USDA Plant Hardiness Chart Updated

[Mikey]

The U.S. Department of Agricultural  has updated their plant hardiness map.  It is now based upon your zip code. 
 http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/

[Kittyzee]

Thanks for the map Mikey!   

[miguynmkoi]

As if planting isn't hard enough!    Thanks, Mike!  I'm in 10a!

[Sean]

Don't forget about micro climates Annette. You likely still are Zone 10B
For myself, much of Vancouver is Zone 8A but at my place, it is Zone 8B-9A. I track my own minimum winter temperatures with my own professional weather station and it is always warmer here than elsewhere in the city. I am only a few feet above sea level and very close to the ocean so I have the moderating influences of the water and a dead air zone with the tree greenbelt next door.

Cheers,
Sean

[Jerry]

Yes to micro Climates.  I feel i am 10B too. Annette. It is colder here then Lake Forrest, so you must be too.

[ponderer]

30 Years ago, when I moved into this house, we were zone 5. Ah, now I am zone 6b. I had heard that this was the case. Well, more plants to choose from!

[Michiponder]

Have to agree with there being micro climats.  When I moved to the country I found that the cold dry winds in winter made for harsh conditions that I did not encounter a few miles away.  Winters here can be variable too.  Some years have had 18" of ice and others not enough to safely walk on all winter.  Grew a variety of golden bamboo here for a few years just fine, but the first cold dry winter it was all gone long before spring.  Up here in the north many warmer area type plants can survive if they don't mind being buried under deep snow.  Unfortunatly I don't live in an area that gets consistant heavy snow cover.  Living near a body of water can make a big difference too, but even that can some times even depend on which side of the water.  Daffodils in my yard of the same variety can vary thier bloom time by over 2 weeks depending on where they are planted.  Have even had some years that were frost free in the fall as long as 2 weeks longer than 50' away.

Mikel

[MikeW]

10a as well - and I always thought I looked more like a 10b.

Zone 13 though - is that new, or global warming coming to a neighbourhood near us?

Cheers,

Mike

[Holldoll]

I'm 10a (I think I was 9 before).  I would think that L.A. would be 10b if I'm 10a for sure.