Zone 3 - Perennials

Cold-climate gardens can still offer dependable color, texture, and seasonal interest. Our Zone 3 perennials include bellflowers, catmint, yarrow, salvia, hostas, ferns, and ornamental grasses selected for reliable performance through northern winters. Use these plants in borders, ground covers, and pollinator gardens, while mixing bloom times and foliage to keep Zone 3 flowers lively from spring through fall.
A tall spike of vibrant blue delphinium flowers with white centers stands against a blurred green background of foliage and grass.
Close-up of small, bright blue flowers with yellow centers bloom above the silvery-white veined leaves of 'Jack Frost' Siberian Bugloss (Brunnera), a striking perennial and perfect shade groundcover for a vibrant garden - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A top-down view of small blue flowers with yellow centers blooming above green leaves with silvery veins. 'Jack Frost' Siberian Bugloss (Brunnera) is a beautiful perennial ideal as shade groundcover among lush foliage and pine needle mulch - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

'Jack Frost' Siberian Bugloss (Brunnera)

$18.99
$18.99

'Jack of Diamonds' Siberian Bugloss (Brunnera) features large, heart-shaped leaves with silvery-white surfaces and bold green veins, thriving as a shade-loving ground cover amid other green foliage and mulch - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Top-down view of ‘Jack of Diamonds’ Siberian Bugloss (Brunnera) showcases large, heart-shaped green leaves with silver-white veining, making it an excellent shade ground cover for mulched garden beds amid other foliage - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

'Jack of Diamonds' Siberian Bugloss (Brunnera)

$19.99
$19.99

A large cluster of 'June' Hosta, a shade-loving, slug-resistant plant with broad green leaves and yellow-green centers, is surrounded by leafy plants, including some with white and green variegation - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.The 'June' Hosta features large leaves with blue-green edges and yellow-green centers, flourishing near a concrete path among mulch and surrounding foliage - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

'June' Hosta

$20.99
$20.99

Tall stalks of 'Kobold' Blazing Star (Liatris) bloom among green grass and foliage in bright sunlight - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

'Kobold' Blazing Star (Liatris)

$18.99
$18.99

The 'Lady in Red' Lady Fern (Athyrium) features delicate, feathery green fronds and thrives in shade gardens with rich soil, adding vibrant color among other leafy plants - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A cluster of bright green 'Lady in Red' Lady Fern (Athyrium) fronds grows among rocks and mulch, with broad-leaved plants in the background - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

'Lady in Red' Lady Fern (Athyrium)

$18.99
$18.99

‘Lemon Purrfection’ Catmint (Nepeta) with clusters of small purple flowers planted in a mulched bed with blurred grass in the background - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.Close-up of a cluster of vibrant yellow-green 'Lemon Purrfection' Catmint (Nepeta), a drought-tolerant perennial, displays numerous small purple flowers blooming with grass and soil visible in the garden background - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

'Lemon Purrfection' Catmint (Nepeta)

$17.99
$17.99

Close-up of 'Liberty' Hosta, a shade perennial with striking variegated leaves—yellow edges, green centers, and wavy shapes give this ornamental plant a lush, layered look that showcases its distinctive color pattern - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Close-up of a cluster of 'Liberty' Hosta plants with large green leaves edged in bright yellow provides striking ornamental foliage in a mulched garden bed - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

'Liberty' Hosta

$20.99
$20.99

Close-up of 'Magenta Sprite' Hybrid Spring Phlox in full bloom, showcasing clusters of vibrant magenta flowers with five petals and yellow centers, set among green foliage - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A dense cluster of bright pink 'Magenta Sprite' Hybrid Spring Phlox blooms amid green leaves; - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

'Magenta Sprite' Hybrid Spring Phlox

$18.99
$18.99
Close-up of vibrant red 'Mars Magic' Hollyhock (Alcea) blooms with pale centers, green leaves, and unopened buds - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.'Mars Magic' Hollyhock (Alcea) features vivid red and white blooms with lush green leaves and buds, creating a stunning focal point for any cottage garden - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

