(Based on average minimum temperature)
How to use this table: Choose the temperature that is closest to the low temperature that you commonly receive year after year. Read over to the corresponding zone number for your area. Then find the zone range listed in each plant description. This tells where each plant is adaptable. Southern Michigan and southern New York are considered Zone 5 by USDA. Middle Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi are called Zone 8. Most of our plants are hardy for these areas (Zones 5-8). Many are suited for even more extreme weather. Remember this is just a guide. You may have a microclimate on your land that can provide additional hardiness. Areas with well-drained soil, adequate moisture, wind protection, and bodies of water can help increase hardiness.
| Temp F | Zone |
| -50+ | 1 |
| -50 | 2 |
| -40 | 3 |
| -30 | 4 |
| -20 | 5 |
| -10 | 6 |
| 0 | 7 |
| 10 | 8 |
| 20 | 9 |
| 30 | 10 |
| 40 | 11 |
References used in compiling plant information:
MANUAL OF WOODY LANDSCAPE by Dirr 1990
LANDSCAPING FOR WILDLIFE by Henderson 1987
GIVING WILDLIFE AN EDGE by Power/Hatcher 1982
GROWING AND PROPAGATING SHOWY NATIVE WOODY PLANTS by Bir 1992
AMERICAN WILDLIFE AND PLANTS: A GUIDE TO WILDLIFE FOOD HABITS by Martin, Zim, and Nelson 1951
'GOBBLER' SAWTOOTH OAK USDA-SCS Program Aid 1407 1988
TREE CROPS: A PERMANENT AGRICULTURE by Smith 1950
MANUAL OF GRASSES OF THE UNITED STATES by Hitchcock 1071
100 NATIVE FORAGE GRASSES IN 11 SOUTHERN STATES Agriculture Handbook 389 1971
CULTIVAR REGISTRY: Hican Report 89th Annual Report of the Northern Nut Growers Assoc by Curtis 1998
TEXT BOOK OF DENDROLOGY by Harlow and Harrah 1969
THE AUDUBON SOCIETY FIELD GUIDE TO NORTH AMERICA TREES by Little 1980
MODERN FRUIT SCIENCE by Childers 1976