Canadian Plant Hardiness Zones
Search your city below to find your hardiness zone, frost dates, and what will thrive in your Canadian garden.
Canadian vs USDA Hardiness Zones
Canada has its own hardiness zone system developed by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Unlike the USDA system used in the United States (which is based solely on average annual minimum temperature), the Canadian system considers seven climate factors:
- Mean minimum temperature of the coldest month
- Mean maximum temperature of the warmest month
- Length of the frost-free period
- Amount of summer rainfall
- Maximum snow depth
- Maximum wind gust speed
- January rainfall
Because of these additional factors, Canadian zone numbers are generally one zone warmer than the equivalent USDA zone. For example, a plant labelled "hardy to USDA zone 4" would typically survive in Canadian zone 5.
When buying plants online from US nurseries, check whether the zone rating uses the USDA or Canadian system. Most US retailers use USDA zones — subtract approximately one zone to find your Canadian equivalent.
Find Your Zone by City
Look up your hardiness zone using the nearest major city. Zones include both the Canadian rating and the approximate USDA equivalent.
British Columbia (BC)
| City | Canadian Zone | USDA Equivalent | Min Temp (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vancouver | 8a | 8a | -10 to -7°C |
| Victoria | 8b | 8b | -7 to -4°C |
| Kelowna | 6b | 6b | -18 to -15°C |
| Prince George | 3b | 3b | -37 to -34°C |
| Kamloops | 6a | 6a | -21 to -18°C |
Alberta (AB)
| City | Canadian Zone | USDA Equivalent | Min Temp (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calgary | 4a | 3b | -32 to -29°C |
| Edmonton | 4a | 3b | -32 to -29°C |
| Lethbridge | 4b | 4a | -29 to -26°C |
| Red Deer | 3b | 3a | -37 to -34°C |
| Medicine Hat | 4b | 4a | -29 to -26°C |
Saskatchewan (SK)
| City | Canadian Zone | USDA Equivalent | Min Temp (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regina | 3b | 3a | -37 to -34°C |
| Saskatoon | 3a | 2b | -40 to -37°C |
| Prince Albert | 2b | 2a | -43 to -40°C |
Manitoba (MB)
| City | Canadian Zone | USDA Equivalent | Min Temp (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winnipeg | 3b | 3a | -37 to -34°C |
| Brandon | 3a | 2b | -40 to -37°C |
| Thompson | 1a | 1a | below -46°C |
Ontario (ON)
| City | Canadian Zone | USDA Equivalent | Min Temp (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto | 6b | 6a | -18 to -15°C |
| Ottawa | 5a | 4b | -26 to -23°C |
| Hamilton | 6b | 6a | -18 to -15°C |
| London | 6a | 5b | -21 to -18°C |
| Thunder Bay | 3a | 2b | -40 to -37°C |
| Windsor | 7a | 6b | -15 to -12°C |
| Niagara Falls | 7a | 6b | -15 to -12°C |
Quebec (QC)
| City | Canadian Zone | USDA Equivalent | Min Temp (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montreal | 5b | 5a | -23 to -21°C |
| Quebec City | 4b | 4a | -29 to -26°C |
| Sherbrooke | 4a | 3b | -32 to -29°C |
| Gatineau | 5a | 4b | -26 to -23°C |
New Brunswick (NB)
| City | Canadian Zone | USDA Equivalent | Min Temp (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fredericton | 5a | 4b | -26 to -23°C |
| Moncton | 5a | 4b | -26 to -23°C |
| Saint John | 5b | 5a | -23 to -21°C |
Nova Scotia (NS)
| City | Canadian Zone | USDA Equivalent | Min Temp (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Halifax | 6a | 5b | -21 to -18°C |
| Sydney | 5b | 5a | -23 to -21°C |
Prince Edward Island (PE)
| City | Canadian Zone | USDA Equivalent | Min Temp (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlottetown | 5b | 5a | -23 to -21°C |
| Summerside | 5b | 5a | -23 to -21°C |
Newfoundland and Labrador (NL)
| City | Canadian Zone | USDA Equivalent | Min Temp (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. John's | 5b | 5a | -23 to -21°C |
| Corner Brook | 5a | 4b | -26 to -23°C |
Yukon (YT)
| City | Canadian Zone | USDA Equivalent | Min Temp (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whitehorse | 1a | 1a | below -46°C |
Northwest Territories (NT)
| City | Canadian Zone | USDA Equivalent | Min Temp (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellowknife | 1a | 1a | below -46°C |
Nunavut (NU)
| City | Canadian Zone | USDA Equivalent | Min Temp (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iqaluit | 0a | 1a | below -46°C |
Plan your garden around your zone
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What to Grow in Each Zone
Each hardiness zone supports different plants. Here's what thrives in Canadian zones 0 through 8.
