New version of the USDA zone map

[jam]

About half of the US shifted to the next warmer half zone.

https://www.ars.usda.gov/news-events/ne ... -zone-map/

[westfork]

There is so much variability in winter lows though. It is frustrating how many nurseries call a plant hardy to a certain zone if it can survive the posted zone minimum temperature. But to survive in a certain zone the plant must be able to endure the range on minimums, not just the average.
We are now a solid 5a with a -15 to -20F average minimum temperature.
So instead of our experienced annual minimums ranging from 0 to -38 as a 4b, can we now expect to range from 5 to -33?

[Samhain]

No results for my zip code.

[Fairview]

There is so much variability in winter lows though. It is frustrating how many nurseries call a plant hardy to a certain zone if it can survive the posted zone minimum temperature. But to survive in a certain zone the plant must be able to endure the range on minimums, not just the average.
We are now a solid 5a with a -15 to -20F average minimum temperature.
So instead of our experienced annual minimums ranging from 0 to -38 as a 4b, can we now expect to range from 5 to -33?

There's a difference between weather and climate. Zones are based on long term climatic conditions. Weather is day to day. Our texas winter blast in 2021 was in the single digits for several day but I'm in solid zone 8.

[nsp88]

There is so much variability in winter lows though. It is frustrating how many nurseries call a plant hardy to a certain zone if it can survive the posted zone minimum temperature. But to survive in a certain zone the plant must be able to endure the range on minimums, not just the average.
We are now a solid 5a with a -15 to -20F average minimum temperature.
So instead of our experienced annual minimums ranging from 0 to -38 as a 4b, can we now expect to range from 5 to -33?

I thought it was insane to make us a half-zone warmer, too, since our last few winters have been wild (2021 was the wildest with record lows). Turns out the data they used was up until 2020, and didn't include 2021. I guess it will a lot longer until we get a map that has a chance of reflecting that.

zone map 2020.JPG (160.46 KiB) Viewed 388 times

zone map new.JPG (67.9 KiB) Viewed 388 times

[Meangreen94z]

FBB0616B-D2BF-4D6A-AA84-AA13B28C7693.jpeg (292.01 KiB) Viewed 357 times