For more information, consult sunsets national garden bookand western garden book. You can use sunsets climate maps to identify the climate characteristics of a site during the site inventory process. If you live in the eastern states the usda hardiness map will work. Sunsets climate zones are based on winter minimum temperatures, but also include other factors such as summer high temperatures, length of growing season, humidity, and rainfall. Of 24 climate zones defined in the sunset western garden book and the 20 zones defined by the united states department of agriculture usda, california has 20 and 16, respectively. Sunset zones for california sunset magazine has created a climatic zone for the western united states that is more useful than the usda plant hardiness zones. Sunset western garden book mountain valley growers. In the west, most gardeners use the zone maps featured in sunsets western garden book. Above and below the thermal belts in southern california. Planting zones or growing zones are illustrated on a map known as the usda plant hardiness zone map. In addition to the minimum temperature, the sunset climatic zones also take into account important factors such as the number of daylight hours, marine influences, elevation, and rainfall. Sunset climate zones for the san francisco bay area and inland, from the 2012 edition. The heart of the new sunset western garden book is a revised 368page encyclopedia that includes 57 new genera major plant families, 195 new species, and 657 new varieties, strains, and selections.
If you live in the west, you should also know your sunset garden zone. Sunset western garden book according to gardening expert lane greer, the sunset western garden book should be on the bookshelf of every gardener in the western us. This completely revised edition of the western garden book includes more than 2,000 new plant entries, all new fourcolor plant illustrations, improved climate zone information for the western states and new maps for alaska, hawaii, and southwest canada. A map of all of the zones will come up and you can click on it to enlarge the regions if desired. Besides having descriptions for zillions of plants over 8,000 keyed to climate zones, there are lists for everything. Sunsets climate zone maps take all these factors into account, unlike the familiar hardiness zone maps devised by the u. Planting zones map find your usda gardening zone by zip code. A guide to western climate zones for gardening sunset. The national garden book sunset publishing corporation, 1997. In addition, the american horticultural society has published a heatzone map.
Sunset magazine has done research to more closely pinpoint the different growing climates of the region. A guide to western climate zones for gardening sunset magazine. Coldest winters in the west and western prairie states. More than 8, 000 plants the right plants for your climate tips from western garden experts sunset western garden book editors of sunset books, kathleen norris brenzel on. For each plant information included describes zones where they will thrive, exposure to sun, amount of water necessary and if the plant is poisonous. Western garden book also offers very specific zonal descriptions for every region of the west and in a much more specific way then the usda zones. The practical guide to gardening section provides information on various gardening techniques, problems and pest. Sunset magazine has created a climatic zone for the western united states that is more useful than the usda plant hardiness zones. Most gardening books, catalogs, and seed packets refer to plant hardiness zones. Gardening zones are used to help determine where plants can be successfully grown.
We hope plant finder will become as indispensable as a good shovel and trowel. Western oregon is in sunset climate zones 4, 5 or 6, depending on your elevation, exposure, distance. Apr 10, 2020 gardeners in the western united states are often familiar with the sunset zone system, as the sunset western garden book is one of the most venerable and widely used gardening references in the area, and many nurseries indicate plant hardiness by sunset zone. Jun 28, 1986 sunset western garden book is the best book for plant selection, a very important aspect of planting design. The latest edition, the 8th, was published in february 2007. The sunset zones and the sunset western garden book are useful tools, as has been stated, particularly in the western us, and even more particularly, california. Published this year, it features climate zones so you can determine which flowers work best in your growing zone. Sunset the authority on western gardening for over 50 years more than 6,000 plant listings keyed to 24 western climate zonessunsets own western climate maps updated and in full color2,500 color photos, illustrations, charts, and diagramsover 50,000 plant facts, explaining.
And sunset offers a climate zone map that can help you select appropriate plants. For a more detailed map, go to the sunset plant finder and click on the find your zone link. They include new or newly available trees, house plants, herbs, bulbs, ferns, ground covers, vines, annuals, and. The numerous climate zones in napa county allow for a diversity of crops and landscape plants and trees. For more about the new sunset western garden book or to purchase it, go to. Western garden book editors of sunset books, kathleen norris brenzel on. Gardening zones and climate zones landscaping network. Feb 26, 2012 the cooperative extension, including its volunteer educators known as master gardeners, prefers to use the map in the sunset western garden book.
