European USDA Hardiness Zone Map

[sped94]

It is very difficult to find a decent map of USDA zones in Europe. What do you think of this one? It’s the only one that divides the continent into sub-zones. To me it seems very detailed in some areas and at the same time inaccurate in others, perhaps due to a lack of data...

Here the link: https://ddg-web.de/whz.html

[Than]

29 minutes ago, sped94 said:

It is very difficult to find a decent map of USDA zones in Europe. What do you think of this one? It’s the only one that divides the continent into sub-zones. To me it seems very detailed in some areas and at the same time inaccurate in others, perhaps due to a lack of data...

Here the link: https://ddg-web.de/whz.html

Looks quite accurate to me. Of course as always we must take this zoning system as an indication only. Which areas you think are not very accurate due to lack of data?

[sped94]

59 minutes ago, Than said:

Looks quite accurate to me. Of course as always we must take this zoning system as an indication only. Which areas you think are not very accurate due to lack of data?

I'm not an expert on the climates of other European countries, so I can only make some observations regarding Italy, where, for example, I see that the Tyrrhenian coast of Liguria and Tuscany is considered less mild than the Adriatic coast, which is impossible...

[Than]

7 minutes ago, sped94 said:

I'm not an expert on the climates of other European countries, so I can only make some observations regarding Italy, where, for example, I see that the Tyrrhenian coast of Liguria and Tuscany is considered less mild than the Adriatic coast, which is impossible...

I see. For Greece I think it's quite precise and surprisingly conservative, as previous maps show many areas as warmer than they really are. This one looks correct. At the end of the day, we know best our garden's climate and temperatures and that's what matters for each one of us.

[Silas_Sancona]

14 hours ago, sped94 said:

It is very difficult to find a decent map of USDA zones in Europe. What do you think of this one? It’s the only one that divides the continent into sub-zones. To me it seems very detailed in some areas and at the same time inaccurate in others, perhaps due to a lack of data...

Here the link: https://ddg-web.de/whz.html

Look at Plant Maps.. They include numerous places in Europe in their data.. 

Spain for example:



Only  " fyi " i might add is i don't know if they did an update ( to their maps ) the same way Plant Maps data was updated here in the states,  back in 2023. 

Believe the Euro maps can be viewed in both C and F scale as well. 

[Than]

12 hours ago, Silas_Sancona said:

Look at Plant Maps.. They include numerous places in Europe in their data.. 

Spain for example:



Only  " fyi " i might add is i don't know if they did an update ( to their maps ) the same way Plant Maps data was updated here in the states,  back in 2023. 

Believe the Euro maps can be viewed in both C and F scale as well. 

I find the Greek map quite crude.. throwing large areas into the same zone when they are clearly very different in terms of climate. I can talk about the Peloponnese where I live: no way Sparta and Kalamata be in the same zone. Also some strange things on that map: for example parts of Attica are in zone 10a while Pylos in 9b? No way. 

[sped94]

15 hours ago, Silas_Sancona said:

Look at Plant Maps.. They include numerous places in Europe in their data.. 

Spain for example:



Only  " fyi " i might add is i don't know if they did an update ( to their maps ) the same way Plant Maps data was updated here in the states,  back in 2023. 

Believe the Euro maps can be viewed in both C and F scale as well. 

I already knew this map, but it’s terrible… there are a lot of areas that have been classified completely at random!

[Silas_Sancona]

5 hours ago, Than said:

I find the Greek map quite crude.. throwing large areas into the same zone when they are clearly very different in terms of climate. I can talk about the Peloponnese where I live: no way Sparta and Kalamata be in the same zone. Also some strange things on that map: for example parts of Attica are in zone 10a while Pylos in 9b? No way. 

 

2 hours ago, sped94 said:

I already knew this map, but it’s terrible… there are a lot of areas that have been classified completely at random!

As mentioned,  ..it's a map,  none of which will ever be perfect..  Perfection = doesn't exist. 

Accuracy over there? Since i don't live there, no clue how relevant / accurate to fine scale the data might  ...or might not... be but,  where i'm located,  it's within the ballpark   ..which is a good enough starting point.   Emphasize  ..starting  point.

I actually think it's a tad too conservative where i'm located..  That said, 

More detailed / dialed - down /  local micro- climate level nuances,  within the overall, less detailed / noisier context of my " assigned" climate zone? 

..i can drive around and figure those out,  without map - assistance.. 

 

[Arecaceus]

On 1/14/2026 at 2:11 PM, sped94 said:

I already knew this map, but it’s terrible… there are a lot of areas that have been classified completely at random!

Yes this map is crap tbh. It even has some mountainous very cold regions as extremely mild spots that don't make any sense.

[Arecaceus]

I think in general USDA maps are not so useful for our European climates. There is too much variation within small areas and a lot of water. In our cooler/colder regions like here in the North West USDA zones are very confusing to many because there are some places that only get hard frosts every once in a while but some others that get them constantly. For example: A region could be 9a even when they get -6°C for weeks every year. They are literally only the average absolute low for 30 years. For our purposes of growing certain plants this doesn't tell you anything most of the times.

[Aceraceae]

Too small to see small islands but Shetland really is zone 9. It looks like it might be on this map but hard to see.