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Plant Hardiness Zones - Important Information for Gardening Success

USDA Hardiness Zone Map
Find your Growing Zone
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Zones are sometimes subdivided into a colder half (a) and a warmer half (b): for example 5a or 7b
 

There are thousands of plant varieties that will grow for U.S. gardeners but not all plants will thrive in all areas of our vast country.

While tropical plants may be happy in Florida gardens, they'll likely freeze and die in Chicago winters. Likewise, peonies and tulips, plants that require winter cold to flourish, will thrive in parts of the country with freezing winter temperatures but won't in the Deep South. How do you know which plants will work in your region?

Hardiness Zones were developed to support informed decisions. Each region has been assigned a zone; just use the map above to select your region or alternatively you can use our Zone Finder (input your Zip Code to the left) to determine yours.

With this information, look for plants that list your hardiness zone on the product page and after the word "Hardiness:". So, if you garden in zone 6, plants with hardiness ratings that include zone 6 (zones 3-8 or zones 6-10) should thrive in your climate year round.

Tip: Gardeners sometimes fall in love with plants that aren't hardy in their region. Must broken hearts follow? No, but the plants in question will need special attention. Suppose you love freesia but don't live in zones 9-11 where these tender beauties are hardy. To have multi-season success with freesia you'll have to over winter them in a warm place like a heated greenhouse or on your windowsill. Alternately, you may treat them as annuals; enjoying their blooms the first season and replacing them next year, like you do with petunias. This is the easiest approach and a successful way to fool Mother Nature for one season.

 

