Click here to see both Canadian planting zone maps.Ĭheck out a simplified version of the official Natural Resources Canada Plant Hardiness Zone Map below, then go to the Natural Resources Canada website to find out which zone you live in! Natural Resources Canada Plant Hardiness Zones Map (simplified version), 2014.Ĭlick here to see the full Natural Resources Canada Plant Hardiness Zones Map.
However, the NRC also produces a map that shows plant hardiness zones for Canada based on the USDA extreme minimum temperature approach. Unlike the USDA map, which is based only on minimum winter temperatures, the planting zones map produced by Natural Resources Canada considers a wider range of climatic variables, including maximum temperatures and the length of the frost-free period. ( See local frost dates here.) Because annuals are only meant to last the length of one growing season, planting zones don’t necessarily factor into the equation. See our article on natural landscaping.įor annual plants, like most vegetables and some flowers, it’s far more important to pay attention to things like the length of your growing season and the typical dates of your first and last frosts. Planting native species is a surefire way to achieve a stable garden. You’ll find that winter damage occurs most often when plants are out of their range or “comfort zone.” When you choose plants for a garden or landscape, avoid selecting plants that are only marginally hardy for your region that’s when you’ll see winter damage, poor growth, and a reduction in flowering. Perennial flowers, shrubs, and trees grow best when planted in the appropriate zone. Perennials need to be able to survive winter in your area, so it’s essential to know how cold it typically gets in your area and whether a particular plant is hardy enough to survive those temperatures.
Planting zones are most helpful to gardeners growing perennial plants since perennials are meant to live beyond just one growing season. The scientists are using 30 years of long-range data and more sophisticated computers for a more accurate map, especially in challenging areas such as mountain zones and Alaska, which may have been rated too cold or warm in prior map iterations. Compared to the 2012 map, the 2023 version shows that half of the country moved up to a warmer zone (including much of Alaska) while the other half stayed in the same zone. According to the USDA, the new 2023 map uses data from 13,412 weather stations compared to the 7,983 from the previous map.
Note: The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map was just updated in November of 2023, the first update since 2012. The map is divided into thirteen distinct 10✯ zones, which are further divided into sub-zones of 5☏.Ĭheck the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map below, or visit the USDA website to find out exactly which zone you live in! Plant Zone Map Courtesy of USDA Find Your USDA Planting ZoneĬonsidered the current standard measure of plant hardiness, the USDA 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map is based on average annual minimum winter temperatures. Zone maps are not absolute if you find the information contradictory to your own experience, you may live in a microclimate. Soil, moisture, humidity, heat, wind, and other conditions also affect the viability of individual plants. Fall Forecast 2023: See Color Weather Maps