For general info...the new USDA zone map

The new zone map has been officially released. Here is the link for any one interested.

http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/#

new?! thanks Moon

MAJOR CHANGES! i would have never known so soon! thanks again :)

Were you in 9a or 9b? Or do you move a half zone? Or have you jumped to zone 10a? You are very welcome for the info.

I've jumped a full zone - 6b to 7b. I am just hoping my plants and local weather got the same memo.

Wow Terry...what a birthday present that was...grin Seems heat would be the problem for you. From what my Hort. Prof friend told me, the plans to re-map have been in the works for over a year, so your past summer successes in the garden should remain successful and winter life may be easier on your garden.

Did the USDA do it just for my birthday? Awww, they shouldn't have!!! (*grin*)

Yeah, it makes me feel a little more comfortable with some of my marginally hardy stuff, but I know from personal experience that we can still get some mighty cold and nasty temps here, winter of 2012 notwithstanding. More problematic are the late cold snaps - and that could happen this year; it's too warm too soon.

This has indeed been a roller coaster year for weather. Our temps this winter have ranged from 23 degrees (1 night) up to 83 degrees. Fairly good rains, a couple hail falls and a 5 to 10 minute dusting of snow...I have had irises put out bloom spikes only to have them killed back by frost a couple days later and my hyacinths bloomed the last week of Dec/first week of January and my loropetalums have bloomed all winter. poor plants...someone needs to let them know about the zone changes...grin

Hope you had a good birthday.

Our rollercoaster has been a lot like yours, it seems! And yes, I did have a wonderful birthday - thank you!

Goodness! I'm right on the line between 7b and 8a. I mean RIGHT on the line. Part of my county (Coweta, south of Atlanta) is in 7b and part in 8a. That's really splitting hairs! LOL

Which side does your house sit on? The opportunities could be interesting...LOL

That's what I'm thinking, Moon. I could be right on it. LOL. The green squiggly line for 7b wiggles right over the place where my house is, then goes into the yellow of 8a. I'm about 5 miles from Fayette County which is yellow ... 8a. Very interesting.

Gee, you could have microcosms for 8a plants...grin

Sounds like a license to experiment! LOL

Maybe there are little "pockets" of 8a in my yard. That's where I should put the tropical hibiscus and stuff. Also could be why some of the impatiens reseeded and came back. Have never seen that here. Once impatiens die here, they are usually gone forever. I really might start experimenting with things I would not have planted before. We shall see.

Have fun Judy...let us know what happens.

Thanks! This is a great link! I don't think my zone changed as per the USDA zones but I live in a starnge area that is much lower to sea level that the surrounding towns. I think that combined with the heavily wooded tree cover causes some unique circumstances for me (both beneficial and not)
:)

So glad you found it useful Yeye.

You're great :)
I hope it is even more useful that my zone has not changed. I was afraid they have made it worse!

You would have only gone up a half zone to 9b...warmer...not colder. But that can be almost as bad for the plants that don't do well in the heat.

8-) Moon

Well since I tend to gravitate towards plants who like warmer zones it wouldn't have been a tragedy that way either. I've only had one plant that failed due to being in too warm a climate (those were the bearded irises:"dangerous mood").
Is there a way to see that map in a closeup? I think I'm on the border of the change and almost in 8b...I'm curious to see...although the weather would still be the same regardless of the new zone :-)

Click on the link I posted. Across the top is a legend. click on interactive map...then place the cursor on your state and click...Then put the cursor on the the city nearest you and use the ZOOM control at the left of the map to zoom in on the area. You will see a button at the top that says Hide Legend...click on it and the list of temps will go away so you can see the whole map. It takes a few seconds for the map to adjust each time you zoom in, so be patient. You will see Florida's zone lines and should be able to get a fair idea exactly where you are.

Hope that helps

This map is also on another forum, can't remember at the moment. I'll have to try that and post the instructions on that thread. The new zones moved me up to zone 8b but when I look at the TX regional map for spring planting I'm actually in a tiny pocket that puts me in zone 7. After the last two really cold winters I'm surprised we got moved up at all.

We got a tiny bit of snow today, 3rd winter in a row.

Things like proximity to water, elevation, mountains, etc can all create variations in the high and low temperatures...the map is really just a general guideline. This map is also posted on the Plant ID forum...(January 30th)

This message was edited Feb 12, 2012 9:22 PM

Thanks Moon. I finally got hang of it and I am still in zone 9a. I like stability :)

GRIN...good deal, Yeye...glad to help.