Gardening in USDA Hardiness Zone 5 can be both rewarding and challenging, with temperatures ranging from -20°F to -10°F during the coldest months. However, with the right plant selection, you can create a beautiful, thriving landscape that will endure the harsh winters and flourish in the milder seasons.
This article showcases a diverse array of perennials, shrubs, and trees that are well-suited to the growing conditions in Zone 5. From colorful flowers to attractive foliage and eye-catching textures, these plants will help you design a garden that provides year-round interest and enhances the beauty of your outdoor space.
1) Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
Bring a burst of sunshine to your garden with these cheerful, daisy-like flowers that bloom from summer to fall. Black-eyed Susans are easy to grow, tolerate various soil types, and thrive in full sun. Deadhead spent flowers regularly to encourage continuous blooming. These low-maintenance beauties are perfect for borders, meadows, or naturalized areas, attracting pollinators and adding a vibrant touch to any landscape.
2) Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
Beloved by butterflies and bees, purple coneflowers are sturdy perennials that showcase stunning, purple blooms from summer to fall. They thrive in full sun and well-drained soil, making them a reliable choice for any garden. Deadhead regularly to prolong the flowering period. These native plants are drought-tolerant and low-maintenance, and add a beautiful, rustic charm to borders or meadows.
3) Daylily (Hemerocallis)
Available in a wide range of colors and sizes, daylilies are a favorite among gardeners for their easy care and prolific blooms. These resilient perennials flower from early summer to fall and tolerate various soil types. Plant them in full sun to part shade and enjoy their graceful, trumpet-shaped flowers. Daylilies are perfect for borders, foundations, or massed plantings, providing a colorful and carefree addition to your garden.
4) Hosta (Asparagaceae)
Create a lush, serene oasis in shady areas with the varied foliage of hostas. These reliable perennials come in a range of sizes and leaf colors, from deep green to blue-green, variegated, or chartreuse. They prefer moist, well-drained soil and can tolerate heavy shade. Hostas are excellent for ground cover, borders, or containers, but be sure to watch out for slugs and snails. Divide them every few years to maintain their vigor and share with friends.
5) Peonies (Paeonia)
Add timeless beauty and fragrance to your garden with the exquisite blooms of peonies in spring. These long-lived perennials prefer full sun and well-drained soil. Plant them shallow and avoid disturbing the roots to ensure healthy growth. Provide support for the heavy flowers to prevent them from drooping. Peonies make stunning cut flowers and are perfect for borders or as specimen plants, offering a romantic and elegant touch to any landscape.
6) Astilbe
Bring texture and color to shady gardens with the feathery plumes of astilbes in shades of pink, red, or white. These graceful perennials bloom in summer and thrive in moist, rich soil. Plant them in areas with partial shade and divide them every few years to maintain their vigor. Astilbes are perfect for woodland gardens, borders, or alongside streams and ponds, creating a lush and enchanting atmosphere.
7) Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’
Enjoy the changing colors of this succulent perennial, featuring pink blooms that turn rusty-red in fall. Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ is drought-tolerant and low-maintenance, making it perfect for sunny spots with well-drained soil. Avoid overwatering to prevent root rot. This hardy plant is excellent for borders, rock gardens, or as a groundcover, providing interest throughout the seasons with its attractive foliage and flowers.
8) Coral bells (Heuchera spp.)
Add a splash of color to your shade garden with the vibrant foliage of coral bells in shades of purple, silver, or green. These versatile perennials also produce delicate flower spikes in summer, attracting hummingbirds. They prefer partial shade and well-drained soil. Divide them every 3 – 4 years to maintain their vigor. Coral bells are perfect for borders, containers, or groundcover, providing year-round interest with their stunning leaves.
9) Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia)
Create a stunning display of silvery foliage and lavender-blue flowers with this hardy, drought-tolerant perennial. Russian sage blooms from summer to fall and thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. Prune it back in early spring to encourage bushiness and maintain its shape. This aromatic plant is perfect for borders, rock gardens, or as a backdrop for other perennials, adding a touch of elegance and movement to your landscape.
10) Catmint (Nepeta spp.)
Delight in the aromatic, gray-green foliage and spikes of lavender-blue flowers that bloom from spring to fall, attracting pollinators to your garden. Catmint prefers full sun and tolerates dry soil, making it a low-maintenance choice for borders or rock gardens. Shear back the plant after flowering for a fresh flush of growth. This reliable perennial is perfect for massing or as a companion plant, providing a soft, calming presence in the landscape.
11) Salvia
Add vibrant hues to your garden from summer to fall with the various colors and sizes of salvia. These hardy perennials prefer full sun and well-drained soil, making them a reliable choice for borders or containers. Deadhead spent flowers to encourage continuous blooming and maintain a tidy appearance. Salvias attract pollinators and hummingbirds, bringing life and movement to your garden with their colorful, upright spikes.
12) Coreopsis
Brighten up your summer-to-fall garden with the cheery, daisy-like flowers of coreopsis in shades of yellow, orange, or red. These drought-tolerant and low-maintenance perennials thrive in full sun and well-drained soil. Deadhead regularly to prolong the flowering period and encourage a tidy growth habit. Coreopsis is perfect for borders, rock gardens, or naturalized areas, providing a burst of color and attracting pollinators to your landscape.
