Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford joins The Current to break down a stark reality: ... Basically, the USDA's Plant Hardiness Zone Maps look at the average overnight winter temperatures.

The USDA divides the United States into seven planting regions, known as hardiness zones, which were most recently updated in 2023. The maps below show these planting regions.

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.

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 ...

On the 2012 map, central Illinois was bisected from north to south by the dividing line between zones 5b and 6a. On the new map, most of central Illinois now falls into Zone 6a, with Zone 6b ...

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently released a new version of its Plant Hardiness Zone Map, updating this valuable tool for gardeners and researchers for the first time since 2012.

The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is the standard by which gardeners and growers can determine which perennial plants are most likely to thrive. ABC7 is kicking off an ongoing series, "Climate Ready".

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s “plant hardiness zone map” was updated Nov. 16 for the first time in a decade, and it shows the impact that climate change will have on gardens and yards ...

For the first time since 2012, a new Plant Hardiness Zone Map has been released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The map, released Nov. 15, 2023, is a tool used by gardeners and growers ...

The USDA divides the United States into seven planting regions, known as hardiness zones, which were most recently updated in 2023. The maps below show these planting regions. North Central US ...