Sunset western garden collection sunset western garden collection another horticultural innovation from plant development services inc. The sunset zones take more into account than usda zones, but still, just like the usda zones, they are not iron. Gardening in solano county ucce master gardeners of. Sunset western garden book climate zones found in yavapai county taken from the new sunset western garden book 2012 these zones factorin winter minimum temperatures, summer highs, elevation, proximity to coast or mountains, rainfall, humidity and aridity, and growing season. Fans of the sunset western garden book requested that we put their favorite garden book online. But the most widely used system in the west, the sunset western garden book zone system, is based upon several variables. Sunset has been writing about the west for over 100 years. This helpful reference book is geared toward growing trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals and vegetables in this unique part of the country. The sunset climate zones take into account idahos latitude, elevation, seasonal rainfall regimes, humidity, influence of ocean and continental air masses, and soil types. Of 24 climate zones defined in the sunset western garden book and the 20. In addition to temperature, the sunset zones also account for. Dec 05, 2000 for a more detailed map, go to the sunset plant finder and click on the find your zone link. Sunset magazine has the best and most useful climate classification system for gardeners and landscape architects. Oct 31, 20 gardeners in the western united states are sometimes confused when confronted with these 11 hardiness zones created by the usda.
The best gardeners know both their usda and sunset zone. Sunset zones for california california native landscape designs. According to this system, most readers probably live in zone 24, although the inland valleys of ojai and santa ynez fall in zones 20 and 18, respectively. Sunset climate zones are based on latitude, elevation, ocean influence, continental air influence, mountain ranges, and local terrain. Heres a quick way to find your california climate zone. Plants from the mediterranean and near eastern regions thrive here.
Sunset climate zones are based more on local microclimates and quirks of our western landscape. Tips from western garden experts sunset western garden book. These are very useful since this allows you to check immediately for your specific city. Sunset western garden book is updated every few years.
Mar 31, 2009 fans of the sunset western garden book requested that we put their favorite garden book online. Of 24 climate zones defined in the sunset western garden book and the 20 zones defined by the united states department of agriculture usda, california has. Ontheroad with the sunset western garden book pacific. With a new, easytoread design, more plant photography, larger illustrations, and more than 8,000 plant listings500 of them newits the essential book for gardeners in the western states. This completely revised edition of the western garden book includes more than 2,000 new plant entries, all new fourcolor plant. The new sunset western garden book is the ultimate flower and vegetable growing guide for this area.
All about growing zones hardiness zones heat zones. When rebecca sweets grandmother relocated from leafy mountain view to lake tahoe in the 1960s, she brought along her sunset western garden book, determined to continue gardening in. The ultimate gardening guide sunset western garden book paper the editors of sunset on. The usda zones work well for the east, while the sunset zones work excellent for the west. In the west, most gardeners use the zone maps featured in sunset s western garden book. Gardeners in the western united states are sometimes confused when confronted with these 11 hardiness zones created by the usda. Many nurseries and garden centers will use the sunset zones as a reference, and these numbers will be used in the sunset western garden book instead of the usda hardiness.
These climate zones do not correspond to the usda hardiness zones. In using the web site, go to the plant finder site, and click on find my sunset climate zone. The us department of agriculture divided out the map in areas which range from planting zone 1a to planting zone b. Sunset western garden book, edited by kathleen norris brenzel, 2007. Were thrilled to be delivering plant finderjust in time for spring, said katie tamony, sunsets editorinchief. Department of agriculture, which divides most of north america into zones based strictly on winter lows. If youve ever put in the effort to start your plants from seeds, or youve shelled out the money to plant a garden from seedlings someone else has started, you understand why planting zones matter planting a garden is an investment of both time and money.
Seattle is in sunset zone 5, described on the sunset web site as an englishgarden. In the sunset western garden book 2015, sunset pub. If you plant something at the wrong time for your zone, youve wasted time, money, and effort. The complex end result is an encyclopedia of plants with appropriate ratings based on these zones, all nicely packaged in the sunset western garden book. If you garden anywhere from montana, wyoming, colorado, new mexico west to alaska and hawaii and corresponding areas of canada, this is a reference youll return to again and again. Jun 24, 2012 when rebecca sweets grandmother relocated from leafy mountain view to lake tahoe in the 1960s, she brought along her sunset western garden book, determined to continue gardening in a daunting new.
