Kamloops is a beautiful city and a lot of that has to do with the landscapes within and surrounding it. When someone visits our lovely city, they’re most likely to take note of the clay bluffs and hills covered in sagebrush. This is in fact only one part of a diverse collection of hardiness zones that we get to enjoy in our fair city.
Hardiness Map courtesy of City of Kamloops
Kamloops as a whole is categorized as a semi-arid desert. Characteristically, that means these areas are generally a bit cooler than a typical hot and dry desert. And long, dry summers in these regions are followed by winters which generate some precipitation. In Canada, we have hardiness zones ranging from 1 (the coldest) to 8 (the mildest). Kamloops has zones ranging from zone 3 at its highest levels to zone 6 at our valley bottom and within these areas you can also find micro climates where the zones can range again, many things can attribute to this like shading and sun exposure due to structures and existing vegetation like trees and shrubs. This variation in hardiness zones gives us many options for planting depending on where within our city you are located. By following the guidelines associated with our zones, you can give your green spaces the best possible chance at thriving.
Zone 3
- Areas in Kamloops that are classified as a Zone 3 are the highest points of Aberdeen, Rose Hill, and Barnhartvale, as well as most of Knustsford.
- This area has the shortest growing season in Kamloops. The final frost date is usually around May 15 and by September 15 you can likely see the first frost.
- Many vegetables can do very well in zone 3, despite the shorter growing season like leafy greens (kale, certain romaines, collards, and spinach), radishes, cucumbers, peas, potatoes, onions, leeks, rhubarb, broccoli, and asparagus.
- It can be difficult to plant vegetables that need the summer heat like tomatoes and melons but gardens in zone 3 may see success by planting these in containers
- Flowers that are tolerant to zone 3 are the common lilac, tulips, daffodils, amaryllis, hyancinths, and snowdrops to name only a few
- Trees that thrive in zone 3 are the Amur Maple, White Basswood, Cherry Birch, European Mountain Ash, and Gingko Blioba.
Zone 4
- Kamloops areas classified as a Zone 4 are the lower portions of Barnhartvale and Aberdeen, Upper Sahali, Juniper, Dufferin, and some higher points of Westsyde.
- Mid to late May is a general rule for outdoor planting in zone 4 for cold hearty plants and includes but is not limited to asparagus, potatoes, carrots, and beets
- You can see success in zone 4 with vegetables that require a longer growing season by starting them indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost. Examples of this are peppers, tomatoes, squash, corn, and eggplant
- Flowers that love zone 4 are Shasta daisies, yarrow, violets, and hardy geraniums to name a few
- Recommended zone 4 trees include Douglas fir, blue spruce, flowering Crabapple, and red maple
Zone 5
- Kamloops areas that can be classified as zone 5 are Batchelor Heights, Westsyde, Noble Creek, Lower Sahali/TRU, as well as higher areas of Valleyview, Campbell Creek, and Rayleigh
- Any time after our first frost-free day it is safe to plant outdoors (Mid May is typical)
- Zone 5 vegetables that can be planted the earliest include carrots, cauliflower, peas, and onions. If possible, wait to plant cucumber, watermelon, peppers, tomatoes, and pumpkins until later in May or start them indoors 6-8 weeks prior to last frost.
- Zone 5 hardy winter crops include turnips, carrots, leeks, swiss chard, and spinach and can be planted in the late summer for a winter harvest.
- Zone 5 flowers include poppies, lavender, hollyhocks, peonies, and echinacea
- Trees ideally suited for zone 5 are Japanese lilac, weeping willow, serviceberry, and some hardier types of magnolia tree can also do well in zone 5
Zone 6
- Kamloops areas that are considered zone 6, are anything that lie along the lowest points of the city (mostly along the river) and include but are not limited to downtown, Valleyview, Dallas, Brocklehurst, Mission Flats, Heffley Creek, Sun Rivers, and Campbell Creek
- Mid-May is a good guide to begin outdoor planting in zone 6 as long as there is no longer risk of frost
- Zone 6 is an excellent zone for growing vegetables and usually sees a lot of success with hot weather vegetables. Vegetables that do exceptionally well with hot weather are tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, and melons.
- Some winter hardy vegetables tend to taste better having been exposed to a frost or two. Planting things like kale and parsnips in late summer will give you a nice harvest into fall.
- Some flowers that do well in zone 6 are black eyed Susans, bleeding hearts, delphinium, geraniums, and verbena
- Examples of trees that thrive in zone 6 are Austrian Pine, European Mountain Ash, Paper Bark Birch, and Purple Leaf Plum
By knowing and understanding your hardiness zone in Kamloops and then planting accordingly, you are in turn giving whatever you’re wanting to grow the best possible chances at success
Here are some more communities around the Kamloops area as well:
- Adams Lake – 5b
- Anglemont – 6a
- Armstrong – 6b
- Ashcroft – 6b
- Barriere – 6a
- Blind Bay – 6b
- Cache Creek – 5b
- Chase – 6b
- Clearwater – 6a
- Clinton – 4b
- Enderby – 6b
- Falkland – 6a
- Little Fort – 5b
- Logan Lake – 4b
- Lumby – 6b
- McLure – 6a
- Merritt – 6a
- Monte Creek – 6b
- Monte Lake – 5b
- Pritchard – 6b
- Salmon Arm – 6b
- Savona – 6b
- Scotch Creek – 6b
- Shuswap Falls – 6b
- Sicamous – 6b
- Tappen – 6b
- Westwold – 6a