Will it grow here?

11 years ago

A common question often not well-answered by reputable nurseries, much less the big box stores. Plants with labels usually only have the USDA cold-tolerance information. And while we have frosts that kill now and then, the most important factor to most of us in the USDA 9 a/b+ & Sunset 13+ is heat-tolerance. Cold is a quick killer; heat kills slowly, torturing plants to death.

This article was written by a New Englander, but it's full of good info, plus links to both the USDA map and the AHS's Heat Zone map. These are great references, but not the final word on "will it grow here?" as that depends on much, much more. I'd love to hear commentary on this subject, especially from those who always dare to push the envelope.

Here is a link that might be useful: Will it grow here?

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Comments (5)

tomatofreak
Original Author
11 years ago
For those who haven't seen it, here's the AHS Heat Zone map.

Here is a link that might be useful: Heat Zone Map
grant_in_arizona
11 years ago
Totally good points! I'm sure you're right that a lot of people forget about taking heat into consideration. I love how you describe it as a slow torture to some plants, LOL. So true!

I do see more and more plants listing heat zone hardiness too, and there's also a very good book about heat-zone gardening too (I'll add the link below). Thanks for highlighting this important factor in our gardening successes (and failures, LOL). Happy gardening, Grant.

Here is a link that might be useful: Heat Zone Gardening book
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Pagancat
11 years ago
Heat, and lack of humidity. I think that is what gets most of the broader leaved plants from "back east", seeing as many of them can take a good amount of heat.

I'm seeing Heucheras rated for zone 9, but I'm betting that's not *our* zn 9....
lazy_gardens
11 years ago
That's why Sunset developed their own maps. Any scheme that puts Phoenix AZ and Tampa FL into the same agricultural classification is fatally flawed.
Pagancat
11 years ago
Exactly!