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About Tennessee Plant Hardiness and the USDA Planting Map
If you live in Tennessee and are wondering about what kind of trees, shrubs or perennial flowers to put in your yard and garden, use the Tennessee USDA zone map above to locate your plant hardiness zone. Understanding your zone is critical to the success of your garden.
The 2012 plant hardiness map replaces the 1990 map and is based on weather information collected over a period of thirty years. Some parts of the country experienced a shift in zones due to a warming winter temperature trend. This warming trend opens up new possibilities for gardeners in some parts of the country.
Click on the Tennessee planting map above to find your zone. Zones in the state include 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b and 8a. When shopping for plants, it is useful to know your zone information. Plants that are suitable for your zone will be able to survive winter extreme temperatures as defined by the USDA plant hardiness zone map. This low temperature data is critical to the survival of particular plants in a region. If a plant cannot survive the average extreme low in an area, it should not be planted.
While most local garden stores will carry only those plants that are appropriate for your Tennessee zone, it is always good to check before you make a purchase. Some plants that are not suitable for your winter temperatures can be treated as an annual or brought inside for the winter months.
