As a fan of all trees, shrubs, and perennials, I was excited to hear the change in the Twin Cites planting zone from 4b to 5a! See the latest USDA Updated Plant Hardiness Zone Map for details.
Zone 5, Like Zone 4, has mild summers and cold winters. We have a short growing season that lasts from late spring to mid-fall with the last frost date in early May, and the first frost date around mid-October. Our shift to Zone 5a, from 4b, was garnered from information gathered since the last USDA Map of 2012 to the latest USDA Map that was released in November of 2023. The findings show that our minimum average winter temperature has risen +5 degrees.
The shift in temperature/Zones, means that we, as plant lovers, will have a wider variety of trees, shrubs, and perennials to select from and incorporate into our landscapes. There will probably be a lot of excitement about the new varieties, but as someone who specifies plants for landscape installations, I would still be cautious, and only use plants that are rated for Zone 5a in areas that have protection.
For the Love of Plants - Kelly
