Our team at Gardens by Lynn are buzzing about a new USA Hardiness Zone map that puts much of the Twin Cities and a sizeable section of southwestern Minnesota in hardiness zone 5a. 

According to the new map, the Twin Cities from the Mississippi Rivers to halfway through Hennepin County and from about Farmington up to Ham Lake in Anoka County are zone 5a. If you live in Scott, Carver, northern Washington or southern Dakota counties, you’re still zone 4.

I will for sure be trying out some new plants! Over the years, I’ve had my eye on a few Zone 5 beauties, but haven’t tried them yet. On my list, to name a few, are Blue Chiffon Hibiscus, Gatsby Pink Hydrangea and Kudos Mandrin Agastache.

Does this mean you should go wild planting warmer-zone plants? Maybe, maybe not.

If a plant is thriving in your garden now, it will continue to thrive. All our great northern plants such as peonies, serviceberry, grasses, native flowers, shrubs and trees will continue to thrive. If you have a zone 5 plant you are itching to try, go for it!Start with just one each of the type you like and see what happens. Maybe think of it this way – don’t plant anything you can’t afford to kill.