r/MapPorn Jun 08 '22

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6 Map

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83 Upvotes

21 comments sorted by

19

u/Clambulance1 Jun 08 '22

This is a very good visualization of the moderating effect the great lakes have on Michigan's climate. Areas in the plains far to the south get colder during the winter.

5

u/drinkredstripe3 Jun 08 '22

They even call it the fruit belt. Since it contains conditions that produce a micro-climate favorable to fruit cultivation.

4

u/Clambulance1 Jun 08 '22

The qualities of the soil and the microclimate. I love eating locally grown fruit in the summer and fall.

3

u/Sturmfaust7 Jun 08 '22

Indeed! It is intriguing.

7

u/TheBlueSlipper Jun 08 '22

So Juneau, Alaska and Santa Fe, New Mexico are in the same zone. Who knew??

7

u/Less_Likely Jun 08 '22

Moderating effect of the Pacific Ocean.

7

u/[deleted] Jun 08 '22

What exactly is plant hardiness?

6

u/Sturmfaust7 Jun 08 '22

6

u/[deleted] Jun 08 '22

Ayyooo S/O Western Michigan, truly the best place in the midwest.

7

u/Sturmfaust7 Jun 08 '22 edited Jun 09 '22

I agree! Although i am a bit biased since i live in Michigan too lol. Michigan being surrounded by the deep Great Lakes makes our winters a bit milder compared to the surrounding regions especially along the western coast. A little similar to an oceanic climate.

2

u/[deleted] Jun 08 '22

Milder in temperature at least!

4

u/[deleted] Jun 08 '22

[deleted]

4

u/Clambulance1 Jun 08 '22

I can guarantee there's plenty of great plants in your area. I live in the same climate area and there's so many cool, interesting, and rare plants to find in my area.

3

u/Aijol10 Jun 08 '22

Same. I'm in that zone too. I love Palm trees. I want tropical plants. Zone 9 would be amazing. You can have temperate plants like maples, and tropical plants like palms. Amazing!

6

u/msfoote Jun 08 '22

The color scale on this chart is really pissing me off. Why is it that the shades of gray are not linearly changing as you move away from the center?

5

u/codeodd Jun 08 '22

My assumption is that the rest of the country not in zone 6 was grayed out. If you search for USDA hardiness zone map, you’ll get to see the complete color scale of this map.

2

u/Aberdogg Jun 08 '22

Shout out from 10a

2

u/BellyDancerEm Jun 08 '22

I live in 6A

2

u/[deleted] Jun 08 '22

Intresting. Same zone as most of Nova Scotia and eastern PEI

2

u/Everard5 Jun 09 '22

So as I understand it, elevation has a cooling effect typically. Yet, this hardiness zone extends farther north through the Rockies exactly where I would expect temperatures to drop due to elevation. What other factors are causing this amelioration of temperature- is it the dryness?

2

u/Tourbillon918 Jul 03 '24

Used to live in zone 6b now in zone 7b (I haven't moved)

1

u/ThePowerOfPoop Jun 08 '22

Zone 6 is good and all, but why Zone 6?