Warming Planting Zones
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Provided by: Climate Central|Published on: June 3, 2025
Articles/WebsitesScientist Reviewed
9101112
Scientist Reviewed This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This article from Climate Central discusses how climate change is shifting planting zones to the north in the United States and will continue to do so at a faster rate based on data showing warmer average winter temperatures.
- Students will learn about plant hardiness zones, how they are used by farmers and gardeners to produce food and grow plants, and what this shift means for the future of farming and gardening.
Subjects: Earth and Space Sciences, Geography
Authors: Climate Central
Region: Global
Languages: English
Teaching Materials
Positives
- The Key Concepts section at the beginning of the article makes it easy for readers to get a summary of the article at a glance.
- Suggestions for place-based activities are included, which will make the content more relevant and engaging for students.
Prerequisites
- Students should understand the basics of climate change and how average temperatures are calculated.
Differentiation & Implementation
- Students can use the embedded link to research their region's plant hardiness zone and predict how this may change based on what they have learned.
- After learning about the northward shift of planting zones in the Northern Hemisphere, students can learn more about invasive plants and pests and how this shift may impact their range. Students can also discuss the implications of a warming climate on pollinators and how this may impact crop yields.
- Students can design two different gardens, one illustrating the current plant hardiness zone in their region, and another to show how this zone will change.
- Students can discuss how this shift may affect the availability of foods that are important to certain cultures. This article can support a conversation about this topic.
Students may learn about the US's hardiness zones and how they affect the crops that should be grown in different seasons. "Above average" temperatures can often change the winter seasons and the varieties of plants that can survive. Additionally, the resource will enable students to investigate the United States' historical, current, and projected planting zones in order to improve agricultural decision-making. The well-cited resource is suggested for use in the classroom.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
About the Partner Provider
Climate Central
Climate Central is an independent group of scientists and communicators who research and report the facts about our changing climate and how it affects people’s lives.
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
Learn about our review process →
