Some plants wait dormant through the coldest of all winters and emerge fresh and ready to grow in the spring. Others will be singed by a chilly breeze and wiped out by a light frost. So how do we know where plants fit on this spectrum?
The USDA has divided the country into 13 zones, depending on the average coldest winter temperature. These zones are shown in bands on the USDA Hardiness Zone map and numbered zone 1 (with the coldest winters) to zone 13 (with the warmest winters). But how do we choose the right plants that will be happy in the backyard conditions of US hardiness zone 9? We all need a little guidance and advice on which trees, shrubs, perennials and other plants are naturally adapted to the winters in our individual situations.
