For the first time since 2012, the USDA growing zone map has been changed and North Florida and South Georgia are now in growing zone 9a rather than 8b as previously designated. The northern part of several counties in the western panhandle are still in 8b. When selecting plants, those specified as hardy in both areas 8b and 9a will be appropriate.
As stated, by the USDA: “Plant hardiness zone designations represent what’s known as the ‘average annual extreme minimum temperature’ at a given location during a particular time period (30 years, in this instance). Put another way, the designations do not reflect the coldest it has ever been or ever will be at a specific location, but simply the average lowest winter temperature for the location over a specified time. Low temperature during the winter is a crucial factor in the survival of plants at specific locations.”
The complete map and other information can be accessed at: https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/, and an interesting history of U.S. hardiness maps and how they have developed over time can be found here.
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