'Mars Magic' Hollyhock (Alcea)

$17.99
$17.99

Close-up of tall stems of 'Midnight Masquerade' Beardtongue (Penstemon) showcase trumpet-shaped light purple flowers among dark green and burgundy leaves - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Close-up of clusters of purple and white bell-shaped blooms of 'Midnight Masquerade' Beardtongue (Penstemon), a drought-tolerant perennial, cover green stems in the sun, with lush green foliage softly blurred behind - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

'Midnight Masquerade' Beardtongue (Penstemon)

$20.99
$20.99

'Mighty Mouse' Hosta, with broad green leaves edged in creamy yellow, is a perfect shade garden plant that thrives in a garden beds surrounded by mulch and colorful foliage - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

'Mighty Mouse' Hosta

$18.99
$18.99
‘Mini Skirt’ Hosta is a variegated miniature with wavy green leaves edged in cream. It blooms with clusters of small, light purple flowers - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A close-up of a 'Mini Skirt' Hosta, a shade garden plant with broad, wavy leaves green in the center and yellow at the edges, growing in a black plastic pot - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

'Mini Skirt' Hosta

$18.99
$18.99

A close-up of a 'Miss Manners' Obedient Plant (Physostegia) shows its white tubular blooms and green buds on a spike, framed by long, narrow green leaves - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A close-up of a 'Miss Manners' Obedient Plant (Physostegia) spike with tubular white blooms and green lance-shaped leaves, set against lush background foliage and a wooden structure - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

'Miss Manners' Obedient Plant (Physostegia)

$17.99
$17.99

A cluster of 'Munchkin Fire' Hosta displays light green leaves and tall stems topped with pale purple flowers beside a stone border in a shade garden, surrounded by various foliage plants in the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.The 'Munchkin Fire' Hosta is a compact miniature with long bright yellow-green spikey leaves, thriving in dark soil and shade - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

'Munchkin Fire' Hosta

$18.99
$18.99

The 'Old Glory' Hosta features broad, heart-shaped green leaves and tall flower stalks - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.‘Old Glory’ Hosta features large, textured leaves with bright yellow centers and green edges, forming a lush cluster in mulched soil - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

'Old Glory' Hosta

$18.99
$18.99
‘Onyx and Pearls’ Beardtongue (Penstemon) is a bushy, drought-tolerant plant with dark green-purple foliage and tall stems of pale lavender-white flowers, shown growing in mulched garden beds with blurred greenery behind - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.Onyx and Pearls' Beardtongue (Penstemon) boasts pale purple tubular flowers and dark green-purple foliage, thriving in sunlight - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

'Onyx and Pearls' Beardtongue (Penstemon)

$18.99
$18.99

The sun-loving 'Orange Gnome' Catchfly (Lychnis) displays bright orange-red blooms among green leaves in a garden bed, with dark purple foliage and visible soil in the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Clusters of bright orange flowers from 'Orange Gnome' Catchfly (Lychnis) stand out against dark green foliage, blooming in bright sunlight with a blurred background of purple and green leaves - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

'Orange Gnome' Catchfly (Lychnis)

$18.99
$18.99

A close-up of 'Over in Gloryland' Siberian Iris shows its vibrant deep purple-blue, ruffled petals with white and yellow markings - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

'Over in Gloryland' Siberian (Iris)

$17.99
$17.99
Close-up of a tall cluster of vibrant 'Pagan Purples' Hybrid Bee Delphinium, a striking purple perennial, blooms brilliantly against a soft-focus green cut flower garden background - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.Tall spikes of vibrant blue Pagan Purples' Hybrid Bee Delphinium bloom in the garden amid green foliage, a wood fence and house visible in the background - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

