Sometimes called “growing zones” or “gardening zones,” hardiness zones refer to a map developed by the USDA that separates the United States into regions based on the average low winter temperatures.

Before venturing to the nursery, ask yourself, "What gardening zone am I in?" This important detail can make or break your planting plans. Of course, seasons look different across the country. Petals ...

The United States is divided into 13 different plant hardiness zones, each with "A" and "B" subdivisions. This is a number assigned to a plant that tells you how cold of a temperature the plant can ...

The USDA’s winter hardiness zone map has long been the standard used by home gardeners, plant breeders and researchers to determine which plants are most likely to thrive in their location, based on ...

Last month, there was big news in the plant world, and while it shows the weather has been warming in recent years in Southeastern North Carolina, you might just want to wait a few decades before ...

While this region is getting a break in winter weather this month February, the beginning of the year brought some pretty frigid temperatures. “You may not think about your plants out in the lawn or ...

Get any of our free daily email newsletters — news headlines, opinion, e-edition, obituaries and more. This winter, when you're studying gardening magazines and seed catalogs to decide what to plant ...

As you browse the garden and seed catalogs that are starting to arrive in your mailbox and read the details in the plant descriptions, you may wonder if a certain plant that really appeals to you will ...

Q: I read your article about the climate changes affecting our plant hardiness zones and realize that there can be pockets of different zones even in the same general area. Doesn't topography have a ...

When spring arrives, gardeners are ready to buy plants, and many times we are trying something new and different. View full sizeIllustration by Kenneth Harrison / The Times-Picayune One of the most ...

PURDUE EXTENSIONThis map of Indiana shows plant hardiness zones. Note how Lake Michigan affects the zones. Pay attention to hardiness zones when purchasing plants. Why do we have plant hardiness zones ...