Zone 0
Min temp: below -46°C (below -50°F)
Extreme Arctic conditions. Gardening limited to cold frames, greenhouses, and very short-season crops during 24-hour summer daylight.
Vegetables
- Radishes
- Lettuce
- Spinach
Fruit Trees
- None — greenhouse only
Perennials
- Arctic willow
- Moss campion
Zone 1
Min temp: -46 to -40°C (-50 to -40°F)
Very cold winters with short growing seasons (60-90 days). Found in northern Canada and high elevations. Focus on fast-maturing crops.
Vegetables
- Peas
- Radishes
- Lettuce
- Kale
- Potatoes
Fruit Trees
- Siberian crabapple
Perennials
- Rhubarb
- Chives
- Daylilies
Zone 2
Min temp: -40 to -34°C (-40 to -30°F)
Very cold winters typical of the northern Prairies. Growing season of 90-110 days. Choose short-season varieties and use season extension.
Vegetables
- Peas
- Beans
- Carrots
- Beets
- Potatoes
- Cabbage
Fruit Trees
- Evans cherry
- Siberian crabapple
- Hardy apples (Norland)
Perennials
- Saskatoon berries
- Rhubarb
- Asparagus
- Chives
Zone 3
Min temp: -34 to -29°C (-30 to -20°F)
Cold Prairie and northern Ontario winters. Growing season of 100-130 days. Many vegetables thrive with proper timing. Start warm crops indoors.
Vegetables
- Tomatoes
- Peppers
- Beans
- Corn
- Squash
- Root vegetables
Fruit Trees
- Apples (Goodland, Norkent)
- Sour cherries
- Hardy plums
Perennials
- Strawberries
- Raspberries
- Currants
- Asparagus
- Rhubarb
Zone 4
Min temp: -29 to -23°C (-20 to -10°F)
Moderate cold winters found in southern Alberta, Quebec, and parts of Atlantic Canada. Growing season of 120-150 days supports most vegetables.
Vegetables
- Full range of cool and warm season crops
- Melons with protection
Fruit Trees
- Apples
- Pears
- Sour cherries
- Plums
- Apricots (sheltered)
Perennials
- Strawberries
- Raspberries
- Grapes (cold-hardy)
- Blueberries
Zone 5
Min temp: -23 to -18°C (-10 to 0°F)
One of the most common zones in populated Canada. Covers Ottawa, Montreal, and Maritime cities. Growing season of 140-170 days allows diverse gardening.
Vegetables
- All common vegetables
- Sweet potatoes
- Long-season peppers
Fruit Trees
- Apples
- Pears
- Sweet cherries
- Plums
- Peaches (sheltered)
Perennials
- Grapes
- Blueberries
- Strawberries
- Lavender
- Roses
Zone 6
Min temp: -18 to -12°C (0 to 10°F)
Mild winters found in southern Ontario (Toronto, Hamilton) and sheltered Nova Scotia. Growing season of 160-200 days supports a wide variety of crops.
