US National Arboretum
 

Indicator Plant Examples Listed by Zone

 
Cold Hardiness Ratings for Selected Woody Plants

Representative plants are listed under the coldest zones in which they normally succeed.

Zone Ratings -- Average Annual Minimum Temperature Range
Zone 1    Zone 2    Zone 3    Zone 4    Zone 5    Zone 6    Zone 7    Zone 8    Zone 9    Zone 10   
 

Zone 1
Below -45.6 C/Below -50 F
Betula glandulosa
  (Dwarf birch)
Empetrum nigrum  (Crowberry)
Populus fremuloides  (Quaking aspen)
Potentilla pensylvanica  (Pennsylvania cinquefoil)
Rhododendron lapponicum  (Lapland rhododendron)
Salix reticulate  (Netleaf willow) 

Zone 2
-50 to -40 F/-45.6 to -40 C
Betula papyrifera  (Paper birch)
Cornus canadensis  (Bunchberry dogwood)
Elaeagnus commutata  (Silverberry)
Larix laricina  (Eastern larch)
Potentilla fruticosa  (Bush cinquefoil)
Viburnum trilobum  (American cranberry bush) 

Zone 3
-40 to -30 F/-40 to -34.5 C
Berberis thunbetgii  (Japanese bayberry)
Elaeagnus angustifolia  (Russian olive)
Junipercus communes  (Common juniper)
Lonicera tatarica  (Tatarian honeysuckle)
Malus baocata  (Siberian crabapple)
Thuia occidentalis (American arborvitae)

Zone 4
-30 to -20 F/-34.5 to -28.9 C
 Acer saccharum  (Sugar maple)
Hydrangea paniculata  (Panicle hydrangea)
Juniperus chinensis  (Chinese juniper)
Ligustrum amurense  (Amur River privet)
Parthenocissus quinquefolia  (Virginia creeper)
Spiraea x vanhouttei  (Vanhouffe spirea) 

Zone 5
-20 to -10 F/-28.9 to -23.3 C
Cornus florida  (Flowering dogwood)
Deutzia gracilis  (Slender deutzia)
Ligustrum vulgare  (Common privet)
Paithenocissus tricuspidata  (Boston ivy)
Rosa multiflora  (Japanese rose)
Taxus cuspidata  (Japanese yew)

 Zone 6
-10 to 0 F/-23.3 to -17.8 C
 Acer palmatum  (Japanese maple)
Buxus sempervirens  (Common boxwood)
Euonymus follunei  (Winter creeper)
Hedera helix  (English ivy)
Ilex opaca  (American holly)
Ligustrum ovalifolium  (California privet) 

Zone 7
0 to 10 F/-17.8 to -12.3 C
Acer macrophylium  (Bigleaf maple)
Rhododendron Kurume hybrids   (Kurume azalea)
Cedrus atlantica  (Atlas cedar)
Cotoneaster microphylla  (Small-leaf cotoneaster)
Ilex aquifolium  (English holly)
Taxus baccata  (English yew)

Zone 8
10 to 20 F/-12.3 to -6.6 C
Arbutus unedo  (Strawberry tree)
Choisya temata  (Mexican orange)
Olearia haastii  (New Zealand daisy-bush)
Pittosporum tobira  (Japanese pittosporum)
Prunus laurocerasus  (Cherry-laurel)
Viburnum tinus  (Laurestinus)

Zone 9
20 to 30 F/-6.6 to -1.1 C
Asparagus setacous  (Asparagus fern)
Eucalyptus globulus  (Tasmanian blue gum)
Syzygium paniculatum  (Australian bush cherry)
Fuchsia hybrids  (Fuchsia)
Grevillea robusta  (Silk-oak)
Schinus molle  (California pepper tree) 

Zone 10
30 to 40 F/-1.1 to 4.4 C
Bougainvillea spectabilis  (Bougainvillea)
Cassia fistula  (Golden shower)
Eucalyptus citriodora  (Lemon eucalyptus)
Ficus elastica  (Rubber plant)
Ensete ventricosum  (Ensete)
Roystonea regia  (Royal palm)

 

USDA Miscellaneous Publication No. 1475.  Issued January 1990.
Authored by Henry M. Cathey while Director, U.S. National Arboretum
Edited, formatted and prepared for the US National Arboretum website by Ramon Jordan, March 1998 and revised March 2001
U.S. National Arboretum, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20002

Note:  This publication is not copyrighted, and permission to reproduce all or any part of it is not required.

   
 

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