Climatic zones of Russia and Europe. USDA zones for garden roses What does frost hardiness mean for flowers 4 9

29.08.2019

The main factor determining the choice of new perennials for the garden is the climate. It is especially important to know whether this species will overwinter in a given region or not. In nurseries, a hardiness zone is usually indicated for each plant. From it you can find out how low temperatures a plant can withstand and decide whether it is worth buying.

What are hardiness zones?

Initially, the definition of climatic zones for frost resistance was developed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for the needs Agriculture. 13 climate zones have been identified based on the minimum winter temperatures by region. Then the system was refined and improved. The data is summarized in the following table:

Zone		from	before
0	a	< –53,9 °C
0	b	-53.9°C	-51.1°C
1	a	-51.1°C	-48.3°C
1	b	-48.3°C	-45.6°C
2	a	-45.6°C	-42.8°C
2	b	-42.8°C	-40.0°C
3	a	-40.0°C	-37.2°C
3	b	-37.2°C	-34.4°C
4	a	-34.4°C	-31.7°C
4	b	-31.7°C	-28.9°C
5	a	-28.9°C	-26.1°C
5	b	-26.1°C	-23.3°C
6	a	-23.3°C	-20.6°C
6	b	-20.6°C	-17.8°C
7	a	-17.8°C	-15.0°C
7	b	-15.0°C	-12.2°C
8	a	-12.2°C	-9.4°C
8	b	-9.4°C	-6.7°C
9	a	-6.7°C	-3.9°C
9	b	-3.9°C	-1.1°C
10	a	-1.1°C	1.7°C
10	b	1.7°C	4.4°C
11	a	4.4°C	7.2°C
11	b	7.2°C	10.0°C
12	a	10.0°C	12.8°C
12	b	> 12.8°C

All zones in the US and Canada have been marked on the maps, taking into account mountain climate zones and coastal areas. Later, frost resistance zones were also determined for Europe.

For Russia, they are indicated approximately and are not a recommendation for growing certain types of plants. However, every gardener must know which climatic zone of frost resistance his region belongs to, so as not to be disappointed in the spring.

More detailed map winter hardiness zones for the European part of Russia:

for China:

for Ukraine:

for Belarus:

Factors that determine the zone of frost resistance

The specific minimum winter temperatures in the region depend on the geographical latitude, on the relief, on proximity to the ocean and air humidity.

Geographic latitude determines the amount of solar radiation that the earth's surface receives. In the southern regions, it is larger, so the climate is hotter there. But this is not at all the determining factor. According to the geographical latitude, London is located north of Kyiv, but in Kyiv there are often twenty-degree frosts in winter and it belongs to the 5th zone, and in the south of England the grass turns green in winter. The south of England is classified as hardiness zone 9 due to its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and the warm Gulf Stream. In Kyiv, the climate is close to continental, with dry summers and frosty winters.

The southern coast of Crimea belongs to zone 7, and the steppe Crimea to zone 6. The mountains protect the coast from northern winds, so palm trees, cypresses, wisteria and magnolias grow on the coast, and in other parts of the peninsula they freeze in winter.

The frost resistance zones of Europe are distributed rather than from north to south, but from west to east - this is how the Atlantic affects the climate. Winters in Eastern Europe are noticeably harsher than in Western Europe.

Local conditions affecting the winter hardiness of plants

Do local conditions always correspond to the climate zone in terms of frost resistance? Many pet owners can answer this question. garden plants. Surely they will confirm that even within their region, some varieties acclimatize perfectly and develop normally in certain areas, while in neighboring ones, literally at a distance of 50 km, there are serious problems with wintering.

This is due to the terrain, the height of the snow cover in winter, and the proximity of large water bodies. For example, Quebec in Canada is in zone 4, but plants grown there are designed for zones 5 or 6. The peculiarity of Quebec is that the height of the snow cover is always high there and there are no large temperature fluctuations. Snow serves reliable protection for plants.

Another example is the small village of Waksmund in the Polish Carpathians, where temperatures often drop to -35°C in winter, where the record for the lowest winter temperatures for the region is -49°C. It is located near Krakow, where the average winter temperature is -5.5°C, and the minimum record was recorded in 1929 and it is only -32°C. The fact is that it is in the area of \u200b\u200bthis village that cold and heavy air masses from the mountains descend down the slopes, creating such a paradox.

