Michigan spans multiple USDA Plant Hardiness Zones, primarily zones 4, 5, and 6. These zones correspond to average minimum winter temperatures ranging approximately from -30°F to 0°F. More specifically:
- Northern parts of Michigan, including the Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula, tend to fall into zones 4a and 4b, which have colder winters with minimum temperatures between -30°F and -20°F.
- Central and southern parts of Michigan are generally in zones 5a, 5b, and 6a, where winter minimums range from about -20°F to -5°F.
- Some warmer pockets, especially in the southern Lower Peninsula near the Great Lakes, reach zone 6b with minimum temperatures from -5°F to 0°F
This range reflects Michigan's continental climate with colder northern areas and milder southern regions. The USDA zones help gardeners choose plants suited to their local winter conditions. For example, Detroit is in zone 6b, while areas like Marenisco in the north are in zone 4a
