In gardening circles when people talk about Zones or ask you what Zone you live in they are asking about the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Hardiness refers to a plant's ability to tolerate temperatures. In this case we're talking, mostly, about a plant's ability to survive a winter in Chicago and return the next spring. Currently, Chicago is categorized as being Zone 5b where minimum temperatures range from -10 to -15° F.
The back of a plant label will usually indicate a plant's hardiness either in temperature or to a zone. One thing I find a little annoying about the big box garden centers is that they will often sell plants that aren't hardy to our area. A person new to gardening or just looking to spruce up their garden, patio, deck or porch will buy these plants and they have no idea that they will not survive a winter outdoors in Chicago. If the plant you are interested in buying doesn't have a label that clearly states if the plant is hardy to our area and if the staff at the garden center/nursery don't know the answer either--shop somewhere else.
Rumor has it that in the next update of the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map Chicago will be bumped to a Zone 6.
Filed under: Starting a Garden
Tags: What to plant in Chicago