Climatic zone and plant features

When choosing new plants for your garden, you should take into account not only the winter hardiness zone, but also the characteristics of these species. Very often, perennials for the 4th frost resistance zone do not withstand the milder winters of the 5th or 6th zone. Why is this happening?

When making a decision before buying, it is useful to carefully study the properties of the plant and recommendations for care. An example is the features of growing some ( , ). They often do not tolerate winter, but this is not due to frost. The reason is prolonged thaws. These groundcovers do not like excess moisture in cold soil. If the winter is frosty without thaws, everything is fine; if frosts alternate with thaws, they will not overwinter. The problem can be solved by planting them on slopes where water does not linger.

References to maps of climatic zones (more precisely, winter hardiness zones, or plant frost resistance zones) are often found in international horticultural reference books. Winter hardiness zones, or frost resistance zones, are a handy tool for a gardener that will help you navigate when choosing plants and, if necessary, find a suitable way to winter shelter

Climatic zones - zones of winter hardiness or frost resistance of plants

Definition 13 climatic zones (zones of winter hardiness / frost resistance of plants) was developed by the US Department of Agriculture ( USDA) based minimum winter temperatures by region. Initially climate zone system was used for the needs of agriculture, and later it began to be actively used by gardeners. This system is, first of all, convenient for such large countries as Russia, the USA and Canada, whose territories lie in several climatic zones.

Minimum winter temperatures, on the basis of which are determined climatic zones (frost resistance zones) depend both on the geographic latitude of the region and on its proximity to the ocean, as well as on the presence of mountains, lowlands, water bodies and other features of the relief. So, for example, the south of England and Kyiv are located approximately at the same geographical latitude. At the same time, the south of England belongs to hardiness zone 9 due to its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and the warm current of the Gulf Stream, and Kyiv is located on the territory of the continent, far from the ocean and belongs to climate zone 5.

When deciding on the purchase of a particular plant, it should be borne in mind that a suitable winter hardiness / frost hardiness zone does not guarantee that the plant will grow well in your garden. Gardeners should take into account factors such as soil type, rainfall, temperature differences between day and night, daylight hours, heat and humidity. Many regions with completely different types climate fall into the same climatic zone (frost resistance zone / winter hardiness zone) due to the coincidence of the maximum-low temperatures. However, not all plants will grow and develop equally well in any of these regions.

Table 13 climate zones (plant hardiness zones) USDA

USDA climate zone	Lowest temperatures (°C)
Zone 1	-45 and below
Zone 2	-45 to -40
Zone 3	-40 to -34
Zone 4	from -34 to -29
Zone 5	from -29 to -23
Zone 6	from -23 to -18
Zone 7	from -18 to -12
Zone 8	-12 to -7
Zone 9	-7 to -1
Zone 10	-1 to +4
Zone 11	+4 to +10
Zone 12	+10 to +16
Zone 13	from +16 to +21

Climatic zones of Russia and the former USSR, map (USDA frost resistance zones)

Unfortunately, detailed zones of frost resistance / winter hardiness of plants have not been developed either in the USSR or in Russia. Based on the USDA map of world climate zones and the map of European climate zones (see below), it is possible to determine the climatic zones (zones of winter hardiness / cold hardiness of plants) of Russia and the former USSR. Here is a map I collected using graphic materials from the Internet:

What are USDA hardiness zones? What are the temperature values of frost resistance zones? What zone is Moscow in? What are the frost hardiness zones in Russia? - you will find answers to questions in the article.

Knowledge of hardiness zones is often necessary when buying a previously unknown plant or some new variety supplied to the market from other countries. Foreign manufacturers always indicate these data on labels or other accompanying documents, thus recommending the temperature limits in which the plant can be grown. The division into climatic zones in our country was carried out, taking into account many other factors, therefore it is more difficult and not common. The USDA hardiness zone temperature scale is the most popular in the world.