13) Bee balm (Monarda spp.)
Attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds to your garden with the shaggy, colorful blooms of bee balm in summer. This fragrant perennial prefers full sun to part shade and moist, well-drained soil. Divide the plant every 2 – 3 years to control its spread and maintain healthy growth. Bee balm is perfect for borders, meadows, or herb gardens, providing a beautiful and aromatic addition to your landscape.
14) Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Enjoy the delicate, flat-topped clusters of tiny flowers in various colors, blooming from summer to fall. Yarrow is drought-tolerant, low-maintenance, and thrives in full sun. Divide the plant every 2 – 3 years to maintain its vigor and prevent overcrowding. This versatile perennial is perfect for borders, rock gardens, or as a filler in bouquets, providing a soft, textural element to your landscape.
15) Shasta daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum)
Add a classic touch to your summer-to-fall garden with the crisp, white blooms of Shasta daisies. These reliable perennials prefer full sun and well-drained soil, making them easy to grow and maintain. Deadhead spent flowers to encourage continuous blooming and keep the plant looking tidy. Shasta daisies are perfect for borders, cutting gardens, or as a charming companion plant in cottage-style landscapes.
16) Lamb’s ear (Stachys byzantina)
Create a soft, inviting texture in your garden with the silvery, velvety foliage of lamb’s ear. This low-maintenance and drought-tolerant perennial prefers full sun to part shade and well-drained soil. Trim back the foliage in spring to maintain a tidy appearance and prevent the plant from becoming invasive. Lamb’s ear is perfect for borders, rock gardens, or as a groundcover, providing a soothing and tactile element to your landscape.
17) Burning bush (Euonymus alatus)
Add a fiery burst of color to your fall landscape with the brilliant red foliage of burning bush. This hardy, deciduous shrub tolerates various soil types and prefers full sun to partial shade. Prune in late winter or early spring to maintain its shape and size. Burning bush is perfect for hedges, screens, or as a focal point in your garden, providing a stunning display of fall hues.
18) Panicled hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata)
Enjoy the large, conical clusters of white flowers that gracefully age to pink from summer to fall on this hardy hydrangea. It prefers full sun to part shade and moist, well-drained soil. Prune in late winter or early spring to maintain its shape and encourage healthy growth. Hydrangea paniculata is perfect for borders, foundations, or as a specimen plant, adding a romantic and elegant touch to your landscape.
19) Viburnum
Discover the versatility of viburnums, offering attractive foliage, fragrant flowers, and colorful berries. These adaptable shrubs prefer full sun to part shade and moist, well-drained soil. Prune after flowering to maintain their shape and promote healthy growth. Viburnums are perfect for hedges, screens, or as specimen plants, providing year-round interest and attracting birds to your garden.
20) Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius)
Enjoy the attractive foliage and clusters of white or pink flowers in spring on this tough, adaptable shrub. Ninebark tolerates various soil types and prefers full sun to part shade. Prune in late winter or early spring to maintain its shape and remove any dead or damaged branches. This versatile shrub is perfect for hedges, screens, or as a backdrop for perennials, providing texture and interest to your landscape.
21) Dogwood (Cornus spp.)
Add year-round beauty to your garden with the colorful stems, attractive flowers, and vibrant fall foliage of dogwoods. These versatile shrubs prefer full sun to part shade and moist, well-drained soil. Prune in late winter or early spring to maintain their shape and promote healthy growth. Dogwoods are perfect for borders, foundations, or as specimen plants, providing a stunning display of color and texture throughout the seasons.
22) Barberry (Berberis thunbergii)
Create a low-maintenance and colorful hedge or border with the vibrant foliage of barberry in shades of green, yellow, or red. These spiny shrubs are drought-tolerant and prefer full sun to part shade. Prune in late winter or early spring to maintain their shape and remove any dead or damaged branches. Barberries are perfect for adding texture, color, and security to your landscape.
23) Spirea
Delight in the graceful, arching branches and clusters of white or pink flowers that bloom in spring or summer on these reliable shrubs. Spireas prefer full sun and moist, well-drained soil. Prune after flowering to maintain their shape and encourage healthy growth. These versatile shrubs are perfect for borders, foundations, or as specimen plants, adding a delicate and charming touch to your landscape.
24) Weigela
Enjoy the charming display of trumpet-shaped flowers in shades of pink, red, or white, blooming from late spring to early summer on these graceful shrubs. Weigelas attract hummingbirds and butterflies, adding life and movement to your garden. They prefer full sun to part shade and moist, well-drained soil. Prune after flowering to maintain their shape and promote healthy growth. Weigelas are perfect for borders, foundations, or as specimen plants, providing a colorful and inviting focal point in your landscape.
25) Forsythia
Welcome the arrival of spring with the spectacular display of bright yellow flowers on these hardy, fast-growing shrubs. Forsythias are easy to grow, tolerate various soil types, and prefer full sun to part shade. Prune immediately after flowering to maintain their shape and encourage healthy growth. These vibrant shrubs are perfect for hedges, screens, or as a focal point in your garden, signaling the start of the gardening season with their cheery blooms.
