Virginia Climate Snapshot
Understanding your local climate is key to creating a thriving, low-maintenance garden
Hardiness Zones
5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a
Annual Rainfall
36-48 inches annually
Frost Window
April-October (Tidewater), May-September (mountains)
Water Notes
Regular rainfall; supplemental watering in summer
Popular Landscaping Styles
Discover design styles perfectly suited to Virginia's unique climate and landscape
Traditional Virginia style with boxwood parterres and brick paths
Key Features:
- •Formal boxwood hedges
- •Brick or gravel paths
- •Heirloom roses
- •Colonial-era plants
Blue Ridge-inspired naturalistic planting
Key Features:
- •Native Appalachian wildflowers
- •Rhododendrons and azaleas
- •Stone features
- •Woodland understory
Salt-tolerant plants for Tidewater region
Key Features:
- •Salt-tolerant shrubs
- •Sea oats and beach grasses
- •Raised beds for drainage
- •Wind-resistant plants
Classic southern charm with magnolias and hydrangeas
Key Features:
- •Southern magnolias
- •Hydrangeas and gardenias
- •Crepe myrtles
- •Shade-loving perennials
Recommended Plant Palettes
Native and adapted plants that thrive in Virginia's climate
American Dogwood
Cornus florida
State tree and flower with white spring blooms
Virginia Bluebells
Mertensia virginica
Spring ephemeral with blue bell-shaped flowers
Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
Brilliant red flowers attract hummingbirds
Spicebush
Lindera benzoin
Aromatic native shrub; host for swallowtail butterflies
Southern Magnolia
Magnolia grandiflora
Iconic evergreen with fragrant white flowers
Boxwood
Buxus sempervirens
Traditional hedge plant for formal gardens
Crepe Myrtle
Lagerstroemia indica
Summer blooming tree with colorful bark
Lenten Rose
Helleborus orientalis
Early spring bloomer for shade
Joe-Pye Weed
Eutrochium purpureum
Tall native with pink-purple flower clusters
Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
Golden daisy flowers; reliable reseeder
Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
Drought-tolerant with medicinal properties
Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa
Orange flowers; essential for monarchs
Seasonal Garden Checklist
Your year-round guide to maintaining a beautiful Virginia garden
Plant spring bulbs and divide perennials
Mulch beds and plant trees
Prune dormant trees and plan spring garden
Start seeds indoors and prune roses
Plant warm-season vegetables and annuals
Deadhead flowers and water deeply
Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers to common questions about landscaping in Virginia
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