United States regional guide · RI
Permaculture in Rhode Island
Rhode Island’s compact landscape is strongly moderated by Narragansett Bay and the Atlantic. Salt wind, humid summers, acidic soils, and dense settlement make small-space guilds and coastal shelter especially relevant.
USDA span
6a–7b
Census region
Northeast
Climate starting point
USDA hardiness zones in Rhode Island
Rhode Island includes USDA zones 6a–7b. Hardiness zones describe typical annual extreme minimum temperatures; within-state elevation, wind, water, soil, and urban heat can change what succeeds on a particular site.
Regional plant starting points
Plants to explore for a Rhode Island design
These plants are useful starting points for researching a design in Rhode Island. Confirm each choice against your exact zone, site conditions, local ecology, and management goals.
Crabapple
Malus sylvestris
- Layer
- Sub-Canopy
- Type
- Deciduous Tree
Lowbush Blueberry
Vaccinium angustifolium
- Layer
- Groundcover
- Type
- Perennial
Cranberry
Vaccinium macrocarpon
- Layer
- Groundcover
- Type
- Perennial
Red Raspberry
Rubus idaeus
- Layer
- Shrub
- Type
- Perennial
American Gooseberry
Ribes hirtellum
- Layer
- Shrub
- Type
- Perennial
Beach Strawberry
Fragaria chiloensis
- Layer
- Groundcover
- Type
- Perennial