Hardiness refers to a code attributed to a plant based on its capacity to thrive through winter. It is a useful tool to help you choose the plants best adapted to the climate of your region in Quebec.
What is a plant hardiness zone
Agriculture Canada has identified 9 major growth zones ranging from 0 to 8. They have taken into account various elements such as:
- Minimum winter temperatures
- Duration of frost-free periods
- Summer rainfall
- Maximum temperatures
- Snow cover
- January rainfall
- Maximum wind speed
Zone 0 is the hardest and coldest. Few plants have this rating. A plant identified with this rating is grown in almost all areas.
In contrast, zone 9 is not very hardy and often associated with plants from the tropics. A plant with this rating, does not resist in the lower zones.
This index is affected positively or negatively by other conditions such as a microclimate, a wind corridor, an abundant snow cover.
What is my plant hardiness zone
When selecting trees, shrubs and flowers to incorporate into your landscaping, it is important to check the hardiness zone. This new map takes climate change into account.
Consult the map on the Natural Resources Canada website
Hardiness zones for certain cities in Quebec
Cities |
Zones and temperatures |
| Acton Vale | Zone 5a: -28.9°C to -26.1°C |
| Alma | Zone 3b: -37.2°C to -34.4°C |
| Amos | Zone 2a: -45.6°C to -42.8°C |
| Asbestos | Zone 4b: -31.7°C to -28.9°C |
| Baie-Comeau | Zone 4a: -34.4°C to -31.7°C |
| Baie-Saint-Paul | Zone 4b: -31.7°C to -28.9°C |
| Beauport | Zone 5a: -28.9°C to -26.1°C |
| Beaupré | Zone 5a: -28.9°C to -26.1°C |
| Bécancour | Zone 5a: -28.9°C to -26.1°C |
| Belœil | Zone 5b: -26.1°C to -23.3°C |
| Blainville | Zone 5b: -26.1°C to -23.3°C |
| Boucherville | Zone 6a: -23.3°C to -20.6°C |
| Bromont | Zone 5b: -26.1°C to -23.3°C |
| Brossard | Zone 6a: -23.3°C to -20.6°C |
| Chambly | Zone 5b: -26.1°C to -23.3°C |
| Chapais | Zone 2a: -45.6°C to -42.8°C |
| Châteauguay | Zone 6a: -23.3°C to -20.6°C |
| Chibougamau | Zone 2a: -45.6°C to -42.8°C |
| Coaticook | Zone 4b: -31.7°C to -28.9°C |
| Contrecœur | Zone 5b: -26.1°C to -23.3°C |
| Cowansville | Zone 5b: -26.1°C to -23.3°C |
| Dolbeau-Mistassini | Zone 2b: -42.8°C to -40°C |
| Drummondville | Zone 5a: -28.9°C to -26.1°C |
| Fermont | Zone 1a: -51.1°C to -48.3°C |
| Gaspé | Zone 4a: -34.4°C to -31.7°C |
| Gatineau | Zone 5a: -28.9°C to -26.1°C |
| Granby | Zone 5b: -26.1°C to -23.3°C |
| Joliette | Zone 5a: -28.9°C to -26.1°C |
| Jonquière | Zone 3b: -37.2°C to -34.4°C |
| La Malbaie | Zone 4a: -34.4°C to -31.7°C |
| La Prairie | Zone 6a: -23.3°C to -20.6°C |
| La Tuque | Zone 3b: -37.2°C to -34.4°C |
| Lac-Mégantic | Zone 4b: -31.7°C to -28.9°C |
| Laval | Zone 5b: -26.1°C to -23.3°C |
| Lévis | Zone 5a: -28.9°C to -26.1°C |
| Longueuil | Zone 6a: -23.3°C to -20.6°C |
| Magog | Zone 5a: -28.9°C to -26.1°C |
| Mascouche | Zone 5b: -26.1°C to -23.3°C |
| Matane | Zone 4b: -31.7°C to -28.9°C |
| Mont-Joli | Zone 4b: -31.7°C to -28.9°C |
| Mont-Laurier | Zone 4a: -34.4°C to -31.7°C |
| Montmagny | Zone 5a: -28.9°C to -26.1°C |
| Montréal | Zone 6a: -23.3°C to -20.6°C |
| Mont-Saint-Hilaire | Zone 5b: -26.1°C to -23.3°C |
| Mont-Tremblant | Zone 4a: -34.4°C to -31.7°C |
| Nicolet | Zone 5a: -28.9°C to -26.1°C |
| Plessisville | Zone 4b: -31.7°C to -28.9°C |
| Port-Cartier | Zone 4a: -34.4°C to -31.7°C |
| Québec | Zone 5a: -28.9°C to -26.1°C |
| Repentigny | Zone 5b: -26.1°C to -23.3°C |
| Rimouski | Zone 5a: -28.9°C to -26.1°C |
| Rivière-du-Loup | Zone 4b: -31.7°C to -28.9°C |
| Rouyn-Noranda | Zone 2b: -42.8°C to -40°C |
| Saguenay | Zone 3b: -37.2°C to -34.4°C |
| Saint-Basile-le-Grand | Zone 5b: -26.1°C to -23.3°C |
| Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville | Zone 5b: -26.1°C to -23.3°C |
| Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts | Zone 4a: -34.4°C to -31.7°C |
| Sainte-Julie | Zone 5b: -26.1°C to -23.3°C |
| Saint-Eustache | Zone 5b: -26.1°C to -23.3°C |
| Saint-Félicien | Zone 3a: -40°C to -37.2°C |
| Saint-Hyacinthe | Zone 5b: -26.1°C to -23.3°C |
| Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu | Zone 5b: -26.1°C to -23.3°C |
| Saint-Jérôme | Zone 5a: -28.9°C to -26.1°C |
| Saint-Sauveur | Zone 4b: -31.7°C to -28.9°C |
| Salaberry-de-Valleyfield | Zone 5b: -26.1°C to -23.3°C |
| Sept-Îles | Zone 3b: -37.2°C to -34.4°C |
| Shawinigan | Zone 4b: -31.7°C to -28.9°C |
| Sherbrooke | Zone 5a: -28.9°C to -26.1°C |
| Sorel-Tracy | Zone 5b: -26.1°C to -23.3°C |
| Terrebonne | Zone 5b: -26.1°C to -23.3°C |
| Thetford Mines | Zone 4b: -31.7°C to -28.9°C |
| Trois-Rivières | Zone 5a: -28.9°C to -26.1°C |
| Val d'Or | Zone 2b: -42.8°C to -40°C |
| Victoriaville | Zone 4b: -31.7°C to -28.9°C |
