You no doubt have seen news that the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map was just updated, and that half the country once again got reclassified a half-zone warmer—just as many of us did after the previous update of the map, in 2012. But what does it all mean to gardeners practically speaking?
Dr. Todd Rounsaville is a USDA research scientist and horticulturist who was involved in the years-long project that led to the creation of the new map, and he helped me drill in to what it reveals, and to other factors affecting plant hardiness.
Todd, who heads the U.S. National Arboretum Germplasm Program, acted as chairman of the technical review team for the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, a group of about 40 people across country.
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