One of their best known books is the sunset western garden book, a compendium of plants suited for the various climatic zones and microclimates of the western united states, and gardening guidelines for the region. Go to the sunset website, the book sunset national garden book, or sunset western garden book. Hilltops and valley floors of interior southern california. The sunset western garden book creates climate zones based on many more factors that simply temperatures like the usda. Sunset zones are based on a combination of extremes and averages of minimum, maximum, and mean temperature, rainfall, humidity, and the length of the growing season. I remember williamson worked with an artist to draw climatezone. You can also find this information in the sunset western garden book. In order to get the best results, the plants selected for your. Prescott and the cooler canyons areas of the verde valley are in sunset zone 2. The zones are only a guide and a good starting point, but you still need to determine for yourself what will and wont work in your garden. The wests 24 climate zones a guide to plant selection western plant encyclopedia practical gardening dictionary resource directory. Sunset s climate zones in the sunset western garden book 2015, sunset pub. Sep 18, 2015 sunset climate zones are based more on local microclimates and quirks of our western landscape. I have referred to my sunset western garden book on countless occasions.
For years, landscape architects have used the sunset western garden book climate maps to help decode californias complicated patchwork of climate zones and find plants that will thrive. Zone 6b is the reasonable compromise for most of the area. Heres a quick way to find your california climate zone cse. Sunsets climate zones landscape plants oregon state. Zones 18 and 19 are classified as interior climates. The sunset zones, popularized and researched by sunset magazine, are derived from climate zones developed by the university of california cooperative extension. In response to this natural evolution, the editors of sunsetthe wests most trusted source of gardening information for more than 80 yearshave completely redesigned and updated the western garden book in this new 2012 ninth edition. Every landscape architect that i know owns a copy of this book. Aug 11, 2018 the new sunset western garden book by susan littlefield since the 1930s, growers of all kinds of plants in the many diverse climate regions of the western u. This new edition of the western garden book includes a fresh new look, thousands of color photographs, colorful illustrations, and an easytofollow format. These zone descriptions will guide you in choosing the right plants for your garden. Gardeners throughout the region will be welcoming a thoroughly updated and freshlooking 8th edition of the bible of western gardening. Sunsets western garden book can tell you everything youll ever need to know. These are areas which range in minimum temperatures from 60 degrees fahrenheit to 70 degrees fahrenheit.
Sunset s climate zone maps take all these factors into account, unlike the familiar hardiness zone maps devised by the u. Sunsets climate zones landscape plants oregon state university. The usda plant hardiness map divides north america into 11 hardiness zones. Were thrilled to be delivering plant finderjust in time for spring, said katie tamony, sunset s editorinchief. Twenty zones are defined by the united states department of agriculture usda. From the editors of sunset the wests most trusted source of gardening information for over 80 years comes the 9th edition of the everpopular western garden book. Sep 21, 2017 the sunset western garden book creates climate zones based on many more factors that simply temperatures like the usda. A more useful index is the 24zone climate system published in the sunset western garden book in collaboration with the university of california. Published this year, it features climate zones so you can determine which flowers work. Sunset western garden zones by zip code statacsweet.
The cooperative extension, including its volunteer educators known as master gardeners, prefers to use the map in the sunset western garden book. This book breaks down the western united states into a number of morespecific climate zones. The usda offers a handy planting zones by zip code search function. More than 8, 000 plants the right plants for your climate. If you live in the western states your best bet is the sunset climate zones. Jun 25, 2011 the numerous climate zones in napa county allow for a diversity of crops and landscape plants and trees. Gardeners in the western united states are often familiar with the sunset zone system, as the sunset western garden book is one of the most venerable and widely used gardening references in the area, and many nurseries indicate plant hardiness by sunset zone. In response to this natural evolution, the editors of sunset the wests most trusted source of gardening information for more than 80 yearshave completely redesigned and updated the western garden book in this new 2012 ninth edition. Consult sunsets western garden book for more information. Aug 24, 2011 the sunset zones, popularized and researched by sunset magazine, are derived from climate zones developed by the university of california cooperative extension. Until recently, sunset zones applied to the west only, but now there are sunset zones for all of the u. Based only on average winter temperature lows, the usda map is most accurate in flat areas. Western oregon is in sunset climate zones 4, 5 or 6. A hardiness zone is a geographic area defined to encompass a certain range of climatic conditions relevant to plant growth and survival the original and most widelyused system, developed by the united states department of agriculture usda as a rough guide for landscaping and gardening, defines zones by annual extreme minimum temperature.