Which Plants Can Grow in Your Area?
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Which Plants Can I Grow?
When planting outdoors, the first thing you need to be sure of is that whichever plants you want to plant will survive the minimum winter temperatures of your area.
If, for example, I plant a tree that can't handle the low temperatures I get here in winter, that tree will probably not survive for very long. I don't know how many times I've heard someone say they aren't sure why their plants keep dying, but it's because those plants can't grow in their region. They may do fine in spring and summer, but after a winter that's harsher than the plants can stand, they will inevitably die.
Therefore, knowing what types of plants are capable of growing in your area is key to cultivating a thriving garden. This is where the Plant Hardiness Zone comes in.
Here is a great definition of hardiness zones from Wikipedia:
"A hardiness zone (a subcategory of Vertical Zonation) is a geographically defined area in which a specific category of plant life is capable of growing, as defined by climatic conditions, including its ability to withstand the minimum temperatures of the zone (see the scale on the right or the table below).
For example, a plant that is described as 'hardy to zone 10' means that the plant can withstand a minimum temperature of -1°C. A more resilient plant that is 'hardy to zone 9' can tolerate a minimum temperature of -7°C." -- Wikipedia
This map gives a general idea of where the major hardiness zones in the US are located. For more detailed information for your area, it's necessary to consult the regional and state hardiness zone maps, as local temperatures can vary wildly.
USDA (public domain)
Find Your State, Scroll Down To Your #
| Reference # | USDA Regional Designation | States |
|---|---|---|
# 1 | Northeastern | Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia |
# 2 | Southeastern | Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee |
# 3 | South Central | Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas (East), Texas (West) |
# 4 | Southwestern | Arizona, California (Northern), California (Southern), Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah |
# 5 | Northwestern | Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming |
# 6 | North Central | Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin |
# 7 | Non-continental | Alaska |
# 8 | Non-continental | Hawaii |
#1: Northeastern US
Hardiness Zones, Northeastern US
USDA (public domain)
| State | Hardiness Zones |
|---|---|
Connecticut | 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a |
Delaware | 7a, 7b |
Indiana | 5b, 6a, 6b |
Kentucky | 6a, 6b, 7a |
Maine | 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a |
Maryland & D.C. | 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a |
Massachusetts | 5a, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b |
Michigan | 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b |
New Hampshire | 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a |
New Jersey | 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b |
New York | 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 7a, 7b |
Ohio | 5b, 6a, 6b |
Pennsylvania | 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b |
Rhode Island | 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a |
Vermont | 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b |
Virginia | 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a |
West Virginia | 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a |
Northeastern US: Hardiness Zones By State
The list (at right) includes all the growing zones listed for your state. This does not mean that each of these growing zones will exist in your zip code (town/city), however.
While some states remain pretty steady across the board, many states vary widely from one location to another.
To get more detailed information for your area, go to this web site: planthardiness.ars.usda.gov
Northeastern Plants
- American Chestnut (Castanea dentata)
- American Coral Bells (Heuchera americana)
- Anemone (Anemone hupehensis)
- Clematis (Clematis)
- Eastern Bluestar (Amsonia)
- Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis)
- Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)
- Foam Flower (Tiarella)
- Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii)
- Lady Slippers Orchid (Cypripedioidea)
- Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum)
- Maidenhair Tree (Ginkgo biloba)
- Merrybells (Uvularia grandiflora)
- Morrow's Honeysuckle (Lonicera morrowii)
- Red Maple (Acer rubrum)
- Rose Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
- Stairway to Heaven (Polemonium reptans)
- Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum)
- Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense)
#2: Southeastern US
Hardiness Zones, Southeastern US
USDA (public domain)
| State | Hardiness Zones |
|---|---|
Alabama | 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a |
Florida | 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a |
Georgia | 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a |
Mississippi | 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a |
North Carolina | 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b |
South Carolina | 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a |
Tennessee | 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a. 7b, 8a |
Southeastern US: Hardiness Zones By State
The list (at right) includes all the growing zones listed for your state. This does not mean that each of these growing zones will exist in your zip code (town/city), however.
While some states remain pretty steady across the board, many states vary widely from one location to another.
To get more detailed information for your area, go to this web site: planthardiness.ars.usda.gov
Southeastern Plants
- Amelanchier / Sugarplum (Amelanchier)
- Bergamot / Scarlet Beebalm (Monarda didyma)
- Blazing Star (Liatris spicata)
- Carolina Jasmine / Jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens)
- Carolina Silverbell (Halesia carolina)
- Fringe Tree (Chionanthus virginicus)
- Indian Blanket (Gaillardia pulchella)
- Ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis)
- Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis)
- Joe-Pye Weed (Eupatorium fistulosum)
- Milkweed / Butterfly-weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
- Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata)
- Paw Paw (Asimina triloba)
- Red Bay (Persea borbonia)
- Red Buckeye (Aesculus pavia)
- Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum)
- Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)
- Tickseed (Coreopsis)
- Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans)
- Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum)
#3: South Central US
Hardiness Zones, South Central US
USDA (public domain)
| States | Hardiness Zones |
|---|---|
Arkansas | 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a |
Louisiana | 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a |
Oklahoma | 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a |
Texas (East) | 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a |
Texas (West) | 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a |
South Central US: Hardiness Zones By State
The list (at right) includes all the growing zones listed for your state. This does not mean that each of these growing zones will exist in your zip code (town/city), however.
