Sometimes called “growing zones” or “gardening zones,” hardiness zones refer to a map developed by the USDA that separates the United States into regions based on the average low winter temperatures.

The USDA’s winter hardiness zone map has long been the standard used by home gardeners, plant breeders and researchers to determine which plants are most likely to thrive in their location, based on ...

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s new Plant Hardiness Zone Map confirms what gardeners have been noticing for years – our winters aren’t as cold as they used to be. USDA just released new ...

It’s taken more than a decade, but the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has finally released an updated Plant Hardiness Zone Map that spans the nation and the territory of Puerto Rico in such ...

With spring on the horizon, many gardeners are preparing for prolonged, hearty growing seasons in their region. The United States has a diverse ecological footprint, so growing seasons differ slightly ...

The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map helps home gardeners pick which plants to grow. But recently, roughly a quarter of the country has moved zones. What does this mean for your backyard plants? This ...

There's a good chance your zone shifted when the USDA updated its plant hardiness map in 2023. Zoom in on what that means for your garden. Recently, the USDA updated its plant hardiness map for the ...

Farmers aren’t the only ones who start the day by checking the weather report. Backyard gardeners do it, too. We like to be warned if frosts or polar vortexes are headed our way. If all I grew were ...

If you've ever taken a look at the planting instructions for your seedlings, flowers, or seeds, you would've notice that each plant has a designated United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) ...

Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. When shopping for plants, you might notice labels that specify ...

When spring arrives, gardeners are ready to buy plants, and many times we are trying something new and different. View full sizeIllustration by Kenneth Harrison / The Times-Picayune One of the most ...

Plant labels, catalogs and magazines all mention that this-or-that plant is suitable for this-or-that “zone.” But what does “zone” really reference? And why should you care? If you search “hardiness ...