Though we’ve started the new year with cold and snowy days, many gardeners are starting to plan their spring gardens. One step in this process is knowing which perennial plants will thrive in their area. A great planning resources is the Plant Hardiness Zone Map. The Plant Hardiness Zone Map is a tool gardeners use to identify which plants are going to be most successful in a given area. The first update to the map in over 10 years may have gardeners experimenting with plants they haven’t previously considered.

Chris Daly, Director of Oregon State University’s PRISM Climate Group, said “the 2023 map is about 2.5 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than the 2012 map across the contiguous U.S.” (NPR, 2023). According to the USDA the 2023 map is more accurate than previous versions. It was developed by the USDA’s Agricultural Research Services and the PRISM Climate Group “using 30-year averages of the lowest annual winter temperatures at specific locations. The map is divided into 10-degree Fahrenheit zones and divided again into 5-degree Fahrenheit half-zones. (USDA, 2023)” The map is available online at: https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/.

So what does the new map say for College Park? According to the 2023 map, our region has shifted from Zone 7a to Zone 7b. So, as you start planning your 2024 gardens whether produce or flowers, you might come across some new plants to try! Happy Gardening.