The USDA updated their plant zone maps. It's absolutely nuts

[NickB79]

If you don't know, the USDA maintains a database of climate records that it uses to classify different parts of the US based on average winter low temperatures. This is extremely useful because you need to know your zone to determine what types of plants will survive in your area.

https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/?fbclid=IwAR2qwFS7vm40qUyP8kJT4A_Wc46g4Yqar9CTCWzJI-SE-pyA8m2-_wFQIwA

So, I'm in Southeast Minnesota. The ancient 1990 hardiness map listed us then as 4a, meaning you could expect -25F to -30F in a normal winter.

In 2012, my area was updated to 4b, meaning -20 to -25.

Yesterday it was updated to 5a, meaning -15 to -20 is our new normal winter low.

That's very close to what Kansas City, Missouri was on the 1990 zone map. I'm 400 miles north of Kansas City!

That's an insane change in winter lows in less than 40 years. All the gardening groups I'm on via Facebook are losing their minds over this.

[OAITW r.2.0]

1. Thanks for posting this!

Been wondering how zone maps are changing as climate change accelerates.

[NickB79]

5. I'll put it this way: I only buy trees from the Missouri DNR now

Instead of the Minnesota DNR tree sale program. I typically plant 100-200 tree seedlings a year for habitat restoration on family land. I started 20 yr ago. I also grow a lot from seed I either collect, buy or trade for on Facebook groups.

I realized a few years ago the climate the trees here in Minnesota evolved for is gone. The trees currently growing here, that the MN DNR keep using for seed, are zombies. They won't cope with the climate of 2050, much less 2100.

Instead of the white pine, black cherry and bur oak the Minnesota forestry dept sells, I'm planting bald cypress, sweet gum, tupelo and chestnut oak from Missouri. I have pawpaws and persimmons from northern Illinois. Chestnuts from Iowa. Pecans from an experimental grove the U of MN planted in the 70's.

And they're all thriving. Our climate is GALLOPING towards a new epoch.

[OAITW r.2.0]

9. On the 45th parallel in Central Maine. 50 acres, lotta pine, cedar, and some good hardwood (beech, ash, oak)

Pine seems like it's not doing well. Been on this property since 1988.

[splat]

2. Maybe the blue hydrangea buds will survive winter this year!

Thanks for the news.

[dutch777]

3. I guess glaciers, and now the USDA, do not lie.

My wife follows the wine industry and in many locations in the last 5+ years, wineries are pre-emptively buying land at higher altitudes understanding their valley locations, even close to the ocean, will no longer sustain cool climate grapes. The valleys will get warmer and the grape varieties will have to switch to match that. And the cool varieties will have to gain altitude to get the right temperature range.

[underpants]

6. This thread has been so informative

I didn’t know anything about this. This goes to the OP too.

[dweller]

4. I just got bumped to 8a

Might plant avocado , lime and olive trees … yum


✌🏻

[SharonClark]

7. Central Iowa is now 5a

Isn’t there a similar map for high temperatures?

[Brenda]

8. They have been changing for 25 years or more.

The place I live in was 7 when I moved here. Then it became 7A, then 7B, now 8.

Everyone who has a garden has known this for many years.

Losing your mind now sounds like they just now became woke.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

10. Sanitized link...

https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/

Doesn't need the facebook trackback.