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Hardiness Zones or climate zones will help you understand which plants will most likely survive where you live. It is important that your plants can thrive year-round, surviving extreme temperatures.
Zone maps do have shortfalls; if the information is inaccurate, you may live in a microclimate. Soil, moisture, humidity, heat, wind, and other conditions also affect the viability of individual plants.
Here are three zone maps to reference:
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The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is generally considered the standard measure of plant hardiness. The map divides North America into 11 areas based on a 10°F difference in the average minimal fahrenheit temperatures.
The National Arbor Day Foundation Hardiness Zone Map is another reference. In general, this map relies on a data set that reflects warmer recent temperatures in many parts of the country.
The Agriculture Canada Plant Hardiness Zones Map outlines the different zones in Canada where plants will most likely survive. Unlike the USDA map which is based only on minimum winter temperatures, the Agriculture Canada map considers a wider range of climatic variables, including maximum temperatures and the length of the frost-free period.
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I believe the USDA has
I believe the USDA has updated the Plant Hardiness Zone Map in the past year. You may want to double check and see the differences between the one you have on your Website and what the USDA is now using. Thank you.