In the West, Zone 6 includes parts of Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington, then extends narrowly north along the coast of Alaska. Eastern gardeners contend with humidity, while in the West dry heat and a lack of rainfall are the gardening challenges. It covers a Southern belt from Delaware into northern Georgia, then continues west into southern Oklahoma and northern Texas. In the East, ocean influences allow Zone 7 to continue north along the New Jersey coast, Long Island, and Cape Cod. With lower elevations and longer days, many plants thrive in Zone 7.
Winters here are relatively warm, growing seasons are long, and rhododendrons flourish.
One of the smallest regions in the plant hardiness zone map, Zone 9 includes central Florida, the Gulf coast of Louisiana and Texas, much of California, and the southern Oregon coast. This mild-winter region is characterized by a long growing season and almost no winter freeze. Summers are either hot and dry or hot and humid. It stretches along parts of the California coast and covers the tip of Florida, into the Florida Keys. Zone 10 can also be found in northern Kauai and the central part of the island of Hawaii.