While some states remain pretty steady across the board, many states vary widely from one location to another.
To get more detailed information for your area, go to this web site: planthardiness.ars.usda.gov
South Central Plants
- American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)
- American Beech (Fagus grandifolia)
- American Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana)
- American Strawberry Bush (Euonymus americanus)
- American Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua)
- American Winterberry (Ilex verticillata)
- Crossvine (Bignonia capreolata)
- Florida Maple (Acer floridanum)
- Green Ash / Red Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica)
- Lance-leaved Coriopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata)
- Leatherwood (Cyrilla racemiflora)
- Meadow Holly (Ilex decidua)
- Red Gilia (Ipomopsis aggregata)
- Roughleaf Dogwood (Cornus drummondii)
- Scarlet Hibiscus (Hibiscus coccineus)
- Sweetbell / Hogdobble (Leucothoe axillaris)
- Texas Bluebell (Eustoma)
- Texas Paintbrush (Castilleja indivisa)
- White Ash (Fraxinus americana)
- White Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus)
#4: Southwestern US
Hardiness Zones, Southwestern US
USDA (public domain)
| States | Hardiness Zones |
|---|---|
Arizona | 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b |
California (Southern) | 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a |
California (Northern) | 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b |
Colorado | 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a |
Nevada | 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a |
New Mexico | 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a |
Utah | 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a |
Southwestern US: Hardiness Zones By State
The list (at right) includes all the growing zones listed for your state. This does not mean that each of these growing zones will exist in your zip code (town/city), however.
While some states remain pretty steady across the board, many states vary widely from one location to another.
To get more detailed information for your area, go to this web site: planthardiness.ars.usda.gov
Southwestern Plants
- Banana Yucca (Yucca baccata)
- Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)
- Desert Marigold (Baileya multiradiata)
- Golden Columbine (Aquilegia chrysantha)
- Harebell (Campanula rotundifolia)
- New Mexico Locust (Robinia neomexicana)
- Owl's Clover (Castilleja exserta)
- Parry's Agave (Agave parryi)
- Plains Yucca (Yucca glauca
- Prairie Smoke (Anemone patens)
- Redtwig Dogwood (Cornus stolonifera)
- Rocky Mountain Beeplant (Cleome serrulata)
- Serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia)
- Shooting Star (Dodecatheon pulchellum)
- Showy Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa)
- Silver Buffaloberry (Shepherdia argentea)
- Silver Sagebrush (Artemisia cana)
- Southwestern Prickly Poppy (Argemone pleiacantha)
- Wild Plum (Prunus americana)
#5: Northwestern US
Hardiness Zones, Northwestern US
USDA (public domain)
| States | Hardiness Zones |
|---|---|
Idaho | 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b |
Montana | 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a |
Oregon | 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b |
Washington | 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a |
Wyoming | 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a |
Northwestern US: Hardiness Zones By State
The list (at right) includes all the growing zones listed for your state. This does not mean that each of these growing zones will exist in your zip code (town/city), however.
While some states remain pretty steady across the board, many states vary widely from one location to another.
To get more detailed information for your area, go to this web site: planthardiness.ars.usda.gov
Northwestern Plants
- Bog-laurel (Kalmia polifolia)
- Farewell to Spring (Clarkia amoena)
- Graceful Cinquefoil (Potentilla gracilis)
- Grand Fir (Abies grandis)
- Mock-orange (Philadelphus)
- Mooseberry (Viburnum edule)
- Oregon Ash (Fraxinus latifolia)
- Oregon Cherry / Bitter Cherry (Prunus emarginata)
- Oregon Iris (Iris tenax)
- Oregon Pine / Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga)
- Pacific Starflower (Trientalis latifolia)
- Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis)
- Sea Thrift (Armeria maritima)
- Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis)
- Twinflower (Linnaea)
- Western Columbine (Aquilegia formosa)
- Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata)
- Western White Pine (Pinus monticola)
- Wild Hyacinth (Camas)
- Wild Rose (Rosa nutkana)
#6: North Central US
Hardiness Zones, North Central US
USDA (public domain)
| States | Hardiness Zones |
|---|---|
Illinois | 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a |
Iowa | 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a |
Kansas | 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a |
Minnesota | 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a |
Missouri | 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b |
Nebraska | 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b |
North Dakota | 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b |
South Dakota | 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b |
Wisconsin | 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b |
North Central US: Hardiness Zones By State
The list (at right) includes all the growing zones listed for your state. This does not mean that each of these growing zones will exist in your zip code (town/city), however.
While some states remain pretty steady across the board, many states vary widely from one location to another.
To get more detailed information for your area, go to this web site: planthardiness.ars.usda.gov
