USDA climate zone map updated

[Foggy Paul]

Do people know about this? Apparently the map was updated in November to reflect the last 30 years of climate data, and quite a few areas have been upgraded. Link for those who can access Washington Post articles: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/interactive/2024/climate-change-backyards-plants-birds-migration/?itid=hp_opinions_p002_f001

And a link to the new map: https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/?itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template You can search for your zip code and see whether it has changed.

Sadly (or not), our zone remains 10a, cooler than most of San Francisco which is 10b.

 

[Leelanau Palms]

Yes. Search for the already existing long thread regarding this here on Palmtalk.

[Foggy Paul]

I did do a search before posting but didn't see it. I'll try again. Thanks.

[ruskinPalms]

Hi Foggy! I have the best luck using good old Google to search palmtalk. Try a Google search such as “palmtalk usda zone map” etc and you can go down the rabbit hole so many of us have gone down here in this forum… good luck! 🍀 

[Foggy Paul]

Yep, I found it using Palmtalk search. Gave up a little too soon the first time.

 

[flplantguy]

I second google with "palmtalk" in it. You will get better direct results than the search here which is less exact and harder to use.

[James B]

Hi Foggy Paul! What you are talking about with SF shows the flaws in the USDA zones as it only reflects lows.

Perfect example would be Roystonea Regia.

You and I are both 10a however if a Royal was able to grow in SF it would grow very slowly and have challenges with being happy as it requires lots of sun, high heat(over 90F) and water. Whereas here in Rancho it is the fastest growing palm available in my 10A climate growing faster in summer than any King Palm. 
 

I’ve found the best way is to cross reference the USDA map with the California Sunset Zone map for best results.

You may already know this and if so my apologies!

For me in my new garden I was happy to see it shift to hard 10a vs 10a/9b with the new USDA map. Which is pretty awesome considering I’m at 2100 fr elevation.

[Bkue]

Does this explain the recent addition of coconuts and clusia at HD and Lowe’s in cfla? Seen many over the last year. 

[James B]

10 hours ago, Bkue said:

Does this explain the recent addition of coconuts and clusia at HD and Lowe’s in cfla? Seen many over the last year. 

I left Orlando in 2004. In 20 years I’m sure Cocos can survive at least for several years in a sunny spot. It’s those freakish 10-20 year winters that drop into low 20s that would pose a risk. Aside from that I’d expect you’ll see more of them being used in the area.

[James B]

Looking at cold data the last time Orlando dipped into the low 20s was the winter of 89. So barring a freak cold event, I only see the lows rising with more concrete and higher population counts.

[flplantguy]

The urban areas dont get to low 20s any more, but outside the main urban areas still can and does.  Its all in the location here too now, just not quite as subtle as much of Cali can be.  2022 was upper 20s where 1989 was 20 or less, even in warm spots and they were supposedly the same strength event, so the hardiness map is a hard sell now here for some people.  It needs another kind of update, but its more for basic gardeners than a hobbyist or professional anyway.

[Johnny Palmseed]

There is so much more to growing palms than zone maps. These should be used only as a guide at best. Just like @James B pointed out, certain palms require more than just minimum temperatures to thrive. In my opinion, the zone maps are a good starting point to determine what might be possible in your area. Coconuts in zone 8? No way. Zone 9? Maybe. Zone 10? Also maybe. And remember that these maps are based on past averages. It doesn’t mean that these are new minimum temperatures for the future. The cold will eventually come again and will wipe out everything that was zone pushed.

[sonoranfans]

Not a useful map, they have 10a extending way inland near my place.  I do think my place, formerly 9B /10a line is 10a now as we have not been below 30 since 2010(28F).  The highway traffic has exploded int heat time and building has been among the fastest areas in the country recently.  Maybe that constant traffic jam on 75S near me has warmed the area up.  When I moved here in 2010 it was considered rural, cant say that now.  Big stores all over the area now.  I used to have to drive 12 miles toa  big box store, now its less than 4 miles.  4 grocery stores withing 4 miles now, but just one in 2010.

[kinzyjr]

For anyone reading, here are a couple of the links concerning the new USDA Zone Map:

• General 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map Discussion
• 2023 USDA Zone Map for Florida

[Bkue]

On 3/14/2024 at 10:10 AM, James B said:

I left Orlando in 2004. In 20 years I’m sure Cocos can survive at least for several years in a sunny spot. It’s those freakish 10-20 year winters that drop into low 20s that would pose a risk. Aside from that I’d expect you’ll see more of them being used in the area.

Not saying anything about the practicality of it. Although I personally zone push. The real question is this a blind corporate decision based on the new maps? These plants don’t survive long term out of zone and have not been commercially available at big box for a long time if ever. 

[kinzyjr]

1 hour ago, Bkue said:

Not saying anything about the practicality of it. Although I personally zone push. The real question is this a blind corporate decision based on the new maps? These plants don’t survive long term out of zone and have not been commercially available at big box for a long time if ever. 

We had a lull in coconut availability after the January 2010 cold snap.  The big box stores didn't carry them for a few years after that and I had to run to Vero Beach to get them.  After a few years, they started showing up on the shelves again.  Nowadays, it's easy to walk into a store and get a coconut with some trunk here.  Then there is the coconut farm in Frostproof that will sell and deliver mature coconuts.  A lot of people take advantage of that since they know at some point they'll end up replacing it and they want a specimen palm.

[Bkue]

27 minutes ago, kinzyjr said:

We had a lull in coconut availability after the January 2010 cold snap.  The big box stores didn't carry them for a few years after that and I had to run to Vero Beach to get them.  After a few years, they started showing up on the shelves again.  Nowadays, it's easy to walk into a store and get a coconut with some trunk here.  Then there is the coconut farm in Frostproof that will sell and deliver mature coconuts.  A lot of people take advantage of that since they know at some point they'll end up replacing it and they want a specimen palm.

I would love it if it became regular around me to see them. Seeing more royals over the years around here including myself. That said, you really need to get to Viera area on 95 and it’s like a definitive line. All sorts including mature royals show up everywhere.