Choosing Plants That Live in Your Climate
Adding plants to your home can bring in a touch of nature and can instantly brighten up a room, while freshening the air and providing extra oxygen. Plants can help improve the mental and emotional states of home occupants, and in many cases, they can even help reduce indoor air pollution. Adding plants to a space also adds instant curb appeal and vibrancy.
Picking the right plants for a home is important, though. Not only do you have to choose plants according to their water, light, and temperature requirements, but you also must take your climate into consideration. Plants that can’t survive cold winters or extremely hot summers generally should not be purchased and placed in garden containers. So, what plants will survive and thrive in the climate of your home region? Here are a few suggestions:
Choose Plants According to the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
Before you invest in plants, use the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Plant Hardiness Zone map to find out which plants are best-suited for your geographic region and climate. The map is split into 11 regions, with each region having its own temperature ranges. It is best to choose plants and flowers according to the USDA Hardiness Zone Map.
Indoor Plants That Fit Your Climate
If you want to place plants in indoor containers, look for those that don’t require extremely hot or cold temperatures or too much direct or indirect sunlight (depending on the location of the house where the plants are to be placed). All warm and cool zones can accommodate several types of low-maintenance plants with foliage or flowers.
For instance, a warm climate of Zone 9 will do well with plants like banana tree, lemon verbena, and bougainvillea. For Zone 10, morning glory and red ginger are hardy, while Zone 11 is home to plants like ti, croton, and impatiens.
Outdoor Plants According to Your Climate
For outdoor plants, look for climber plants that are hardy enough to survive the temperatures in your region. Vines, shrubs, and perennials are great additions to a yard space, though they need to be chosen carefully according to climate.
For example, perennial plants like lavender, blanket flower, and coreopsis work well in Zones 3-9, while plants native to North America such as Echinacea, yarrow, and yucca are great for Zone 9-11. Certain ground covers do well in both cold and hot climates, such as vinca, juniper, and yucca. Flowering shrubs for Zone 9-11 include butterfly bush and azalea, while succulents such as hens-and-chicks and kalanchoe work well in Zones 8-10.
Tropical Plants
Even if you don’t live in a tropical climate, you can still enjoy tropical plants in your garden space. These plants prefer warm weather and plenty of sun and can accent an existing garden well.
Wasabi, birds of paradise, and red ginger are great choices for Zone 10, while impatiens and castor beans work well in Zone 11. Tropical hibiscus, electric daisies, and alocasia are all great ways to add a touch of the tropics to a home.
Research & Purchase Plants That Will Thrive in Your Climate Zone
Remember, plants that aren’t suited for much-hot or much-cold climates are best left in stores. Invest in plants that will thrive in your region. Each plant has particular water, sunlight, and temperature requirements that need to be met for it to reach its full potential, so be sure to read up on the plants you’re considering for your garden space.
When it comes to adding plants to your home, start by researching plants that work with the climate of your region. Take the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map into consideration and think about the best place for each plant based on the area’s light and temperature. Once you’ve researched the plants and know they will work in your climate, invest in the ones you like most, and enjoy the vibrant, greenery-filled space.
