WILD RABBIT CO. LEARNING CENTER

Knowledge that grows
with your garden.

Practical, zone-specific guidance from growers who have tested these plants in real backyards across North America.

Browse Plant Guides Start with the Basics
Hardiness Zones
Understand your climate and pick plants with confidence.
Growing Fundamentals
Sun, soil, water, and the basics that matter most.
Seasonal Calendar
What to do in your garden each month by region.
Plant Guides
In-depth profiles for every variety we grow.
Kids Corner 🌱
Coloring pages, fun facts, and activities for young gardeners!

Understanding Your Hardiness Zone

Your USDA zone is the single most important piece of information for choosing plants that will survive winter and thrive in summer.

Quick Reference

Zone 3–4 −40°F to −20°F • Very cold
Zone 5–6 −20°F to 0°F • Cold winters
Zone 7–8 0°F to 20°F • Mild winters
Zone 9–11 20°F to 40°F+ • Warm to tropical
View the official USDA map →

Pro Tips from Our Growers

  • Always choose plants rated for your zone or colder.
  • Microclimates matter — south-facing walls can bump you up one zone.
  • First-year plants are most vulnerable. Protect new trees and shrubs the first two winters.
  • Heat and humidity can be just as limiting as cold in zones 9–10.

Growing Fundamentals

Sunlight

Most vegetables, herbs, and flowering perennials need 6–8 hours of direct sun. Trees and some woodland plants do well in partial shade. Track sun patterns in your yard before planting.

Watering

Deep, infrequent watering builds strong roots. Most established plants need about 1 inch of water per week. Morning is best. Drip irrigation or soaker hoses dramatically reduce disease.

Soil Health

Healthy soil is 50% minerals, 25% air, 25% water, and living organisms. Add compost annually. Avoid walking on wet beds. Test your soil every 3–4 years — it’s the cheapest insurance you can buy.

Seasonal Care Calendar

A month-by-month rhythm that works in most zones. Adjust timing by 2–4 weeks depending on your specific climate.

EARLY SPRING
  • • Prune dormant trees & roses
  • • Start cool-season seeds indoors
  • • Divide perennials as soon as soil thaws
  • • Apply compost to beds
LATE SPRING
  • • Harden off and plant warm-season crops
  • • Install supports for tomatoes & peas
  • • Mulch after soil has warmed
  • • Watch for late frosts
SUMMER
  • • Deep water 1–2× per week
  • • Deadhead flowers for more blooms
  • • Harvest regularly to encourage production
  • • Scout for pests weekly
FALL & WINTER
  • • Plant garlic, spring bulbs, and trees
  • • Leave seed heads for birds
  • • Clean and oil tools
  • • Protect young evergreens from heavy snow

In-Depth Plant Guides

Click any plant for growing tips, common problems, companion plants, and zone-specific advice.

Brandywine Tomato
Garden • Zones 4–11
The gold standard heirloom. Deep flavor and large fruit that needs strong support and consistent moisture.
Lacinato Kale
Garden • Zones 6–10
Cold-hardy “dinosaur” kale. Harvest outer leaves all winter in milder zones.
Munstead Lavender
Garden • Zones 5–9
Compact and fragrant. Loves poor, sandy soil and full sun. Prune after flowering.
Karl Rosenfield Peony
Flower Bed • Zones 3–8
Bomb-double crimson blooms. Plant shallow, divide rarely, and enjoy for decades.
Magnus Coneflower
Flower Bed • Zones 3–9
Drought tolerant once established. Leave seed heads for goldfinches in winter.
Rozanne Geranium
Flower Bed • Zones 5–8
Longest-blooming hardy geranium. Excellent groundcover and pollinator plant.
Eastern Redbud
Tree • Zones 4–9
Early spring color before leaves emerge. Native understory tree that loves dappled light.
Kousa Dogwood
Tree • Zones 5–8
Disease-resistant alternative to native dogwood with beautiful exfoliating bark.
Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry
Tree • Zones 4–9
Four seasons of interest: flowers, edible berries, stunning fall color.
Sungold Cherry Tomato
Garden • Zones 4–11
Explosively sweet. Give it a very strong cage — it becomes enormous.
Glacier Tomato
Garden • Zones 3–7
The earliest and most cold-tolerant tomato that still tastes great.
Moonshine Yarrow
Flower Bed • Zones 3–8
Vivid lemon-yellow blooms; deer resistant and drought tolerant.
Kousa Dogwood
Tree • Zones 5–8
Disease-resistant dogwood with four-season interest.

More in-depth guides (with video) coming soon for every variety we offer.

FOR YOUNG GARDENERS

Kids Corner 🌱

Color these beautiful plants, learn cool facts, and become a plant expert!

Tomato plant coloring page
Happy Tomato Plant
Tomatoes are fruits! They grow on vines and need lots of sun and water to turn red and juicy.
Download
Sunflower coloring page
Tall Sunflower
Sunflowers turn to follow the sun! Their seeds are a favorite snack for birds and people.
Download
Redbud tree coloring page
Spring Redbud Tree
Redbud trees are covered in pink flowers before their leaves come out in spring. They are native to North America!
Download
Lavender coloring page
Lavender with Bee
Lavender smells amazing and bees love it! The purple flowers make delicious honey.
Download
Garden coloring page
Busy Garden Scene
Gardens are full of life! Kale, flowers, and friends all grow together when we take good care of the soil.
Download
Serviceberry tree coloring page
Serviceberry Tree & Friends
Serviceberries have white flowers, sweet berries for birds (and kids!), and beautiful red leaves in fall.
Download

Tip for parents: Print on thick paper or cardstock for best coloring results. Use crayons, markers, or colored pencils!

Video Library

Practical demonstrations filmed on our Missouri farm (Zone 6b).

COMING SOON
How to Plant a Bare-Root Tree
12 min • Zone 4–8
Tomato Pruning Masterclass
18 min • All Zones
Building Healthy Soil Without Tilling
9 min • All Zones

Have a specific question about your garden?

Our team of growers answers questions from customers every week.

We usually reply within 24–48 hours.