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The Plant Hardiness Zone Map

November 17, 2023

The Plant Hardiness Zone Map

Thematic Map of the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map with a sequence of colors assigned to the zones mimics the chromatic spectrum produced by a prism (i.e., red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet). A legend and three insert maps of Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Plant Hardiness Zone Map (PHZM) is the standard by which gardeners and growers can determine which perennial plants are most likely to thrive at a location. The map is based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature, displayed as 100F zones and 50F half zones. The interactive GIS-based map allows for location search by inputting the zip code of the desired location in the search box to view the corresponding zone on the map.

By incorporating data from 13,412 weather stations, the 2023 map is more accurate and reveals the last few decades of warmer temperatures and a longer growing season.

To learn more about how to use the map as a guide in growing and learn about zones, visit the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map