view cart • checkout

Home > Learn > What Zone Am I In? Hardiness Zone Map

What Zone Am I In? Hardiness Zone Map

All plants have a range in which they can survive. For example, plant a palm tree in Siberia and guess how long it would survive the cold. Or plant a fern in a desert and see how it does. The same concept holds true for roses -- if left to their own devices, not all roses will live in all climates. Some like it warmer, and some like it cooler.

To help us figure out what to plant where, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) created a Map that divides the U.S. into various Hardiness Zones. These Zones are determined by the coldest winter temperatures on average for a particular area. This coldest temperature is often the primary factor in deciding what plants can grow where. You can see which Zone you're in by looking at the map below.

Spring Valley Roses is located in the northern edge of Zone 4, which has an average lowest winter temperature range of -30 to -20. However, we can reach Zone 3 temperatures (-40 to -30) more often than not, which makes us consider moving to Iowa. This discrepancy with the USDA's Zone determinations is due to the effect of microclimates. Most folks know that it's usually colder in a valley than it is on top of the hill overlooking the valley. We're in a valley that collects cold air on still nights. Thus, we're in a colder microclimate than our neighbors up on the hill. Cold air settles, warm air rises.

Want to see more specifics about your area? See the interactive plant-hardiness map on USDA's Web site.

USDA Hardiness Zones and Average Annual Minimum Temperature Range