka, thanks for mentioning the Zip. This map is nice to be able to be enlarged by clicking on the state. Per the map I am in between 5a and 5b, with Zip I am in 5b, but I think I am in 5.
Bernd

Well,that new map is nuts! No way am I in zone 7a,which it says I am in according to zip code! I'm in the mountains,which is different from the piedmont,which is zone7. I'll keep my zone 6,thank you! Phil

Phil (Hosta Freak)- Your magnificent woodland hostas grow so well, you can claim to be in any zone you like. Perhaps a listing of "HHL" for Happy Hosta Location would work...

-Babka

Well, I moved from borderline 4a 4b to smack into 4b. I'm sure it's going to make a HUGE difference in my garden. LOL

I'm still 8a.

bkay

It reads like an adventure story, so take a look at the Plant Delights Nursery newsletter for Jan 2012. First topic is the story of creating the 2012 map.

Here is a link that might be useful: PDN Newsletter, USDA 2012 Hardiness Map

bump - enter zip at map link in orig post

Remember this is your hardiness zone(average annual minimum winter temperature), not your growing season climate.

Paul

Paul, then where do I find my growing season climate? Could it still be zone 8B? How do they differentiate growing season from hardiness zone wise? Sigh. I suppose I'll be putting a / in my zone again.

I am in zone 5, thought I was 5a before, I can grow Korean (Chinese) dogwood.
Bernd

moccasinlanding, climate is a very different animal from hardiness zones - elevation, wind, latitude, ocean currents, precipitation, urban v rural, terrain, day length, light, local structure, etc...would all affect, so it could be very localized.

Paul

btw, The American Horticultural Society created a Heat Zone Map (I'm a 5, which is 30-45 days above 86 degrees) to help us know which plants can better handle the heat. But that still is not the same as climate.

Most confusing. I googled Climate Zone Map USA, and I got the average annual LOW temp from Natl Arbor day, and not what I'd consider anything different than the typical stuff anywhere else in the results.

Is there a place which rates my CLIMATE?
I am one mile south of the terminus of I-65 where it junctions with I-10.

Lat. 30-37'North
Lon. 88-04'West
or less specifically, zip code 36605

Would my county agent be likely to provide that info?
I found the AHS Heat Zone Map (linked below) and it says I am in heat zone 8 with between 90 and 120 days above 86F.
It seems Mobile Bay might be moderating our heat days somewhat, because all around the two bay-fronting counties is zone 9, with 120 to 150 above 86F days.

I never realized they had the pie sliced so many ways.

Here is a link that might be useful:

I moved from 5b to 6a. Global warming!