Know Your Hardiness Zone - Plant Hardiness Zones in Canada

 

The "Plant Hardiness Zone Map of Canada" describes the different zones in Canada in which various types of trees, shrubs and plants are most likely to survive based on their natural resistance.

These zones are defined according to the average climatic conditions of each region.

Referring to it is a great starting point if you're wondering if a particular plant will overwinter (survive the cooler temperatures) in your area.

Using this map, you can choose the best plants that will be more likely to thrive in your area.

For example, when a plant is said to be perennial in zones 3 to 5, it means that if you live in an area within that range, that plant will be suitable for your location.

The data and information on the zone map here merely reflects the most recent data collected and presented by Natural Resources Canada.

Gardeners should understand that this map is only a guide and not a guarantee of gardening success, as climatic conditions are constantly changing and many other factors can affect the success and failure of plants.

In addition to using this map for reference, we recommend consulting with other gardeners who have "hands-on" experience with the weather and gardening patterns in your area.

We invite you to consult our sowing calendar for market gardening, which has been precisely developed over the years for our regional climate. If you are in a warmer climate zone, eg. Quebec or Montreal or zone 5, you can advance the exterior and interior work by one to three weeks. If you are in a colder climate zone, eg. Sept-îles or zone 3, you keep the same times for indoor sowing, but delay outdoor work by at least a week.

Along with year-to-year climatic variations, microclimates can also play a role in determining the right plants for your garden.

Microclimates, which are small areas of varying weather patterns within larger areas, can be caused by the local geography of the area, such as hills and valleys, as well as variations in solar and wind exposure. Even buildings and roadways in urban areas can create relatively small microclimates that can potentially produce different gardening results.

The newly modified Canadian hardiness zone map is divided into ten main zones: the hardest is 0 and the softest is 9 (the southern tip of Vancouver Island). Relatively few plants are suitable for zones 0 and 1.