Frost resistance zones are climatic regions that are determined according to the principle of the average temperature value of minimum temperatures. When delimiting areas of frost resistance, synoptic data for many years are used. This vertical temperature scale is used in agriculture, horticulture, landscape design- in a word, wherever there is a change of seasons or a seasonal change of conditions environment.
First developed in the United States by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA - US Department of Agriculture), the table has been improved and expanded over time. Currently, it contains 13 temperature zones, each of which has 2 subzones. Zero (in the original version) or the first zone - the area with the lowest temperatures, corresponds to the Arctic region. And 11-12-13 zones - tropical areas.

Despite some differences in the tables used in different countries, and the subjectivity of this assessment, they are used to determine the optimal conditions for plant growth. The most popular scale for climate zones, or hardiness zones, used in horticultural reference books is the USDA zone table. In 2012, the USDA hardiness zone map was updated. It presented higher minimum temperatures obtained from observations over the past 30 years, which at the same time confirms the overall warming of the climate.

USDA zones and temperature values of frost resistance zones are given in the table in degrees Celsius

However, when choosing plants, it is necessary to take into account not only climatic regions and frost resistance zones, but also other features that create a microclimate, for example, proximity to water bodies, altitude, local relief, and protection from winds.

Factors and causes affecting frost hardiness zones

Not only geographic latitude, but dozens of other factors affect minimum winter temperatures:
proximity to the ocean;
terrain;
the presence of cold or warm ocean currents;
wind protection;
the presence of hot underground springs;
plant biocenoses.
For example, in the east of Europe the climate is continental, with dry air and severe winters. At the same time, Western Europe, being closer to the Atlantic Ocean with the warm Gulf Stream, has a humid climate with mild winters. Because of this, several frost resistance zones are located at the same latitude: from 5-6 in Eastern Europe to 7-8 in the western part of the Eurasian continent.

The frost resistance zones of Russia lie within the limits from the 1st to the 8th zones. The largest part of the territory of Russia falls into zones 2-5. This applies to both the European and Asian parts of the country. But if Central Siberia is 1-2 zones, Southern Siberia is 2, then as we approach the Pacific Ocean, the same situation is observed as in Western Europe. The Far East - zones 3 and 4, and coastal areas, Sakhalin and some islands - 5 or 6 zones.

Not only frost resistance zones and the local microclimate, created, for example, by the proximity of water bodies and relief, affect the life of a grown plant. The microclimate can be influenced big cities. In megacities, houses create an artificial barrier that prevents winds. And the presence heating systems and electricity raise the average temperature in winter period 5-8 degrees. An example is the territory of Moscow and the surrounding areas: they belong to the 5th zone. At the same time, the territory of the rest of the region is a pronounced 4th zone.
The determining factor in the selection of plants can also be the height of the snow cover in winter. With an annual good cover in zone 4, it is possible to grow plants of zones 5-6.

Below is a map of Russia and the average January temperature based on the results of observations from 1961 to 1990. It can be assumed that the frost resistance zones (minimum temperature) of Russia will be geographically located within the same boundaries. Where purple is zone 1 (Verkhoyansk, Yakutsk), cornflower blue is zone 2 (Chita, Irkutsk, Krasnoyarsk), blue is zone 3, blue is zone 4 (Saratov, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky), turquoise is zone 5, green is zone 6 ( Vladivostok), light green - zone 7 (Sochi), yellow - zone 8 (Yalta).

indicator plants

Allocate the so-called group of indicator plants, which allow you to determine the zone of frost resistance. It is understood that plants are part of natural biological communities, and are not grown artificially.
Zones:
1. mosses, lichens, polar poppy
2. dwarf birch, bearberry, crowberry;
3. Siberian larch, European larch (common);
4. Western thuja, Cossack juniper, common juniper, wrinkled rose;
5. girlish grapes;
6. yew pointed; multi-flowered rose;
7. common ivy, boxwood evergreen;
8. yew berry; cotoneaster holly, cotoneaster single-petal;
9. laurel cherry;
10. fuchsia; mandarin, lemon, eucalyptus spherical;
11. rubbery ficus, lyre-shaped ficus, bougainvillea
12. guaiac tree;
13. royal palm.
Indicator plants cannot be fully indicators of frost resistance zones, since the area of plants has no boundaries confined to a particular zone. For example, western thuja grows in both 3 and 5 zones. And the cotoneaster, which is an indicator of zone 7, is grown in 6 and 5. Fuchsia and spherical eucalyptus, whose homeland South America and Australia, respectively, cannot be objective indicators of European hardiness zones.
Below is our table of hardiness zones (USDA) with sample locations and indicator plants.

