Zone systems was Re: White Flower Farm codes

Let me stick my oar in. Sunset HAS expanded their system for the entire
USA. It is published in their National Gardening Book that came out early
last year, I think. I bought my copy last March anyway at Sam's for half
price. Barnes & Noble carries it also. It has the same problems as earlier:
very difficult to establish a rating for micro-climates.

The American Horticultural Society released their new heatzone ratings maps
last year and is now publishing the AHS (heat zone) rating for each plant
mentioned in their magazine (in the back). Monrovia will publish the rating
for each plant in this year's catalog and two books are due to be released
this year with these ratings: one from Time-Life and one from the AHS. The
purpose of these ratings is to supplement the existing USDA zone system so
a plant wound carry a winter hardiness rating and a summer hardiness rating
as would a geographic area. I have these maps and a more complete
discussion of the AHS system on file if you want them.

If you REALLY want, there are several Ecological zone systems in use. The
dominant one is the Bailey's. It is in official use by both the EPA and
Forestry Services in this country and is used for Envionmental Impact and
other purposes for defining native populations.

Beth Matney <bmatney@mail.snider.net)
USDA zone 7b (min.temp 5F)
AHS zone 8 (90-120 days > 86F)
Sunset zone 33
Koppen climate group Cf
Baily's Ecoregion 231/M231 -
  Subtropical Division
  Southeastern Mixed Forest Province/Ouachita Mixed Forest

------------------------
At 02:18 PM 1/21/98 -0500, you wrote:
>
>How interesting that your catalog provides further coding for the west
>coast.  In Zone 6, my catalog tries to tell us how much heat the plants can
>take, which helps me narrow down my dream list as it can get really hot,
>hazy, and humid in the Ohio Valley here in Kentucky and fickle with the
>summer rain.
>
>There has been much discussion on these zone ratings for perennials.  For
>me, I like this new direction.  Usually the catalogs can only tell a buyer
>how much cold a plant can take.  Which, as most gardener's know, is only a
>guideline to follow, for if you live in cold zone you can grow those
>tropical plants by either mulching like crazy or merely digging it up and
>overwintering it inside your house.  But try doing that with a plant that
>doesn't like heat and humidity!  It's a no-go.
>
>I've heard about these Sunset ratings for the West coast that are different
>from the USDA zones (or is that "in addition to").  I only wish that
>someone would further map the rest of the US, for a Zone 6 can mean several
>different things depending on your locale.  But, where do you stop?  I'm
>assuming that WFF is trying to help you guys out there with more
>information based on these Sunset zones.  When in doubt, though, try
>calling WFF.  The few times that I've called I've always gotten the best
>help.
>

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