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.
Top-down view of 'Pink Profusion' Perennial Salvia with tall spikes of vibrant purple and pink flowers packed among green leaves, creating a dense, colorful display all season from this reblooming perennial - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Close-up of 'Pink Profusion' Perennial Salvia features tall spikes of vibrant pink and purple blooms surrounded by green foliage, creating a lively, colorful garden display - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

'Pink Profusion' Perennial Salvia

$18.99
$18.99

Clusters of small, bell-shaped 'Pink-a-Blue' Lungwort (Pulmonaria) flowers in blue and pink bloom early in the season above green leaves speckled with white - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.A dense bush of 'Pink-a-Blue' Lungwort (Pulmonaria) with green, spotted leaves and clusters of small funnel-shaped pink and blue flowers blooms early in the season, thriving in soil - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

'Pink-a-Blue' Lungwort (Pulmonaria)

$19.99
$19.99

‘Praying Hands’ Hosta features dense clumps of unique, wavy green leaves edged in creamy white - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.‘Praying Hands’ Hosta features dense, wavy green leaves and clusters of light purple tubular flowers. This unique foliage hosta is a standout in a shade garden creating vibrant texture among lush greenery - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

'Praying Hands' Hosta

$17.09
$18.99 $17.09

Close-up of 'Prince of Orange' Oriental Poppy (Papaver) features bright orange blooms with dark purple centers and green foliage - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.'Prince of Orange' Oriental Poppy (Papaver) features bright red flowers with delicate petals and fuzzy green stems, set among lush green foliage - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

'Prince of Orange' Oriental Poppy (Papaver)

$17.99
$17.99

Spikes of 'Purple Passion' Hybrid Bee Delphinium feature deep purple blooms with white centers above lush green foliage. Some top buds stay unopened - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.Tall spikes of 'Purple Passion' Hybrid Bee Delphinium with vibrant purple blooms and white centers rise above green, deeply lobed foliage, creating a stunning perennial display perfect for cut flowers. A blurred tree and fence provide a peaceful backdrop - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

'Purple Passion' Hybrid Bee Delphinium

$18.99
$18.99

Close-up of a cluster of small, five-petaled 'Purple Sprite' Hybrid Spring Phlox flowers in purple and pink shades with dark centers and green foliage densely packed in bright natural light - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A vibrant cluster of 'Purple Sprite' Hybrid Spring Phlox blooms densely in a garden bed, featuring green leaves and brown mulch - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

'Purple Sprite' Hybrid Spring Phlox

$17.09
$18.99 $17.09
Close-up of several blooming 'Purring Tiger' Siberian Iris with vibrant yellow petals marked by dark purple veins and centers, set against a blurred natural background - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.A cluster of 'Purring Tiger' Siberian Iris blooms with purple and yellow petals and green stems grows in a mulched garden bed - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

'Purring Tiger' Siberian (Iris)

$18.99
$18.99
A close-up of a 'Queen Alexander' Oriental Poppy (Papaver) shows its luminous pink petals with bold black markings, framed by lush green, fern-like foliage - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.A cluster of tall, pink 'Queen Alexander' Oriental Poppy (Papaver) flowers with feathery green foliage thrives in a perennial garden bed, accented by mulch, rich greenery, and yellow blossoms in the background - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

'Queen Alexandra' Oriental Poppy (Papaver)

$17.99
$17.99

Large, heart-shaped leaves with silver-white surfaces and dark green veins form a dense cluster in 'Queen of Hearts' Siberian Bugloss (Brunnera), creating a striking mounding ground cover among surrounding greenery - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.'Queen of Hearts' Siberian Bugloss (Brunnera) features large, heart-shaped green leaves with silvery-white veins and a slightly rough texture - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

'Queen of Hearts' Siberian Bugloss (Brunnera)

$19.99
$19.99

Three large, pink 'Radiant Rose' Hollyhock (Alcea) perennial flowers with pale yellow centers bloom vertically on a green stem, surrounded by broad, textured leaves and lush dark green foliage - Photo Courtesy of Swift GreenhousesClose-up of 'Radiant Rose' Hollyhock (Alcea) flower with vibrant pink petals, a yellow center, and detailed veining, set against lush green leaves and other perennials in the background - Photo Courtesy of Swift Greenhouses

