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The two zone maps we offer here can be valuable aids for plant selection and garden planning. The plant hardiness zone map is the one most people associate with gardening, but the Canadian ecozones map can also be helpful for determining the native vegetation and wildlife associated with your geographic area.

Plant hardiness zone map

The hardiness or climatic zone map of Canada divides the country into ten zones. These zones are rated from 0, in the coldest region, to 9, in the mildest region. Ratings are based on a number of climatic conditions, most notably the coldest temperature reached and the length of the growing season. Gardeners use this map to establish which plants will survive in their "zone" based on the rating the plant has received. If your garden is in zone 5, for example, you could choose plants rated from zone 0 to zone 5.

One limitation of the hardiness zone map is that any zone can have areas within it which merit a different rating based on their local conditions or microclimate. In other words, you may have an area within your garden that deserves a higher rating due to more localized conditions. Perhaps shrubs protect one corner of your yard from cooling winds. Or maybe your property is close to a body of water that moderates the local climate. These conditions could allow plants of a higher zone to survive in certain areas of your garden.

Also, there are many conditions that need to be considered in choosing plants for your garden. Hardiness rating is just one, and not always the most important. If the soil conditions are not right, or if there is too much or too little moisture, this could have a more crucial effect on whether a particular plant thrives in a specific part of your garden. The best way to ensure that a plant is hardy is to choose those that are native to your local region.

Ecozone map

Ecozones represent areas of the country that can be defined by their general living and non- living characteristics. Living characteristics include vegetation and animals (including humans), while non-living characteristics include features such as climate, soil, water, and general landforms. Canada has been divided into 15 terrestrial ecozones.

Knowing your ecozone can help you recognize the natural features, including native plants and animals, of your area.