Canadian Plant Hardiness Zones
Canada's plant hardiness zone map provides useful information about what plants can be grown in a certain area.
Why Do I Need To Know My Plant Hardiness Zone
For
gardeners this information is helpful when choosing plants for the
garden. The gardeners and the people working in nurseries and garden
centres, in your community, will be able to tell you what plant
hardiness zone you are gardening in. The plants offered for sale in
local nurseries and gardening centres will be suitable to plant in your
garden. In Northern BC we are either in zone 2 or zone 3. Click on the
map above. You will be taken to an interactive map on another website.
By using the drop down menus, the legend, and clicking on the map you
will be able to determine what plant zone you live in.
What Is A Plant Hardiness Zone
Perennials
trees and shrubs are hardy in a range of zones. In Canada we are more
concerned with the coldest zone the plant can survive in. The coldest
zone is 0 and the mildest zone is 9.
Plants that are hardy in the
colder zones cannot be grown in warmer areas because they need a cold
period to set bud, eg Peonies, Lilies and Daffodils. Camellias and
Bourgainvillea vines would not survive in northern zones because the
freezing temperatures would kill them.
Canada’s plant hardiness
zones were originally developed in the 1960’s for trees and shrubs.
Since then the zones have been re-evaluated, using seven variables,
things like amount of rain, minimum and maximum temperatures, maximum
snow depth, maximum wind gust, and plant suitability.
The new interactive map can be found by clicking here. Click anywhere on the map to zoom into a certain spot.
Remember hardiness zones are just a guide, microclimate
can make a difference, sometimes as much as a whole zone. You may find
that some plants recommended for the warmer zone, next to yours, are
able to survive in your garden. As well, zone recommendations are not
always accurate, especially for hebaceous perennials that disappear
underground during the winter
