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Thoughts on Zonal Denial
Zonal denial is defined as attempts to grow plants which are normally limited to milder winter hardiness zones. As our gardening palettes grow, and we become more enthusiastic gardeners, desirable and “must-have” plants begin to become an obsession. After moving to Vermont from the Pacific Northwest and obtaining my empty landscape, I began to dream about the amazing plants and trees that would be filling it. As I set out to begin planting my garden, I paid particular attention to plant labels listing a plant as hardy to zone 4. I dreamt of plants and trees listed as hardy to zone 5 or even 6, but did not give them much more than a meaningful and wistful glance, figuring that they would never survive my climatically challenged garden. As I read various gardening books and resources hungry to learn anything and everything to do with gardening, I discovered that the hardiness maps are not set in stone, but merely a guide. There are many other variables such as micro climates, soil quality, drainage, mulch, and winter protection all of which would help me in pushing my zone to new heights. Although winters in Vermont are undeniably cold, there is reliable snow cover that insulates the ground protecting the roots and crowns of plants. I have posted before about my faithful use of a product called Wilt-Pruf that is sprayed on evergreens to prevent windburn and winter kill. It works by keeping moisture in the leaves. It is a wonderful product, and one that is totally organic and biodegradable. It is best applied after the first hard frost, when moisture has retreated to the plant’s root system. And best of all, if you are a complete procrastinator, as is the case for me this winter, you can also apply it during the January Thaw. When we discovered our property, it seemed to us nearly perfect as it is situated on the top of a ridge and tucked into many surrounding trees. The only thing I could find that we were lacking was a fabulous view. I later learned that this would prove to be beneficial because without a view, we get very little wind which is certainly an enemy to hardiness. I am convinced that the surrounding trees provide us with our own micro climate of zone 5, as frost happens later for us than for those living at the bottom of the ridge, and while it is snowing here, there is nothing happening just a few short miles from us. And, while there are certainly times that I balk at the biting and bitter cold winter days, our climate does afford us opportunities to grow some amazing plants such as Meconopsis betonicifolia, or Blue Himalayan Poppy, and Cypripedium, or Ladyslipper Orchids. Soon after we purchased our property, I found myself with ornamental grasses on my mind and paid visit to a couple of local nurseries. I found myself heartbroken after visiting the first when the employee offered to go out back and get their grass expert, who then came to me with a pot of blue fescue and informed me that this is the only grass that is hardy in Vermont. (How can you be a grass expert if you only sell one type of grass?) Thankfully, I wasn’t about to take her advice whole-heartedly. She could very well have been educated on a variety of grasses, but I think her zoning information was a bit batty. So, I will continue with my wish list containing dreams of Japanese Maples, Magnolias and Witch Hazels, some of which I hope to plant this spring. And, I will continue to take delight in my window shopping of magnificent mail order nurseries such as Seneca Hills Nursery, located in upstate New York. They are certainly not shy when it comes to pushing the zone. As is stated on their website: ”A good gardener experiments. A good gardener kills a lot of plants.” 43 comments to Thoughts on Zonal Denial |
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Hi Liisa, your property sounds wonderful, even without the view, by being able to push the zone! I do hope you can grow more grasses than blue fescue, surely you can. You are lucky with the snow cover and protection of the trees. We agree about a good gardener kills a lot of plants, for you don’t know for sure if something will grow for you unless you try. Fear of failure should not be in the vocabulary of a gardener.
Frances
Liisa this is such a well written informative post! You are absolutely right about pushing the zones… a protected area could give you a few degrees difference. Just look to your fellow gardeners Joe and Wayne who share your Vermont winters … only they may be further south. I agree with your last sentence coming from Senaca Hills Nursery. Trial and error… it makes life interesting. As for Meconopsis betonicifolia … I must try again! I do not think this snow is going to amount to anything.
Great post. I agree with the fact that zones are meant as guidelines. Because as soon as you say that a plant cannot grow in a particular climate, you find someone who does because they have the right micro-climate. For me, I would love to grow a Hydrangea. Although our USDA zone are acceptable on paper, the heat does them in. I may have to try to create a micro-climate and try one
Liisa, This was very informative and helpful. Like you, I started out with the opposite of zonal denial, growing only zone 4 plants (even though my property is on the zone4/5 border). Gradually, I learned that I could push the zone envelope more. And I have learned that plants are much more likely to survive when snow comes early and often than in light snow winters. I didn’t know about Wilt-Pruf and will check it out. -Jean
Ah yes, I have zonal denial too. Glad you got some grasses to grow in your area. I always push the limits here. I bet there are tons of plants you can grow I can’t but still we lust for what we can’t have. Lilacs come to mind:)
i used to be in zone denial too having lived in northern calif where icy conditions always killed my tender sub tropicals….i couldn’t take the winter dreads….so i just moved to hawaii
no more zone growing problems…
I think a lot of us have zone denial. I buy things that are zone 9 (we are 7 –
and cross my fingers, give them extra mulch and often times they make it. It’s amazing at how many micro climates we can have in our yards too.
It sounds so pretty where you are and I’m sure you’ll find lots of beautiful things to grow there.