'Pagan Purples' Hybrid Bee Delphinium

$18.99
$18.99

A 'Patriot' Hosta, a shade-loving plant with large green leaves edged in creamy white, grows in the garden bed. Tall stems of light purple flowers rise above its foliage, with soil and mulch below - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.The 'Patriot' Hosta, a shade-loving plant with large green leaves and creamy white edges, flourishes in dark garden soil among twigs and small nearby plants - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

'Patriot' Hosta

$20.99
$20.99

Clusters of 'Perfect Edging' Tall Fescue Grass (Festuca) with narrow green leaves and feathery seed heads thrive in a mulched, low-maintenance garden bed, surrounded by more plants and green grass in the background - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.Close-up of bright green and yellow variegated leaves of 'Perfect Edging' Tall Fescue Grass (Festuca) stand upright against a backdrop of dry mulch and plant debris, emphasizing this low-maintenance, decorative grass’s garden appeal - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

'Perfect Edging' Tall Fescue Grass (Festuca)

$18.99
$18.99
Close-up of tall spikes of pale lavender-white flowers rise from green stems on 'Perfect Profusion' Perennial Salvia with a soft, blurred backdrop in lush outdoor gardens - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.'Perfect Profusion' Perennial Salvia forms dense clusters of tall, slender spikes with small pale purple and white blossoms amid lush green foliage, all vibrant in sunlight - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

'Perfect Profusion' Perennial Salvia

$18.99
$18.99

A dense cluster of small, white flowers with green stems and leaves blooms in bright sunlight—'Peter Cottontail' Yarrow (Achillea) - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Clusters of small, white 'Peter Cottontail' Yarrow (Achillea) flowers with green stems grow densely outdoors in sunlight with a blurred background of soil and greenery - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

'Peter Cottontail' Yarrow (Achillea)

$17.99
$17.99

Close-up of a dense cluster of vibrant purple-pink 'Pink Crush' New England Aster flowers with narrow petals and green stems, set against grass and rocks - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.‘Pink Crush’ New England Aster forms a dense, rounded bush covered in vivid purple-pink blooms, brightening mulched garden beds and green lawns - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

'Pink Crush' New England Aster

$17.99
$17.99

Spintop Red Blanket Flower with red and orange blooms, yellow-tipped petals, and green foliage

Choose Hardy Zone 3 Perennials for Your Growing Conditions

The best perennial garden begins with plants suited to your climate and each bed. These perennials may tolerate low winter temperatures, but they still need the right sunlight, soil drainage, and moisture to perform well. Check each plant’s care information before deciding where it belongs.

When arranging perennials, sunny beds can support yarrow, catmint, false sunflower, milkweed, perennial salvia, and ornamental grasses. In locations with less direct light, hostas, lady ferns, lungwort, and other foliage-rich choices can bring color and texture. Group plants with similar needs together, then leave enough room for each variety to reach its mature size.

Mini Marvels Twilight Bellflower with light purple blooms and dense green foliage

Plan Flowers for Color Across the Seasons

A beautiful Zone 3 garden does not need to bloom all at once. Select Zone 3 flowers with different bloom windows so fresh color continues as the growing season progresses. Bellflowers and catmint can begin the display, while yarrow, milkweed, false sunflower, and salvia provide summer interest. Foliage plants and grasses help carry the design between flowering periods and into fall.

Use the collection filters to compare sun exposure, bloom time, water needs, pollinator value, critter resistance, and design use. You can also find plants suited to borders, mass plantings, containers, ground cover, and cut-flower gardens.

Shop online or from a family-owned nursery with more than 20 years of plant-shipping experience. Every order is personally inspected before leaving Garden Crossings, helping you start with healthy plants selected for garden success.

FAQs

Plant these perennials in the springtime after the soil becomes workable, and the risk of a hard freeze has passed. Early fall planting is also possible, but we recommend planting them six weeks before the first freeze.

Plants such as catmint, yarrow, salvia, and bellflower can provide weeks of color when planted in suitable conditions. Combine plants with different bloom times to enjoy these perennials from late spring through fall.