Gardening Tips

USDA 2012 Plant Hardiness Zone Map

[Click the map to go to the USDA Plant Hardiness Interactive Map]

The USDA has updated their Plant Hardiness Zone Map for 2012 with new data and have made it interactive. According to the USDA, the map is "the standard by which gardeners and growers can determine which plants are most likely to thrive at a location. The map is based on the average annual minimum winter temperature, divided into 10-degree F zones." This map updates the 1990 version, using data from 1976 to 2005: there are 13 hardiness zones in this map, from 1 (coldest) to 13 (hottest).

In the previous map, Ohio was mostly zone 5 and is now mostly zone 6.

The USDA's Plant Hardiness Zone Map site also offers an interactive map of the entire U.S. that can be clicked-and-dragged, or zoomed to view zip codes; click the "Interactive Map" menu tab.

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones

The USDA Plant Hardiness Zones divide the United States and southern Canada into 13 areas based on The map is based on the average annual minimum winter temperature, divided into 10-degree F zones.

Because cold tolerance is so important, it is better to select plants which will be MORE cold-tolerant rather than less.

For example, for a site in zone 7 which borders zone 6: search first for zone 6 plants, secondly on zone 7 plants.