Whether you’re planting a traditional lawn or an eco-friendly alternative, knowing which seeds will thrive in your region can save you time, water, and effort.
Most homeowners start with the USDA Hardiness Zone Map. It’s useful, but it’s only half the story.
The USDA map shows the average annual minimum winter temperature of your region, helping gardeners understand cold tolerance and winter survivability. But it does not indicate which plants will thrive once they’re in the ground.
Earthwise Seed Co. uses a 7-Region Climate Zone Map designed around the factors that truly shape sustainable lawn success: heat, humidity, rainfall patterns, drought cycles, soil behavior, and seasonal swings.
This approach helps homeowners choose seed mixes — native, alternative, or eco-friendly — that require less water, less mowing, no fertilizers, and thrive because they are meant to be there.
USDA Hardiness Zones: When Cold Matters
The USDA Hardiness Zone Map measures average minimum winter temperatures. According to the USDA, Hardiness Zones “serve as general guides for growing perennial plants” and are based on the “average lowest winter temperatures for a given location over a 30-year span (1991–2020).”
Gardeners use this information to estimate
- Cold tolerance
- Frost timing
- When perennials can survive the winter
However, these zones do not account for heat, humidity, drought, soil moisture, or summer stress — factors that strongly affect plant performance.
Climate Zones: What Grows Best
Two places can share the same USDA zone but behave like completely different ecosystems.
Example — both are USDA Zone 9b:
- Florida: Hot, humid, sandy soil, heavy summer rain
- Arizona: Extremely hot, dry, alkaline soil, very low humidity
Same USDA zone. Completely different planting needs.
That’s why Earthwise Seed Co. uses Climate Regions that divide the U.S. based on real-world growing conditions, helping you choose seeds that will thrive sustainably in your region.
Earthwise Climate Zones
- Cold & Humid
- Cool & Humid
- Temperate & Humid
- Hot & Humid
- Hot & Dry
- Cool & Dry
- Temperate & Mixed
These zones help identify what plants — native species, low maintenance lawns, and other eco-friendly alternatives — will thrive long-term with minimal inputs.
USDA vs. Climate Zones: A Clear Comparison
| Factor | USDA Hardiness Zone | Earthwise Climate Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Measures | Winter minimum temperature | Year-round climate behavior |
| Helps determine | WHEN to plant | WHAT will thrive |
| Considers heat/humidity | No | Yes |
| Considers drought/rain patterns | No | Yes |
| Good for | Frost timing, perennial survival | Sustainable lawn success |
| Predicts seed performance | Limited | Excellent |
Using Both Maps Together = Best Results
- USDA Zone → When to plant
- Climate Zone → What to plant for long-term success
This dual approach helps homeowners:
✔️ Have a lawn that fits its climate
✔️ Achieve low-water, low-maintenance growth
✔️ Avoid fertilizer use
✔️ Build Long-term resilience
Explore Eco-Friendly & Alternative Lawn Solutions
Earthwise Seed Co. offers a full range of sustainable lawn options — including native and non-native alternatives — designed to thrive naturally in your region.
One of our flagship offerings is Alternative Lawn Seed Mixes, which includes:
- Microclover blends
- Low-grow options
- Drought-tolerant mixes
- Clover-forward alternatives
These mixes are specifically formulated to create lawns that are:
- Low-maintenance: Less mowing required
- Water-efficient: Less irrigation needed
- Fertilizer-free: Designed to thrive without chemical inputs
- Biodiverse: Support pollinators and healthy ecosystems
- Resilient: Adapted to your local climate
- Natural: A lawn that truly belongs in your environment
The Bottom Line
USDA Hardiness Zones tell you when your climate supports planting.
Earthwise Climate Regions tell you what will grow best in your environment.
Together, they help you build a landscape that is:
- Eco-friendly
- Low-maintenance
- Water-efficient
- Fertilizer-free
- Resilient
- Beautiful
- And truly suited to your climate
This is the foundation of a sustainable lawn because it’s planted with species that are meant to be there. Explore our region-specific mixes and create a lawn that’s low-maintenance, beautiful, and naturally suited to your environment.