So, what zone are we in anyway?
It’s not a question so easily answered up in the Appalachian mountains. Or any mountain area. We are full of micro climates up here. Where your land is located, or even pockets of areas within your land, can make a big difference in temperature.
If you Google it, most sites tell you that Asheville is in zone 7. This is technically correct. Zone 7 lows are 0-10 degrees, and only about every decade or so does it go lower, and that’s usually by just a few degrees. The last time it dipped below zero was in 2014 when it got to -1, according to the NWS.
But there are some problems with that. First is wind. If you are in an exposed area, the winter brings a lot of wind and rain, and that combo can exacerbate the freezing temps and more likely to cause damage to plants.
The biggest problem though is lack of snow. Snow creates a protective insulating barrier that helps regulate root temperature and protect the plant from extremes. Combine that with wide temperature fluctuations, particularly in late winter and spring, and it makes winters hard on many plants, particularly if they don’t have developed root systems (planted that season.)
In short, we suggest sticking with plants that are rated zone 6 or above for most of Asheville. The really high elevations, say around 3000 and above may want to go with zone 5, particularly if there is a lot of wind in that area. Wind and rain can be a real problem when there isn’t any lasting snow.
Some popular plants for zone 7 are very tempting- gardenias and camellias for example. If you just can’t help yourself, try to plant them in an area with some wind protection, mulch them well, and make sure to plant them in spring. A spring planting gives it the most time to get established before winter.