Agricultural or plant hardiness zones dictate what flora can grow in that specific geographical area. Here's a map of the US ... You'll note that most of the population lives in Zones 8-5. The hardiness zones are based on the lowest average temperatures of that region.
(map from www.burpee.com)
When you look at seed catalogs or online plant guides, you'll find a multitude of options that are specifically suited for growth in Zones 8-5.
That's why sometimes it's a little tricky to find what works down here in Zone 9b. Often on seed packets you'll read, "plant after danger of frost has passed"...hard to know exactly when that means if it never frosts.
The lack of frost is especially flummoxing for citizens of Zone 9b that aren't native to the area. Transplanted from lands filled with peonies, lilacs and tulips, the lack of winter can make gardening a unique challenge. While you still CAN grow some of these plants by imitating winter, it's a lot of work. It makes sense to accept what actually thrives down here.
Oh, and why the b? Each zone has an "a" and a "b" - usually doesn't matter that much, but in the nearly tropic area of Zone 9b, it actually makes a bit of a difference. We can grow things in Zone 9b that others north of us really can't...citrus, hibiscus, birds of paradise all are very happy here.
A few resources:
Month-by-Month Gardening In Florida by Tom MacCubbin
Happy Gardening Zone 9b-ers!
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