Plant Hardiness Zone Map of Maine

Developed by Lois Berg Stack, Extension ornamental horticulture specialist

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Why a Plant Hardiness Zone Map?

Low temperature is one of the most critical environmental limitations for plants. Some plants, like annual flowers and vegetables, simply avoid the cold of winter by dying at the end of summer. Perennial plants (including trees, shrubs and herbaceous perennials) must be able to survive the lowest temperature each winter in order to live into the next growing season. Such plants have a threshold temperature below which they will die. These threshold temperatures determine how far north plants will survive.

The Plant Hardiness Zone Map of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) represents low winter temperatures in North America. It is a guide to help you to assess plant hardiness.

What the Map Shows

The map above shows the plant hardiness zones of Maine based on average yearly minimum temperatures, from data for each year from 1974 to 1986. (This time period was the most recent prior to the map’s release for which reliable data were available, with most sites reporting at least 10 years of data.) Compared to the earlier map, this map shows that many sites in Maine have become colder. This recent period of cold extremes is verified by reports of freeze damage to plants. Remember that the map is based on average annual minimum temperatures. Although there is a global warming trend, we continue to have very cold temperatures each winter in Maine.

Environmental Factors that Affect Plant Growth

Low winter temperature is just one factor that affects plant growth. A plant may be adapted to the temperature of a location, but may die because of a problem related to another environmental factor. Or a plant may be stressed due to other problems, and may then die from the extra stress caused by a very cold winter. The success of perennial plants depends on many factors, including the following:

• Temperature. Plants survive within a more or less broad range of temperatures. They thrive within a more narrow range of temperatures. In Maine and other cold climates, minimum temperatures generally determine whether plants will survive. Plants survive very low temperatures only when they are fully hardened off. If a very low temperature occurs in late fall, before a plant has fully hardened off, it may not be able to withstand the stress. High temperatures during the summer and temperature fluctuations throughout the year also impact a plant’s success.
• Light levels. Plants are categorized as sun, partial shade or shade plants, depending on the amount of light they thrive in. Cloudy days and shade from nearby plants and structures can greatly reduce the amount of light that reaches plants. Plants may survive in less light, but they will thrive only in locations where they get the amount of light they are best adapted to.
• Light duration. Daylength (the number of hours of light per 24-hour daily cycle) regulates many plant functions, including vegetative growth, flower bud development and growth, and the start of dormancy in the fall. Daylengths naturally vary from one season to another. In urban areas and in many landscapes, night lighting can interfere with plants’ perception of daylength. Such artificial alteration of daylength can prevent a plant from fully hardening off. This may mean it won’t survive the winter, especially if it’s in a location where it may be marginally hardy.
• Soil, water, oxygen and nutrients. The soil supplies the plant with water, oxygen and nutrients. The soil must be able to absorb and hold a reserve of water, from rain or irrigation. This holding ability is better if the soil has ample organic matter.

Soils must also be well aerated to supply enough oxygen to plant roots. Heavy clay and compacted soils hold too little oxygen for many plants.

Essential nutrients must be available in the soil in the right amount and balance. These nutrients are more available to plants if the soil pH (acidity or alkalinity) is at an optimum level. Each plant performs best within a range of pH and nutrient levels.

About Microclimates

The plant hardiness zone map is based on a limited amount of data, and the zones represent five degree increments of low temperatures. This averaging and smoothing of data give only a general picture of temperatures. It does not include local variations called microclimates. A low, wet location, for example, may be a lot colder than a higher, dry location. Cities tend to be warmer than nearby countryside. Large bodies of water make temperatures less extreme. High mountain areas tend to be colder than lower elevations. (The Maine data station with the highest elevation is Rangeley, 1,530 feet above mean sea level, so the mountainous areas of Maine may be colder than shown on the map.) One guideline states that a 1,000-foot rise in elevation means a 5 degree F drop in temperature.

There are two areas of Maine for which there are differences between site data and the map. The first is Houlton. Houlton data suggest that it should be in zone 4a. The map shows it in zone 3b. This rating reflects both the “smoothing” of data and the fact that data stations east of Houlton, in Canada, report much colder data than the Houlton station.

The second discrepancy is Augusta. The Augusta airport data stations suggest that Augusta be rated zone 5b, but the map shows it in zone 4b, a full zone colder. Surrounding data stations in all directions produced colder temperature readings than Augusta. It’s unclear whether the entire Augusta area should be considered a warmer microclimate, or whether the Augusta weather station, located at the airport, is artificially influenced by river and urban factors.

How to Use the Map

Maine is divided into four zones, 3 through 6. Each represents a 10 degree F difference in average annual minimum temperatures. Each zone is further subdivided into sections a and b, with 5 degree F differences between them. For example, Bangor is located in zone 5a (-15 to -20 degrees F average annual minimum temperature), and Portland is located in zone 5b (-10 to -15 degrees F average annual minimum temperature).

Many catalogs and plant references refer to the plant hardiness zone map to indicate whether a plant is likely to survive in a location. For example, eastern white pine is rated hardy to zone 3, and would be expected to do well in any part of Maine. A Japanese maple, on the other hand, is rated hardy to zone 5 or 6 (depending on the type). It would show great adaptability only in coastal areas of Maine. You can use the zone information to choose landscape plants. However, don’t forget that there is a difference between surviving and thriving. A plant exposed to the lowest temperatures it can stand may survive the winter but lose so much vigor that it does not grow well.

This map is intended as a starting point only. Experiment with a wide variety of plant materials and collect long-term weather data for your site. This will help you fine-tune your ability to select plants that will survive and thrive in your location.

The map is based primarily on average minimum winter temperatures, which means that some winters may be a lot colder than what’s on the map. Plants that are marginally hardy to a location may succumb in an extremely cold winter. Table 1 (below) shows the annual minimum temperatures recorded from 1974 to 1986 at locations in Maine on which the map is based. The average of these temperatures largely sets the zone rating. Table 2 (below) lists zones calculated from the average minimum temperatures and also from the lowest annual minimum temperature recorded from 1974 to 1986.

Of course, to be hardy long-term, a plant must be able to withstand low temperatures as they occur. A plant might do well for several mild winters, only to succumb in a very harsh winter. You might want to choose plants based on a colder zone, especially if you think your location is colder than nearby areas. Or, when selecting plants that you want to live for many years, you may want to use your site’s “Low Zone” in Table 2, rather than its “Average Zone.” That way, you’ll be selecting plants that will survive the very coldest temperatures they might encounter, even in an extreme year.

Information in this publication is provided purely for educational purposes. No responsibility is assumed for any problems associated with the use of products or services mentioned. No endorsement of products or companies is intended, nor is criticism of unnamed products or companies implied.

© 1991, 2006
Published and distributed in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914, by the University of Maine and the U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating. Cooperative Extension and other agencies of the USDA provide equal opportunities in programs and employment.

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