Cold hardiness

Future

2050

2100

These values are location-based: this location's current hardiness is the baseline, and the 2050 value is a projected future climate for this same location.

Now

Zone 6b

USDA

Published baseline for this location from 1991-2020.

Source: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (1991-2020 climatology) via ArcGIS FeatureServer

Well-suited

2050

Zone 7a

Plotwright

Projected zone for this same location in 2050 (2041-2070) using SSP3-7.0 (regional rivalry).

Well-suited

In plain terms: This location is in Zone 6b today. Its hardiness profile is cold winters, and coldest nights are typically around -3°F. By 2050, the projected hardiness zone is Zone 7a based on SSP3-7.0 (regional rivalry). That is a +0.5-zone shift from Zone 6b to Zone 7a by 2050.

✓

Well-suited today and still thriving in 2050.

Heat tolerance

Future

2050

2100

Heat tolerance values are location-based too: heat days today are observed at this site, and the 2050 value projects this same location under a future climate.

Loading AHS heat-zone data for this location...

Where this plant fits

Suitable across 45 ecoregions — 45 climate-resilient through 2070. Best matches first.

Appalachian mixed mesophytic forests

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Appalachian-Blue Ridge forests

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Arizona Mountains forests

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Atlantic coastal pine barrens

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Blue Mountains forests

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California coastal sage and chaparral

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Canadian Aspen forests and parklands

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Central Pacific Northwest coastal forests

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Central Tallgrass prairie

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Central-Southern Cascades Forests

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What it needs

Conditions

Light

Full sun / Part shade

Water

Consistent moisture

Spacing

9"

Habit

Low non-heading cool-season leaf vegetable grown as an annual

Care tips

•

Grow it in the cool ends of the season — early spring or mid-to-late summer for a fall crop — since summer plantings tend to bolt (Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder).

•

Keep watering consistent and harvest early to delay bolting; it tolerates light frosts, so a fall crop can run well into cool weather.

•

Harvest at any size by picking individual leaves or cutting the whole head at ground level — even seedling thinnings are edible.

Lifecycle

Planting

Pak choi is a cool-season plant grown in full sun to part shade with medium water. Sow seed about a quarter-inch deep in early spring for a spring and early-summer crop, or in mid-to-late summer for a fall crop; it tolerates light frosts (Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder).

Transplanting

Spacing depends on the variety and intended use — baby varieties are grown closer together and full-size types farther apart. Row covers help protect transplants and direct-sown plants from insects and frost (Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder).

Early growth

Keep watering consistent. Summer plantings tend to bolt (run to flower), though steady moisture and harvesting early help delay it (Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder).

Maturity

Harvest whenever the plant reaches the desired size by picking individual leaves or cutting the whole head at ground level. Pak choi is edible as seedlings, small immature heads, large mature heads, and even while flowering (Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder).

Propagation

Grown from seed each season as an annual, sown directly in early spring or mid-to-late summer (Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder).

Pollination

Pollination not applicable

Bok choy is harvested as an annual leaf vegetable, normally before or during early flowering, so pollination is not part of producing the edible crop — Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder records its flowers as insignificant and not showy. (As a Brassica rapa it would be insect-pollinated and largely self-incompatible if grown on to set seed, but that is only relevant to seed savers.)

For people

Edible

Grown specifically as an edible vegetable. Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder describes pak choi as edible as seedlings, small immature heads, large mature heads, and while flowering; the stems are mild and juicy while the leaves have a cabbage-like flavor, and it can be eaten raw in salads or braised, steamed, stir-fried, or cooked in soups.

Native range

AHS heat range

1-6

Climate notes

•

Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder lists Brassica rapa (Chinensis Group) for USDA zones 2 to 11, grown as an annual vegetable in full sun to part shade with medium water; flowers are insignificant and not showy.

•

A cool-season crop that will tolerate light frosts: Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder notes summer plantings tend to bolt, so it is timed to the cool ends of the season — sown in early spring or mid-to-late summer rather than mid-summer.

•

Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder lists insect pests including flea beetles and caterpillars such as cabbage loopers and cutworms, plus slugs and snails; the group also includes pak choi, Chinese celery cabbage, Chinese white cabbage, mustard cabbage, and choysum.

In the designer

Growth over time

2-7" tall · 2-7" spread

Seedlings emerge from seed sown about a quarter-inch deep; thinnings are already edible.

Design roles: Edible

Seasonal interest

Spring

Summer

Fall

Winter

Filled = the plant has seasonal interest · ▾ now = your current season

Bok choy

At a glance

Related products

Why it matters

Cold hardiness

Heat tolerance

Where this plant fits

What it needs

Lifecycle

Pollination

For people

Native range

Climate notes

In the designer

Seasonal interest

Sources & citations