US Department of Agriculture

Northeast Ohio Hardiness Zones

Understanding Northeast Ohio's

Plant Hardiness Zones

What USDA Plant Hardiness Zone am I in? Will my new plant survive the winter where I live in Cleveland, Akron-Canton, Youngstown, or the general Northeast Ohio area? These are questions we hear a lot from customers, who want to know how hardy their new perennials, trees, and shrubs are, and if they’ll be able to withstand our region’s cold winter temperatures. Scroll to learn what zone we’re in, how to recognize what zone a plant can handle, and tips for ensuring your plants make it through our windy winters.

our zone range

Here in Northeast Ohio, we experience a range of zones, courtesy of Lake Erie and its legendary “lake effect” which impacts air temperatures across the seasons. Look at this map illustration with key and find where you live and what average low air temperatures you can expect. These are averages of the minimum temperatures that occurred between 1990 and 2020.

Zone 6a | Average winter temperatures -10° F to -5° F

Zone 6b | Average winter temperatures -5° F to 0° F

Zone 7a | Average winter temperatures 0° F to 5° F

Printable Zone Map

reading labels on

Plant Tags

When reading a plant tag, you may notice a zone noted. This means the plant is hardy (able to survive) down to the average low temperature range for that zone. For example, the plant Helleborus ‘Rio Carnival’ shown denotes a hardiness zone of 4-9. That means the plant can survive year-round in areas where the average low temperature gets as low as -30° F or warmer. The lower the number, the more severe cold treatment a plant can withstand.

we grow for your zone

The great news is, all of the trees & shrubs you find at Petitti Garden Centers were grown locally at our farms in Lake County, with the majority of them being hardy to zone 5. In many cases, the plants we opt to grow are hardy down to zones 4, 3, and even 2! This means you can have great confidence that the plants you purchase from Petitti’s are made to survive & thrive for the long-term here in our Northeast Ohio climate.

Variables to

remember

Here in Northeast Ohio, some plants labeled for zones 5-6 hardiness still benefit from some amount of winter protection. Zones reflect the AVERAGE minimum winter temperature, so lower temperatures are possible from year to year. Also, winter winds can be rather desiccating here in Northeast Ohio, whipping around enough to dry out and cause die-back on some zone-hardy plants. So for some plants that are more openly exposed or susceptible to wind (we’re looking at you, Hydrangea macrophylla), it’s a good idea to offer winter protection starting in late fall, applying an anti-desiccant spray like Wilt-Stop®, mulch, and burlap.

Watch Hydrangea Winter Protection Video

What about plants for

higher zones?

When you purchase a plant tagged with a higher number (indicating a warmer zone), take this as a clear indication that the plant will require protection from our Northeast Ohio winter elements in order to survive. That means bringing it inside the garage and covering/wrapping, or wintering over inside your living space where it will be offered stable, warm, average household temperatures. Fruiting fig trees are a gardener’s favorite in our area and a good example of a tree that requires winter protection.

How to Overwinter Figs

So, when is it safe to plant

This vs. That?

When it comes to zone-hardy material, you can plant in early spring as soon as the soil is workable. Here in Northeast Ohio, that’s as early as mid-March, right around the first official date of spring.

 

When it comes to plant material we’d consider “tender” for our area, you really want to wait to install them in the the ground until the average last-frost date has passed. Here in Northeast Ohio, that’s generally May 15.

bringing it all together

Any plant that’s hardy down to zone 5 is a great choice to grow and enjoy here in Northeast Ohio. If it’s labeled hardy to zones 6a or 6b, that’s also fine, but pay attention to where you live on the map, take into consideration the likelihood of micro-zones within a zone, and consider offering winter protection. If you’re unsure, as always, ask a horticultural expert from Petitti’s!

 

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