Whether you’re new to gardening or have been gardening for some time, it’s always good to know what your hardiness zone is and what that means for your gardening endeavors. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides an
online map of hardiness zones
to help you not only know which plants can thrive through New Jersey winters, but also to see how winter gardening fluctuates throughout the country based on an area’s average minimum temperature.
Understanding the characteristics of New Jersey hardiness zones can help you feel more confident about which plants to choose for adding long-term interest or
annual color
to your garden. It’s also recommended to contact your local ag extension office to ask about the first and last expected frosts for the year.
Get to Know Your New Jersey Hardiness Zones
The
New Jersey hardiness zone map
shows 2 main hardiness zones that extend into the state: 6 and 7, or more specifically, 6a, 6b, 7a, and 7b. New Jersey plant enthusiasts are blessed to have such a relatively temperate climate, as so many plants can be grown here, even throughout the winter.
Hardiness zones are meant to be a general reference and you may find that you live in a small area that experiences slightly different weather conditions than the surrounding ones. Meaning, you may be able to grow some plants that are recommended for your hardiness zone, but some you may not be able to grow as successfully. That being said, most plant enthusiasts welcome an element of troubleshooting in their gardening.
Gardening in Zone 6
Hardiness zone 6 is characterized by a medium-long growing season, and you can successfully grow most fruits and vegetables, a multitude of flowers, reliable perennials, numerous shrubs and fruit trees, as well as several structurally interesting ornamental trees in this zone.
Annuals: Calendula / Ageratum / Cosmos / Dianthus / Dahlia / Fuchsia / Zinnia / Lobelia / Petunias
Perennials: Delphinium / Coneflower / Dianthus / Campanula / Hellebore / Geranium / Vinca / Viola / Japanese Primrose
Bulbs: Tulips / Tuberous Begonia / Iris / Narcissus / Gladiola / Hyacinth / Canna / Crocus / Caladium
Shrubs: Azaleas / American Beautyberry / Lilacs / Hydrangea / Hummingbird Plant
Vines: Trumpet Vine / Jasmine
Gardening in Zone 7
Hardiness zone 7 has a slightly longer growing season than zone 6 and an average lowest temperature that is 10 degrees higher, as this average increases by 10 degrees each time the number of the zone increases. Like gardening in zone 6, there are a wide variety of trees, shrubs, flowers, and vegetables to grow during the New Jersey winters, as well as certain varieties of citrus trees.
Evergreen Shrubs and Vines: Abelia / Camellia / Rhododendron / Crossvine / Winter Jasmine / Creeping Phlox / Bergenia / Heuchera / Lilyturf / Lenten Rose / Lavender
Deciduous Color: Dogwood / Hawthorn / Ninebark / Burning Bush
River Birch / Coral Bark / Maple / Oakleaf Hydrangea
Conifers: Conifers are a staple in New Jersey gardens, but can thrive in almost every hardiness zone. Spruce, juniper, pines, and false cypress are some of the conifers that flourish in both zones 6 and 7.
These are only some of the lovely plants that New Jersey gardeners can plant and nurture in their gardens. Certain varieties will work best in the specific area that you live, and your local nursery or landscape service will be able to recommend plants that will set you up for success.
Remember to keep your gardener’s spirit with experimentation and discovery. There may be more to winter gardening in New Jersey than you ever thought possible. Are you ready to get in on some winter gardening action? Cashman Landscaping New Jersey can help you choose the plant varieties that will work for you.
Contact us
to offer you an estimate for any of our garden design or maintenance services.