USDA updates hardiness zone map for the first time in over a decade – here's what it means for your garden

Pink wild flower poppies and seed pods.

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released a new version of its plant hardiness zone map, marking the first time the map has been updated in 11 years. 

The 2023 version of the map reveals that temperatures in almost half of the country warmed between 0 and 5 degrees Fahrenheit, meaning many gardeners may find they can successfully grow new varieties of vegetables, shrubs and flowers, which would have otherwise suffered in a colder climate.