Vegetables
- All vegetables including long-season varieties
- Garlic
- Artichokes
Fruit Trees
- Peaches
- Nectarines
- Sweet cherries
- Apricots
- Pears
- Apples
Perennials
- Grapes (wine varieties)
- Kiwi (hardy)
- Figs (protected)
- Roses
Zone 7
Min temp: -12 to -7°C (10 to 19°F)
Mild winters in the Niagara Peninsula and Windsor area. 200+ frost-free days. Supports tender perennials and some subtropical plants with protection.
Vegetables
- All vegetables
- Overwintering crops
- Fall-planted garlic
Fruit Trees
- Peaches
- Nectarines
- Figs (protected)
- Persimmons
- Pawpaw
Perennials
- Wine grapes
- Hardy kiwi
- Lavender
- Rosemary (protected)
Zone 8
Min temp: -7 to -1°C (19 to 30°F)
Canada's mildest zone, found along the BC coast (Vancouver, Victoria). Year-round gardening is possible. Overwintering crops thrive.
Vegetables
- Year-round gardening
- Overwintering brassicas
- Broad beans
Fruit Trees
- Fig
- Asian pear
- Persimmon
- All temperate fruits
Perennials
- Rosemary
- Bay laurel
- Wine grapes
- Blueberries
- Kiwi
Get your personalized 2026 planting calendar
Enter your zone and we'll calculate your full sowing schedule.
How to Use Your Hardiness Zone
1. Find Your Zone
Look up your city in the table above to find your Canadian hardiness zone and USDA equivalent.
2. Choose Your Plants
Select plants rated for your zone or colder. Check whether labels use Canadian or USDA zones before buying.
3. Plan Your Timing
Use your zone alongside your local frost dates to time seed starting, transplanting, and harvesting.
Know Your Zone? Find Your Exact Planting Dates
Enter your frost dates into our free calculator and get a personalized planting schedule for your zone.
Try the Free CalculatorFrequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zone is Toronto?
Toronto is in Canadian hardiness zone 6b. This is equivalent to approximately USDA zone 6a. Toronto's proximity to Lake Ontario moderates winter temperatures, giving it one of the mildest climates in Ontario with a growing season of about 193 frost-free days.
What hardiness zone is Vancouver?
Vancouver is in Canadian hardiness zone 8a, the mildest major city zone in Canada. This is equivalent to USDA zone 8a. Vancouver's mild Pacific maritime climate allows year-round gardening, including overwintering vegetables like kale, spinach, and broad beans.
What hardiness zone is Alberta?
Alberta ranges from zone 1a in the far north to zone 4b in southern cities like Lethbridge and Medicine Hat. Calgary and Edmonton are both zone 4a. The province's short growing season (90-130 frost-free days) means gardeners should choose short-season crop varieties and start warm crops indoors.
What is the difference between Canadian and USDA hardiness zones?
Canadian zones (developed by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada) use 7 climate factors including minimum temperature, frost-free days, summer rainfall, and wind. USDA zones use only average annual minimum temperature. A Canadian zone number is typically 1 zone warmer than the equivalent USDA zone. For example, Canadian zone 5 is roughly equivalent to USDA zone 4. Always check which system a plant label uses before purchasing.
How do I find my exact hardiness zone in Canada?
Look up your nearest city in the zone table on this page for a quick reference. For a more precise zone, visit Natural Resources Canada's Plant Hardiness Zone map, which uses your specific location. Keep in mind that microclimates in your yard (south-facing walls, windbreaks, proximity to water) can shift your effective zone by half a zone or more.
Can I grow plants rated for a warmer zone than mine?
Sometimes. You can push your zone by one half-zone using techniques like south-facing walls for heat reflection, mulching for root insulation, cold frames, or row covers. However, growing plants rated two or more zones warmer is risky and generally not recommended for perennials or fruit trees that need to survive winter outdoors.
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