Hardiness Zones Lookup Tool

Hardiness Zones

The U. S Department of Agriculture divides North America into 11 plant hardiness zones. The hardiness zones show an indication of the types of plants that are capable of growing best in a specific location by climate conditions. These zones are based on average annual minimum temperature ranges.

The United States and Canada zones areas are based on a 10 degree Fahrenheit difference in the average annual minimum temperature. The United States falls within Zones 2 through 10 on the Hardiness Zone Map.

Zone maps provide gardeners and farmers with geographical information, based on minimum climate temperture ranges where various trees, landscaping and perennials that are likely to grow year after year. The zone map is a handy tool when making decisions on knowing which plants are suitable at the lowest temperature degree in your growing location.

Limitations

The Hardiness Zone Map only considers minimum (lowest) average temperature, however there are other indicating factors of a plant thriving in one particular area over another, such as high temperatures, soil type, soil drainage, snow cover benfits in some areas, rainfall and daylight hours.

The Hardiness Zone Map does not take into consideration extreme high temperatures, moisture, soil, winds, and other local variations. Use the zone map in combination with other sources to determine which plants will grow best year around in your location.