Recently, the counters of shops and markets are full of exotic plants for our country. Yes, and familiar cultures are replenished with new varieties and varieties. Sellers assure that all these crops are zoned and perfectly adapted for growing in our difficult climate. But is it really so?

The climate of our country, characterized by warm or even hot summers, but cold and long winters, is naturally not suitable for all flora. Assess the ability of plants to withstand cold winter helps the concept called winter hardiness. Some (mosses and lichens) perfectly tolerate even the lowest winter temperatures, others (birch, oak) can only grow in more benign conditions, and still others (magnolia, oleander) are not at all adapted for harsh winters.

What plants are adapted to our climate knows, perhaps, every experienced gardener. But what to do with the novelties of the market, how to find out if the newly acquired green pet will survive the harsh winter? In fact, there is no problem here - reference books, documents and labels of specimens from nurseries indicate the frost resistance zone suitable for the plant. Let's see what it is.

What are frost hardiness zones

Frost resistance zones (or winter hardiness) are climatic regions of the globe suitable for growing certain types of plants. They are based on a temperature scale showing the average annual minimum temperature in degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit.

At present, the most comprehensive scale of hardiness in general use is the so-called USDA scale or zones.

USDA zones

The USDA scale was first developed by the US Department of Agriculture for the needs of farmers and horticulturists, and then the proposed zoning began to be used throughout the world. The scale includes 13 zones (from 0 to 12), each of which is divided into 2 more subzones, the boundaries of which were determined on the basis of the minimum average annual temperatures. At first, only the territory of the United States was described, and then other countries. Now all regions of the globe belong to one or another zone on the USDA scale, and all plant species are divided according to their adaptability to different climatic conditions.

For example, a plant described as "zone 10 hardy" means that it can withstand a minimum temperature of -1°C. A more resistant plant, “zone 9 hardy”, can withstand a minimum temperature of -7 °C, etc.

USDA zoning is currently the universal scale of frost resistance used by modern farms. However, it has many disadvantages and does not take into account whole line critical factors, such as:

Snow cover height. It is known that snow perfectly protects the root system of plants from frost, so crops that freeze in snowless regions can survive well where there is a lot of snow in winter.

[!] Plant breeder from Poland noticed one interesting feature: Azaleas, dying of cold in Eastern Europe, wintered well in the Moscow region, where the climate is much more severe. It turned out that the rhododendrons were protected by snow, which did not allow the root system to die.

Temperature changes. Many cultures are afraid not so much of frost as of sudden changes in temperature in winter. A sudden thaw, causing the snow to melt, and an equally sudden cold snap, leads to the death of the roots. That is why a number of plants, such as some types of bamboo, which are able to withstand very coldy, cannot survive in our climate.

[!] In the 60s of the last century, due to such a sudden drop in winter temperature (from -1°С to -29°С), the collection of maples of the Botanical Garden of Moscow State University suffered greatly.

Spring frosts are another factor hindering the cultivation of heat-loving species. In our country, this problem is especially relevant: in middle lane frosts can return even at the end of May.

[!] You don't have to look far for examples. The May cold of 2017 killed a significant part of the grapes in the Crimea.

Average annual rainfall. Humidity is an important climatic parameter that affects, among other things, the adaptation of plants. For example, some crops tolerate dry cold air but do not survive in humid climates.
Other factors: the difference between day and night temperatures, terrain (presence of uplands and lowlands), soil types, daylight hours, wind rose, etc.

Russia, divided into USDA climate zones, looks something like this:

Some cities of our country belong to the following frost resistance zones: zone 1 - Tiksi, Batagai, zone 2 - the greater territory of Russia, Krasnoyarsk, Irkutsk, Novosibirsk, zone 3 - Khabarovsk, Magadan, Vorkuta, zone 4 - Moscow and the Moscow region, Vologda, Arkhangelsk , Chelyabinsk, Ufa, zone 5 - St. Petersburg, Vladivostok, Voronezh, Bryansk, Saratov, zone 6 and 7 - Krasnodar.

