What Are Hardiness Zones?
A plant's hardiness is its ability to survive cold temperatures. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Plant Hardiness Zone Map defines 13 hardiness zones based on each geographic area's average annual minimum temperature.
Learn your hardiness zone to help find plants that tolerate the winters in your area — plants that are considered to be hardy for your zone.
Zone 1 in the northern part of Alaska is the coldest region, with average annual minimum temperatures averaging between -60 and -50 degrees Fahrenheit. The warmest region is Zone 13 in Puerto Rico, with average annual minimum temperatures averaging between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
To determine your zone, find your location on the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map and match that zone color to the color in the chart above. This indicates your zone as well as the historical average extreme minimum temperatures for your area.
Once you know which hardiness zone you live in, you can find plants that'll do well in your area. Shop the right cold hardiness zone for where you’re planting to ensure your flowers and plants will thrive.
Find Plants for Your Planting Zone
Your local Lowe's stocks plants selected to thrive in your growing zone. Some plants listed for a zone that's warmer than your area can still make beautiful seasonal additions to your landscape as annuals.
Find out more about cold hardiness zones, and learn about thousands of plants in the Lowe's Plant Guide.
Use Your Hardiness Zone to Shop for Plants
As you’re shopping for plants, check the plant tags. If a plant is listed for a hardiness zone equal to or lower than your zone, it’s suitable for your location — hardy for your zone — and will typically survive cold temperatures in your area. If the plant tag indicates a hardiness zone higher than your zone, it likely won’t survive the coldest temperatures in your area.
The hardiness zone you see on a tag is based on the plant being planted in the ground. The soil for plants in pots and planters won’t be as warm as the ground. If you’re looking for container plants that’ll survive cold temperatures in your area, shop for plants that are suited for two zones lower than yours.
In addition to a plant's hardiness zone, Lowe's plant tags give you tips on planting and display our Grow Together codes to help you identify plants and flowers that can grow side by side to create an eye-catching landscape design. How to Read a Plant Tag explains what you can learn about your plants.
Other Considerations When Shopping for Plants
While the USDA hardiness zones are great guides for finding the best plants, there are a few things to keep in mind. The zones are general. Cold spells may drop temperatures below the annual minimums, and microclimates may differ from the surrounding zone. Other factors may affect the way a plant performs even within its hardiness zone. Soil that retains a lot of moisture may make plants less hardy than they would be in well-drained soil. On the other hand, a good layer of mulch can help a plant tolerate cold better than its hardiness zone indicates. Other factors, such as exposure to wind and sun or even how close the plant is to a building, can affect how a plant will perform.
Ready to Plant?
Once you choose your plants, it's time to start planting. Add a planting bed to your landscape, build your own raised planting bed or start a container garden. We can also show you how to plant a tree or start your own rose garden.