The Zone Finder
Canada plant hardiness zones: what growing zone am I in?
Start with your location, then choose plants for the conditions in your garden. Use Natural Resources Canada's official lookup below, or browse our catalogue if you already know your zone.
I know my zone
Shop by hardiness zone
Find your growing zone
Look up your town, not just your province
A province covers many growing conditions. Start with your nearest municipality, then check the map for your location.
- Open the official plant hardiness zone by municipality lookup and select your province or territory and town. Use the 1991–2020 column for the latest published climate period.
- Check the Canadian plant hardiness maps for your planting site, especially if you live outside town or at a different elevation. Keep the letter in your result, such as 5a or 5b, when comparing plant information.
- Read each plant's growing requirements before choosing. Our zone pages group catalogue ratings by whole number; they do not calculate the climate of your address.
What do Canada's plant hardiness zones mean?
Canada's hardiness zones run from 0 to 9, with lettered subdivisions. They describe regional growing conditions using climate data. Natural Resources Canada's 2025 update uses the 1991–2020 period. These long-term patterns help narrow your choices, but a zone is not a forecast for the coming winter or a guarantee that a particular plant will succeed.
Are Canadian and USDA zones the same?
No. Canada's system uses seven climate variables. The USDA approach uses average annual extreme minimum temperature. Natural Resources Canada publishes both kinds of map for Canada. Check which system a plant label uses and compare it with the matching map; do not assume the same number means the same conditions in both systems. See Natural Resources Canada's explanation of the two methods.
What else should I check before planting?
Match the plant to your sunlight, drainage, soil moisture and available space. For fruit and nut crops, also read the pollination and harvest guidance. A sheltered yard and an exposed field can behave differently even within the same mapped zone. Survival through winter does not, by itself, promise a reliable crop or good growth.
Which plants can I grow in Nova Scotia or elsewhere in Canada?
Look up your municipality first rather than choosing one zone for the whole province. Then use the zone links above to compare trees, berry bushes and other plants in our catalogue. If a listing's rating or your site conditions are unclear, contact us with your location and planting details before ordering.
Grown in Nova Scotia
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