There are very few rules in gardening, but perhaps the most important one is to work within your zone. Choosing plants that grow and thrive in your particular climate is the very first step toward having a beautiful garden.
USDA Cold Hardiness Zone Map
First published in 1960 and updated in 1990, this map is based on average annual minimum temperatures recorded throughout North America. By using the map to find the zone in which you live, you can determine which will survive in your garden because they can withstand these average minimum temperatures.
AHS Heat Zone Map
This 12-zone map indicates the average number of days each year that a given region experiences
"heat days" – those days with temperatures over 86 degrees, and the point at which plants experience damage to cellular proteins.
Sunset Western Climate Zone Map
Sunset classifies 33 western zones. The boundaries of each of these unique zones are a function of six geographic and climatic factors: latitude, elevation, ocean influence, continental air influence, mountains and hills, and local terrain. Taken together, these factors determine what will grow well in your garden.