As for the labels on plants from nurseries, for Moscow and St. Petersburg, you should choose crops acclimatized for zones 1-4, as well as 5a and, partially, 5b.

As you can see, USDA zoning is far from perfect, so work in this direction is constantly ongoing.

Alternatives

The flawed USDA system prompted a search for alternatives. And now they use not only the above concept, but also some others. Firstly, USDA zones have been added to and their number has been significantly increased. In addition, one of the means of determining frost resistance zones was the use of so-called "indicator plants". It is known that the range of some species is strictly limited depending on the climate, and therefore the presence of any indicator plant indicates that the territory belongs to one or another frost resistance zone.

In addition, some countries have developed their own climate maps based on long-term meteorological observations. One of these countries was the UK.

In 2012, the Royal Horticultural Society of the United Kingdom presented their plant hardiness rating. This rating describes all plants found in the UK and is widely used by English growers.

The English system of plant frost resistance consists of 9 parts:

H1a (more than 15°C) - growing in a greenhouse;
H1v (from 10 to 15°C) and H1c (from 5 to 10°C) - cultivation on outdoors only in summer;
H2 (from 1 to 5°C) - crops that can tolerate a slight drop in temperature, but are not resistant to frost;
H3 (from -5 to 1°C) - crops that tolerate the climate of the coastal regions of Great Britain;
H4 (from -10 to -5°C) - crops adapted to the climate of most of the UK;
H5 (from -15 to -10°C) - crops adapted to the climate of most of the UK and withstanding a significant drop in temperature in winter;
H6 (from -20 to -15 ° С) - frost-resistant crops that can grow throughout Northern Europe;
H7 (less than -20°C) are the most frost-resistant crops.

Frost resistance zones in the USSR and Russia

In our country, work on determining frost resistance zones began at the beginning of the 20th century, and then continued after the October Revolution. And, although at first the maps were imperfect, and the climatic regions were too generalized, in the 60s the work was continued: the number of zones increased to 42 (up to 60 together with subzones). The work was called "Tree-cultivating regions of the USSR." In addition to zoning, work was also carried out to separate plants found in the USSR according to climatic regions. The list consisted mainly of tree crops, but the number of species included in it is very large - about 700.

The data obtained by Professor AI Kolesnikov, who supervised the work, summarized in the publication "Decorative Dendrology". This book is still relevant today.

With detailed description tree-cultural regions of the USSR you can familiarize yourself with.

The work did not stop there, but the detailing of zoning continued. Other factors that affect the winter hardiness of plants began to be taken into account: not only the minimum, but also the average annual temperatures of the winter and summer months, the average and minimum humidity, evaporation and annual precipitation. The number of frost resistance zones increased to 76, and the plants recommended for each zone were divided into three groups - “main”, “additional” and “auxiliary”:

the main one is plants that are well acclimatized for the area,
additional - crops that can grow in the considered climatic zone only under the condition good care(shelters for the winter),
auxiliary - singly occurring plants.

Unfortunately, serious state research on this topic was no longer carried out, although both the climate and the range of plants have changed, and a colossal practical experience. From time to time, individual farms try to compile such maps, but due to lack of resources, their work is limited to individual areas.

How to increase the frost resistance of plants

In conclusion, I would like to give some tips from the practice of gardening. Many crops recommended for more favorable climatic zones, with proper care, it is quite possible to grow here. To increase the winter hardiness of certain species, it is recommended:

Protect the root system from frost. This can be done with the help of coniferous spruce branches, dry fallen leaves, peat, sawdust, industrial covering material. Styrofoam, which has high heat-insulating properties, has also proven itself well.
Cover not only the roots, but also the aerial part of the plant. Of course, it is difficult to protect the crown of powerful tree crops (although some gardeners manage to wrap the lower part of the trunks with cloth or polyethylene), but liana-like species and plants with flexible stems should be carefully laid on the ground and covered.

[!] It is especially important to protect young cultures, whose age is 2-3 years. Their root system is not yet fully formed and is located close to the surface of the earth.

