Perennial gardens — beds of plants that return year after year — are the backbone of ornamental landscaping. The best counties for perennials offer cold winters that trigger dormancy and reset growth cycles, combined with summers warm enough to support lush foliage and abundant blooms.
We identified the counties best suited for perennial gardens, using hardiness zone as a proxy for the winter-summer balance that supports the widest variety of hardy ornamental plants.
Best Counties for Perennial Gardens
Franklin County, AL in zone 7b offers the winter chill and summer warmth that perennials need to thrive year after year.
| Rank | County | State | Zone | Min Temp (°F) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Franklin County | AL | 7b | 5 |
| 2 | Jackson County | AL | 7b | 5 |
| 3 | Lauderdale County | AL | 7b | 5 |
| 4 | Marion County | AL | 7b | 5 |
| 5 | Winston County | AL | 7b | 5 |
| 6 | Coconino County | AZ | 7a | 0 |
| 7 | Navajo County | AZ | 7a | 0 |
| 8 | Baxter County | AR | 7b | 5 |
| 9 | Benton County | AR | 7a | 0 |
| 10 | Boone County | AR | 7b | 5 |
| 11 | Carroll County | AR | 7a | 0 |
| 12 | Clay County | AR | 7b | 5 |
| 13 | Cleburne County | AR | 7b | 5 |
| 14 | Crawford County | AR | 7b | 5 |
| 15 | Fulton County | AR | 7a | 0 |
| 16 | Greene County | AR | 7b | 5 |
| 17 | Independence County | AR | 7b | 5 |
| 18 | Izard County | AR | 7b | 5 |
| 19 | Lawrence County | AR | 7b | 5 |
| 20 | Madison County | AR | 7b | 5 |
| 21 | Marion County | AR | 7b | 5 |
| 22 | Newton County | AR | 7b | 5 |
| 23 | Randolph County | AR | 7b | 5 |
| 24 | Searcy County | AR | 7b | 5 |
| 25 | Sharp County | AR | 7b | 5 |
Perennials by Zone
- Zones 4-5: Peonies, lilacs, hostas, daylilies, and coneflowers thrive with reliable winter dormancy.
- Zones 6-7: The perennial paradise — nearly every hardy perennial grows well, from coral bells to Japanese maples.
- Zones 8-9: Lavender, rosemary, and agapanthus join the mix, though some cold-hardy perennials may not get enough chill.
Methodology
Counties in zones 4-8 ranked by proximity to the ideal perennial gardening zones (5-7). Data from USDA PHZM 2023.
Data sourced from USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023) and USDA SSURGO Soil Survey. Hardiness zone data represents average annual extreme minimum temperatures and should be used as a general guide. Local microclimates may vary significantly from county averages.