    Zone 3 Zone 4 Zone 5 Zone 6 Zone 7 Zone 8 Zone 9 Zone 10  
Achimenes Achimenes             X X Winter hardy only in the warmest parts of the country. Grow as annuals or houseplants.
Amaryllis Agapanthus (Lily of the Nile)         X X X X Brilliant blue and white Agapanthus overwinter outside where temps stay above 10 degrees.
Elephant Ears Alocasia/Colocasia (Elephant Ears)         X X X X Big, bold, colorful foliage plants for exotic container centerpiece elements and dramatic landscape additions.
Alstroemeria Alstroemeria           X X X Grow Peruvian lilies with protective mulch and stretch the hardiness to 5 degrees F.
Amaryllis Amaryllis (Garden)             X X Showy, clump forming spring bloomers for warm region gardens.
Arisaema Arisaema       X X X X X Love quirky plants? Grow these oddities in a shady site to zones 6-10, depending on variety.
Astilbies Astilbe X X X X X X X   Excellent winter hardy and heat tolerant plant suitable for most parts of the country.
Baby's Breath Baby's Breath   X X X X X X   Go-to "icing" for summer arrangements. Easily dried for use the rest of the year.
Bearded Iris Bearded Iris X X X X X X X X Bearded iris vary widely as far as climate preference; see individual product listings.
Begonias Begonias               X Grow color-rich begonias as annuals anywhere. Start bulbs indoors for longest bloom.
Black Eyed Susans Black Eyed Susans   X X X X X X X For late season color, black-eyed Susans and their cousins are easy care winners.
Bleeding Hearts Bleeding Hearts X X X X X X X   Bleeding hearts grow well in most of the country, just provide shade and fairly moist soil.
Butterfly Bushes (Buddleia) Butterfly Bushes       X X X X X New, dwarf varieties are compact and tidy. Sweet honey scent attracts hummingbirds and butterflies.
Caladiums Caladiums             X X Caladiums will survive outdoors in zones 9-11; elsewhere enjoy as jewel box annuals. Great container plants.
Callas Callas           X X X Callas overwinter outdoors in zones 8-11; they can also be grown as annuals in pots.
Cannas Cannas         X X X X Add cannas for tropical appeal; as annuals in cold regions and year round in zones 8-11. Mulch to protect in zone 7.
    Zone 3 Zone 4 Zone 5 Zone 6 Zone 7 Zone 8 Zone 9 Zone 10  
Coneflowers (Echinacea) Coneflowers (Echinacea) X X X X X X X X Coneflowers come in an ever explanding range of colors, all with easy to please personalities.
Coreopsis Coreopsis   X X X X X X X Cold region or hot, coreopsis persevere, looking content as they bloom on and on.
Crinum Crinums           X X X Tough, beautiful, fragrant and rarely bothered by bugs or disease, crinums are unsurpassed for warm region gardens.
Crocosmia Crocosmia     X X X X X X With varieties that weather -20 degrees F, crocosmia can be enjoyed in most gardens.
Dahlias Dahlias           X X X Grow as annuals in cold areas and perennials in warm regions. Sizes, forms and colors galore!
Daisies Daisies     X X X X X X Like a favorite summer sundress, daisies are pretty, casual and carefree. Try the new yellow flowering types.
Daylilies Daylilies X X X X X X X X There is a daylily cultivar (or many) for every growing zone; check specifics for individual varieties.
Freesia Freesia             X X Grow freesia as annuals in cold areas and as perennials in warm regions. Lovely, fragrant beauties.
Gaillardia Gaillardia X X X X X X X X Weathering cold winters and windy sites, blanket flowers' colors punch up mixed borders.
Geraniums, Hardy Geraniums, Hardy   X X X X X X X Winter hardy and able to thrive in heat, cranesbills do well everywhere but in the Deep South.
Gingers & Their Relatives Gingers & Relatives           X X X Exotic gingers are tropical plants that perform splendidly in warm regions.
Gladiolus Gladiolus           X X X Glads are typically grown as tall spires of color, replanted yearly for variety and an opportunity to try new combinations.
Gloriosa Lilies Gloriosa Lilies             X X Gloriosa lilies make outstanding annual vines in areas where they aren't winter hardy.
Hibiscus Hibiscus   X X X X X X X Our hibiscus can weather winters in new Hampshire, Minneapolis or South Dakota - hardy!
Honeysuckle Honeysuckle     X X X X X X Fragrant honeysuckle vines don't require heavy structures for support; use for screens and grow through loose shrubs.
Hostas Hostas X X X X X X X   Hostas thrive in most of the country; see individual varieties for details.
    Zone 3 Zone 4 Zone 5 Zone 6 Zone 7 Zone 8 Zone 9 Zone 10  
Japanese Iris Japanese Iris   X X X X X X   Winter hardy from zones 4 or 5 (see individual listings) through 9, These grow in most of the US.
Jasmines & their Relatives Jasmines & Relatives             X X Grow this group of flowering vines for scent first, looks second. Site so the fragrance envelopes you.
Kniphofia Kniphofia (Red Hot Pokers)         X X X X Torch lilies add hot spires of color to beds and borders year after year. Sizzle on!
Lavender Lavender     X X X X X X Pretty in drier Mediterrean-style gardens, fun for fragrant crafting and flavorful for kitchen use.
Leococryne Leucocoryne           X X X Gardeners in warms zones are blessed with climates best suited to these little gems.
Lilies Lilies     X X X X X   Look to lilies for big, bold blooms in all but the hottest, moistest parts of the US.
Lily of the Valley Lily of the Valley X X X X X X     Winter hardy in frosty Canada, lily of the valley also grows in zone 8, and even 9, in foggy areas.
Lycoris Lycoris         X X X X If a flower could fizz, lychoris would be the one likely to succeed. Colorful, exhuberant and fun.
Mint Mint   X X X X X X X Fast growing and easy, flavored mints lend themselves to broad use in traditional and exotic cooking and drink making.
Nerine Nerine           X X X Nerine hail from southern Africa and are best suited to warm growing zones 8 to 11.
Oxalis Oxalis     X X X X X X Colorful shamrock plants have varying degrees of cold hardiness; see individual cultivars or grow inside on sunny sills.
Passion Vines (Passiflora) Passion Vines (Passiflora)     X X X X X X Like sci-fi flowers, these intricate blooms are hugely popular. Not hard to see why.
Peonies Peonies X X X X X       Garden royalty with big blooms, killer fragrance, & live 50+ years. Only able to grow and flower in cool climates.
Phlox Phlox   X X X X X X   Hardy and happy in most of the US, use this backbone plant for great summer gardens.
Pineapple Lilies Pineapple Lilies         X X X X Eucomis also known as Pineapple lilies introduce bright spikes of tiny stars in moderate to warm weather gardens.
    Zone 3 Zone 4 Zone 5 Zone 6 Zone 7 Zone 8 Zone 9 Zone 10  
Plumeria Plumeria             X X Relive the wonder of that trip to the islands with your own fragrant plumeria.
Rain Lilies Rain Lilies         X X X X Hardy in zones 7 and warmer, rain lilies spring out of the ground when coaxed by soaking rains.
Ranunculus Ranunculus           X X X Ranunculus are hardy in zones 8-10 but can be grown as spring annuals in cooler areas. Start before the weather turns hot.
Roses, Flower Carpets Roses, Flower Carpets     X X X X X   Extend the growing range for these roses, from 5 to 10, with a little mulch or shade to modify temps.
Salvia Salvia   X X X X X X X Most salvia are winter hardy to zone 4 and can manage dry conditions to boot. Tough and lovely.
Siberian Iris Siberian Iris X X X X X X X   Super hardy, clump forming Siberian iris produce lots of straight-stemmed flowers for the garden and the vase.
Trumpet Vines Trumpet Vines   X X X X X X X Tough as nails, attractive to hummingbirds and simply beautiful - what more could you want?
Tuberose Tuberose             X X Winter hardy only in warm regions, tuberose can be planted in pots and enjoyed anywhere for a growing season.
Willows Willows   X X X X X X   Adventuresome flower arrangers love willows for height, texture, color and facinating form.


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