The map of plant frost resistance zones was developed on the basis of a study by W. Heinze and D. Shreibera. In practice, the zone number placed on each plant indicates the degree of winter hardiness, the larger the number, the less frost resistance, and thus the greater the sensitivity to frost. For example, in the 7th zone, plants from the 6th zone overwinter better than plants from the 8th. For example, on the northern coast of the Black Sea, zone 6 is mainly located. This means that in this zone all plants from zones 1 to 6 can survive in winter, and for plants of zones 7 and 8 it will be too cold here. Moscow region is located in the 4th zone. This means that plants from zones 1 to 4 will be able to survive the winter here.

The information included in the description of plants determines the zone in which this plant will grow in optimal conditions. Snow may provide additional cover, but despite this, this factor was not taken into account when determining winter hardiness.

Local deviations may occur in each zone, so it is worth considering that all zones are approximate and are given for general guidance. So, in urban conditions, the climate will be half the zone to the south, compared to rural areas; proximity to large bodies of water, slopes, ridges can also have a beneficial effect on the climate, while location in valleys, lowlands and areas open to cold winds has the opposite effect.

Frost susceptibility and consequent damage to buds, foliage, and bark due to low temperatures and expansion of plant fluids depends on many factors, including topography. In addition, it is worth considering soil conditions, the availability of water and nutrients, weather conditions during summer and autumn and, accordingly, shoot growth, temperature changes during winter, spring and early summer.

With a good knowledge of the microclimate, one can choose such a protected place, for example, in the forest, on the southern slopes or in cities, where one can plant a plant that is not frost-resistant in this zone.

The distribution of plants into zones that are optimal for their growth will certainly help you in planning and choosing. planting material. But besides this, it must be taken into account that more favorable microclimatic conditions for plants can be created by providing protection from the wind and improving soil conditions.

Currently, we want to make our site even more convenient for buyers. For this, the opinion of every visitor of our site interested in choosing and buying plants is important to us. Please take a short survey with 7 questions, spending only 5-7 minutes of your time you will be of great benefit to all current and future customers of our site. Here is the link to the survey: https://www.survio.com/survey/d/X3A9H2M1R9P9G0H6K by clicking on it you can immediately answer the questions by choosing the answer options that suit you or if there are none at the bottom of the survey there is a paragraph where you can write your offer.

It must be remembered that plants are more frost-resistant at the beginning of winter (December, early January), with the approach of spring, their frost resistance decreases, and the process of "unhardening" occurs. At the same time, even very frost-resistant plants, hardened well, at the beginning of the vegetative season and leaf blooming, can be damaged even with slight frosts. Frost losses of plants most often occur in February, March, during the sunniest months, when, after a frosty night, the plants heat up and cannot withstand a sharp temperature drop. This is especially dangerous for evergreens. Covering these plants with shade cloth or spruce branches coniferous plants can provide the necessary protection.

Young plants are always more sensitive, because the more "older" ones are already quite deeply rooted. Plants that are more sensitive to frost may need special protection and shelter for the first 2-4 years after planting. You can also cover with straw, forming "stacks".

Between different parts plants also have a significant difference in frost resistance. For example, plant roots are several times more sensitive to frost than lignified shoots. In areas where there can be severe frosts without a thick layer of snow, an insulating layer should be created by mulching the soil around the plants, such as bark. It is also necessary to sprinkle the base of the plants to a height of 10-15 cm, which will ensure the preservation of buds from which plants can grow, even when its entire above-ground part freezes. Mulching is also necessary in summer, because it will retain moisture in the soil and reduce the growth of weeds.

USDA zone	minimum temperature
2a	down to -45.5 °C (-50 °F)
2b	down to -42.7 °C (-45 °F)
3a	down to -39.9 °C (-40 °F)
3b	down to -37.2 °C (-35 °F)
4a	down to -34.4 °C (-30 °F)
4b	down to -31.6 °C (-25 °F)
5a	down to -28.8 °C (-20 °F)
5b	down to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
6a	down to -23.3 °C (-10 °F)
6b	down to -20.5 °C (-5 °F)
7a	down to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
7b	down to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
8a	down to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
8b	down to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
9a	down to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
9b	down to -3.8 °C (25 °F)