Get a Plant Zone Map

Do you know your zone? If you know your plant zone, then you can select plants that best match. The USDA Plant Zone is a good general way to determine a plants suitability to a particular area. Although the map is not very specific, it does give a fair estimation.

The map shows the approximate zones based on a combination of factors, with cold-tolerance being the most basic. Plants are then rated to show the minimum zone they will grow in. For example: a tree with a rating of Zone 5, means it will grow down-to zone 5, but then also in Zones 6,7,8, and possibly 9 and 10 (which are the two hottest zones). Each plant varies, and there are plants suited to each zone. There are several plant-zone rating systems out there, and they are all pretty similar giving a basic idea of climate tolerances when selecting plants. This is a generalized system, so it will vary somewhat with your specific location.

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