Hi – Liisa- I laughed about killing plants. I recently was going through a large ziploc bag of plant tags and I was amazed at how many I’ve loved and lost
I’m all for zonal denial…practice it regularly. My philosophy is that when a plant dies, there’s a readymade hole for a brand new plant to reside in! Nice post.
Liisa:
What a wonderful follow up to the forum. This is exactly what I was hoping for….. initiate dialog within the gardening blogosphere. I’m seriously considering suggesting a Blotanical Award for King/Queen of Zonal Denial! I’m also considering t-shirts that read……’Been there KILLED that but still TRYING!’
Teza,
It has been great fun reading input and lessons learned from gardeners in various climates. I think you should definitely suggest an award for those suffering from chronic compulsive plant retail therapy disorder. And, the t-shirts are a great idea!! Maybe one that says CCPRTD, too!!
Jodi,
Your comment cracks me up. It is hard not to mourn our losses, but we can look forward to the next amazing plant that will fill it’s space. And, we can hope to be pleasantly surprised by the next marginally hardy plant.
Gloria,
I did the same thing recently, and was delighted at all of the zone 5 plants that are happily residing in my garden. Last spring I planted a couple of zone 6 plants, so I am looking forward to seeing how they fared. We never know until we try!!
Catherine,
I take great delight in hearing about successes in pushing the zone. I agree, there are many micro climates hidden throughout a garden. I believe that as my shrubs and plants mature, they will provide extra protection for some of the marginally hardy plants that are on my wish list!! Dare I try a zone 7?
Noel,
I so look forward to visiting Kauai (though not for a couple more years) – and discovering all of the amazing things that grow there. Lucky you to live in such a beautiful place!
Tina,
I don’t know why, but I just assumed lilacs grow everywhere. I would be sad without them, but I bet you have some amazing spring bloomers!! 
I experimented with some zone 5 grasses, and was happy to find last year that all are thriving beautifully. I long for Nassella tenuissima, or Mexican Feather Grass, which I have seen listed as zone 6 and 7. I grew one plant in a pot last summer, and I am overwintering it in my raised vegetable bed. If I am successful, I will be running back to the nursery for more!
Jean,
Yes, I am grateful for that reliable snow cover, even though at this time of year it becomes somewhat tiresome. And, I hope you have enjoyed much success with pushing your zone envelope. I have used Wilt-Pruf for two seasons now, and have been very happy with the results.
Noelle,
Hydrangea can be a tricky thing here, too. Many find that they will not bloom unless given the right amount of proper winter protection. Many encircle the plants with chicken wire and then fill it with leaves so that they cover the entire plant. I planted an Oak Leaf Hydrangea this past fall, and it is close to the house, so I did not completely encase it with leaves. I am curious to see if I find any flowers in the spring! Let me know if you decide to try one, I am curious how it will do.
Carol,
I am so thankful for Joe and Wayne, for were it not for their books I don’t know that I would be as brave with my wish list. I too look forward to growing Meconopsis betonicifolia, I just have to decide on the right spot. I hope you try it again. Trial and error does make life so interesting… gardeners wouldn’t have much to talk about without it!!
Frances,
I did try a few zone 5 grasses – and was happy to see them thriving last year after a fairly cold winter. Thank goodness, I don’t know how I would go about making a meadow with only blue fescue!! You are so right, fear of failure should not be in the vocabulary of any gardener!! I long for your lovely Muhlenbergia capillaris, and was happy to find a similar species listed as being zone 5 hardy.
I gamble with growing zones by 2 – I’m zone 5 and I plant hardy zone 7s in a spot in my hard that gets blanketed with heaps of snow (10, 12 feet.) Plus my zone 7 flowers are up to their eyeballs in mulch as winter sets in! It’s a gamble but sometimes I just can’t resist…
Liisa, it sounds like you found yourself a great spot, and with your research you’ll find the right things to plant… it will all fall in place. Hope you are having a great weekend.
Belate New Year Greetings Liisa, and a very enjoyable post, I think I probably have zone denial as I have convinced myself that I have a wonderful micro-climate here in my garden, but with the snow we have had in the UK this past month, I may very well be delusional!
K
Great post! Sounds like you have a fabulous microclimate, lucky you! Teza’s post also has me thinking of zone denial, I push it a little, but where I really throw caution to the wind is in sun requirements. I have a mostly shady property, but will plant a full sun plants in the shade and see what happens. The last quote in your blog makes me feel SO MUCH better. I haven’t killed off TOO many yet, added so many new plants last year I’m sure some won’t survive. Great post, I will join you in dreaming of Japanese Maples.
Rebecca,
I look forward to seeing how your sunny plants fare in a little more shade. Japanese Maples are so beautiful… but a very questionable thing to grow here. I planted one last year with careful siting, and I am keeping my fingers crossed… 
Sun requirements can be a tricky thing. I find this to be so true with my Heucheras. I planted ‘Caramel’ in part shade, but found their leaf color to be much less vibrant than those planted in sun. Thankfully most plants will tolerate being moved several times!!
