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Plant Hardiness
The concept of hardiness is of most significance in regions with cold winters. The lowest temperature that a plant can survive regulates where it can be grown successfully. Tender plants cannot survive a frost and therefore can only be grown in regions or seasons that are frost free. Most bedding plants (Pelargonium, Impatiens etc.) fall into this category. Hardy plants can survive a frost. The extent to which they can tolerate cold weather depends upon a mix of species physiology, duration and magnitude of sub-zero temperatures, soil type/drainage and numerous other factors. Hardiness zones have been defined for Europe and the USA based on isotherm maps joining areas of equal low winter temperatures. These are useful as guidelines but local conditions can vary a great deal, making the maps of limited practical use. US zone map follow this link - http://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/ushzmap.html |
European zone map, follow this link - http://www.gardenweb.com/zones/europe/ In this website, plants are classified according to the abbreviations and definitions given below. Half hardy plants = plants requiring protection during winter. Hardy plants = capable of passing their whole life without protection (not normally applied to bulbs). Tender or greenhouse plants = not capable of withstanding frost conditions. Abbreviations for plant hardiness: HA = hardy annual HHA = half hardy annual GA = greenhouse annual HP = hardy perennial HHP = half hardy perennial GP = greenhouse perennial HB = hardy biennial HHB = half hardy biennial HS = hardy shrub HHS = half hardy shrub GS = greenhouse shrub HC = hardy climber HHC = half hardy climber GC = greenhouse climber |