The USDA Plant Hardiness Zones divide the United States and southern Canada into 11
areas based on a 10 degree Farenheit difference in the average annual minimum temperature.
A map of the U.S. is the beginning key to selecting the hardiness zone to be used in the
search. The maps provided include a detailed, color-coded breakdown by hardiness zone for
each state. Zones 2 through 10 have been subdivided into light- and dark- colored sections
that represent 5-degree differences WITHIN the 10-degree zone. The lighter color is the
colder section; the darker color is the warmer section. These subdivisions are intended to
further help the user define the average minimum temperature for his or her area. However,
the plant search is conducted on the whole number zone range. If the precise location of
your site borders another hardiness zone, you should search twice: first, on the colder
zone (lower number), secondly on the warmer zone (higher number).
Because cold tolerance is so important, it is better to selectplants which will be MORE
cold-tolerant rather than less.
For example, for a site in zone 7 which borders zone 6: search first for zone 6 plants,
secondly on zone 7 plants.