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What Planting Zone Is Chicago?
What Planting Zone Is Chicago?. Chicago is neither the warmest nor the coldest part of Illinois, but its lakeside location keeps it from getting quite as cold as the part of the state to the west. If you live in Chicago, knowing your U.S. Department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness Zone can help you choose which plants to grow in your backyard.
Chicago is neither the warmest nor the coldest part of Illinois, but its lakeside location keeps it from getting quite as cold as the part of the state to the west. If you live in Chicago, knowing your U.S. Department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness Zone can help you choose which plants to grow in your backyard.
Zones
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has divided the country into hardiness zones based on average annual minimum temperature. Illinois is located in USDA hardiness zones 4b through 6b; the city of Chicago is located in zone 5b.
Temperature
In the warmest parts of Illinois -- zone 6b -- the average winter low is 0 to minus 5 degrees Fahrenheit. In zone 4b, the coldest part of the state, temperatures reach as low as minus 20 to minus 25 every year. In Chicago, the average annual low temperature is minus 10 to minus 15 degrees.
Considerations
While knowing you hardiness zone is important when you choose plants to grow in Chicago, you should consider other factors as well. Even plants that are rated to the same zone can have widely different needs when it comes to soil type, sun exposure and moisture levels.
