Staff Answer
Sep 01, 2021 - 07:07 AM
What we mean by "overwintering" in the context of hardiness zones is the ability to keep the plant outside during the winter. The zones themselves refer to the USDA's hardiness zones, which divide the country up into zones dependant on what the lowest, average winter temperature of that particular area is.
For example, New York City's hardiness zone is 7. This means that, on average, the lowest temperature that zone gets during the winter is 0°F. Meanwhile, Phoenix, AZ hardiness zone is 9, which means it's lowest average temperature is much higher than New York's, at 20°F.
Plants are also assigned hardiness zone numbers that tell a grower how low of a temperature that plant can tolerate. For instance, Sedum dasyphyllum has a hardiness zone number of 7, and therefore would grow well in New York City. Meanwhile, string of dolphins has a hardiness zone of 10, so New York City would get too cold in the winter to keep it outside.
For example, New York City's hardiness zone is 7. This means that, on average, the lowest temperature that zone gets during the winter is 0°F. Meanwhile, Phoenix, AZ hardiness zone is 9, which means it's lowest average temperature is much higher than New York's, at 20°F.
Plants are also assigned hardiness zone numbers that tell a grower how low of a temperature that plant can tolerate. For instance, Sedum dasyphyllum has a hardiness zone number of 7, and therefore would grow well in New York City. Meanwhile, string of dolphins has a hardiness zone of 10, so New York City would get too cold in the winter to keep it outside.
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