Karen,
Sometimes I wonder if my micro climate is more hopeful than true, but I am going to plant as though it is true and hope for the best. Your garden looks so beautiful covered in a dusting of snow – I hope your plants tolerate your unpredictable weather! Happy New Year to you, too!!
Diana,
Things are slowly falling into place. And, I really enjoy the planning part… so many possibilities!! I hope you enjoy a great weekend as well!
Kate,
Heaps of snow, indeed! I don’t know if I can even imagine what 10 or 12 feet of snow would look like! It’s nice to hear that you have successfully pushed your zone by 2. Our successes are impossible to predict, we just don’t know until we try.
In a moment of weakness, I’ll admit that I suffer from zonal denial. I would argue that every yard has micro-clims that strech the zones (or am i just in denial about denial). We live in suburban cleveland Ohio which is zone 5b-6. Love the post.
jim
I love your writing and your discussions on how to choose what to plant. I too have large empty spaces to plan for, so I completely empathize. Zone denial is a bit like the adage of the grass always being greener (so to speak); it always seems to me that the things that I really want to see in the yard are growing in the zone ‘next door’. Nevertheless, as others have mentioned, the USDA climate zone is only a general rule. Microclimates are very important and create conditions for plants that might otherwise be considered as unsuited for your zone. You can even plant trees or vegetation screens to create more hospitable microclimates for later plantings, sort an experiment in natural succession. The best of luck to you in the coming year!
Kimberly,
It is so true, as we layer our gardens it helps in providing insulation for those gotta-have-it plants. Good luck to you in building your own garden paradise, and thank you so much for visiting!
Yes, it is certainly a case of wanting what we can’t have.
Jim,
Zone 5b-6 should afford you some excellent growing opportunities!! I think we all suffer from zonal denial to some extent. Thank goodness for pots… if we are not successful at least we can still enjoy some of those plants we treasure.
I really enjoyed your post on Zone Denial! I just wish I could figure out what zone I am in! Some sites say 5b, some say 6a. But I was a 6a in my old Detroit area city, and it always seems so much more temperate than it was there. I’m confused! I heard they were going to change some of the zones, and I’m anxious to see the verdict.
Love your post!
For me, zone denial is essential. I grow a lot of plants which should not be here according to zones, and when I have suitable overwintering facilities there will be lots more…
It’s all about trying. I just have to
Hi Liisa~~ I live on a hill with surrounding valley. It wasn’t until I moved here that I understood that cold air sinks. So while the valley floor can be laden with frost, we’re frost free up here. Not always of course, but I like the principle. Ditto for the snow: snow for us, rain for them. I’ve never heard that a GOOD gardener kills plants. I like this! I think you should put a heated greenhouse on your wish list–a safe place for wintering all of those potted tenders.
Robin,
I have learned that two different places that share the same zone can have pretty different growing conditions. And, we must consider the totality of the growing climate, not just the winter lows. Snow cover, soil type, patterns of rainfall, and patterns of temperature all play a role. You must have some excellent growing opportunities in your zone 5/6 garden… I am jealous!
Hilde,
Half the fun of gardening is trying new things. And, I am glad to hear of your success in pushing the zone. I hope that you continue to find yourself pleasantly surprised!!
Grace,
There was a time that we considered moving back out west, and the thought of going from a zone 4 to 7/8 was exhilarating! I would absolutely love a heated greenhouse, though that will not be in the cards for quite some time. I enjoy *visiting* your zone 7/8 garden, and getting a taste for what that would be like.
Liisa, I am sorry it took me so long to read this very informative post(no internet at Kilbourne Grove). You, my friend, could have been a great contributor to Tezas Garden Forum. We seem to be in a similar boat, wanting the Japanese Maples,Mags, and Witch Hazels. I have planted all three in my garden and, fingers crossed, they have come through two to three winters fine. The snow is a great insulator, I just find that you have to watch the weight of it on very short shrubby trees, as it can break some branches or split the crown, (found that out the hard way). My advice (at least what I am doing) is start with as small and cheap a version as I can find, I think that they acclimitize faster. My landscape design teacher gave me some seedlings that he grew from seed. He has a number of large trees in his garden that he grew from seed, they actually grow faster then you think. I will post some pictures of the babies on my blog and follow their progress. Sorry to be so long winded, now I know why you wrote a post yourself, lol.
I like that thinking! It is good advice and I will check out that gardening place you suggested. I like them already.
Teresa,
Seneca Hills Nursery certainly has a long list of unique treasures. They do all of their own propagating and growing. I do not remember now how I was initially introduced to them, but I have since heard nothing but good things about them.
Deborah,
I look forward to seeing your Japanese Maples, Magnolias and Witch Hazels, and I am happy to hear of your success with them. The weight of the snow did have an impact on my Rhododendron last year, as one of the main branches was broken. But, it seems to be unaffected by it, and I hope it gains a lot of new growth this year. I am really looking forward to watching the progress of your seedlings. I agree, I think they do acclimatize faster, and are much more affordable than a well established tree. I bought a very small Smoke Bush two years ago, and have enjoyed watching its progress.
Thank you so much for your kind words.
Hey Liisa, just a little follow up, my new header is of a shady bed with sun loving plants. See what I mean? I’m such a wild child lol.