Starting a successful garden begins with knowing your planting zone. These maps can help.

Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford joins The Current to break down a stark reality: the types of plants grown in Illinois will change over the next 50 years.

The magnitude of change in the new maps really surprised me since it just reflects the last 30 years,” says Illinois State Climatologist Dr. Trent Ford.

Under the 2012 map, most of central Illinois north of Springfield was listed in the 5b zone. A large number of counties previously included in that zone have shifted into 6a.

The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is the standard by which gardeners and growers can determine which perennial plants are most likely to thrive.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s new plant hardiness zone map updated in November. The map was updated for the first time in a decade, and it shows the impact that climate change will have ...

Plant hardiness zone map an important, but not tell-all tool for gardeners The 2023 map is about 2.5 degrees warmer than the 2012 map, translating into about half of the country shifting to a ...

The USDA recently released a new version of its Plant Hardiness Zone Map, updating this valuable tool for gardeners.

But the newest update to the plant hardiness map, in which half the country shifted to warmer zones, is a stark reminder that the climate is changing and changing fast.

Itching to get your hands dirty in the garden? USDA releases new Plant Hardiness Zone Map The 2023 map uses data from 13,412 weather stations from 1991 to 2020.