'Radiant Rose' Hollyhock (Alcea)

$17.99
$17.99
'Rainbow's End' Hosta, known for its broad variegated foliage, stands out among green plants and pink flowers in this vibrant shade perennial garden setting - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.'Rainbow's End' Hosta features variegated green and yellow leaves, set amid blue flowers in the foreground and pink bleeding heart perennials with yellow-green foliage in the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

'Rainbow's End' Hosta

$18.99
$18.99

Clusters of vibrant purple 'Rapido Blue' Bellflower (Campanula) bloom in a sunlit garden bed with lush green leaves, grass, and dark soil visible beneath - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Close-uip of 'Rapido Blue' Bellflower (Campanula) features purple, bell-shaped blooms above green foliage with several buds. Long, pointed leaves with green and yellow stripes add contrast in the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

'Rapido Blue' Bellflower (Campanula)

$17.99
$17.99

A 'Rapido White' Bellflower (Campanula) displays white bell-shaped blooms and green foliage in a sunny garden bed, with taller green plants behind - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A cluster of white, bell-shaped 'Rapido White' Bellflower (Campanula) blooms with yellow-green centers and buds, surrounded by green leaves - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

'Rapido White' Bellflower (Campanula)

$17.99
$17.99

A close-up of the 'Raspberry Eclipse' Daylily (Hemerocallis) shows ruffled yellow edges and a yellow center, surrounded by green leaves and buds - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A close-up of the 'Raspberry Eclipse' Daylily (Hemerocallis) shows ruffled pinkish-purple petals edged in yellow, blooming amid green foliage - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

'Raspberry Eclipse' Daylily (Hemerocallis)

$17.99
$17.99
Close-up of ‘Rays For Days’ False Sunflower (Heliopsis) features bright yellow double blooms with dense, layered petals set against lush green foliage - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.A thriving clump of Rays For Days' False Sunflower (Heliopsis) displays bright yellow blooms and lush green leaves in a mulched, pollinator-friendly garden, set against a backdrop of grass - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

'Rays For Days' False Sunflower (Heliopsis)

$13.99
$19.99 $13.99
Close-up of 'Rose Sprite' Hybrid Spring Phlox showcases a dense cluster of vibrant purple and pink blooms with delicate petals and yellow centers, set against lush green foliage - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A dense cluster of vibrant pink 'Rose Sprite' Hybrid Spring Phlox, a drought-tolerant plant, blooms amid green foliage in a mulched garden bed alongside other plants - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

'Rose Sprite' Hybrid Spring Phlox

$18.99
$18.99
Close-up of ‘Rosy Returns’ Daylily (Hemerocallis) shows off vibrant pink blooms with yellow stamens above green, grass-like leaves, with additional flowers soft-focused in the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.'Rosy Returns' Daylily (Hemerocallis) features rosy pink blooms with yellow centers above grass-like green leaves, adding hardy, everblooming color to gardens alongside purple and red flowers - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

'Rosy Returns' Daylily (Hemerocallis)

$17.99
$17.99

A close-up of a 'Royal Wedding' Oriental Poppy (Papaver) with delicate, ruffled pale pink petals blooms in a garden filled with green leaves and other colorful flowers in the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A close-up of the 'Royal Wedding' Oriental Poppy (Papaver) shows its pale pink, crinkled petals and dark center, surrounded by green leaves and stems. It features delicate water droplets on its blooms - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

'Royal Wedding' Oriental Poppy (Papaver)

$17.99
$17.99
A dense cluster of 'Ruby Giant' Coneflower (Echinacea) with pink petals and dark orange-brown centers blooms in sunlight, surrounded by green leaves. People appear blurred in the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A vibrant garden blooms with 'Ruby Giant' Coneflower (Echinacea), a beautiful drought-tolerant plant, in front of leafy green trees. A white wooden garden obelisk supports purple climbing flowers in the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

'Ruby Giant' Coneflower (Echinacea)

$19.99
$19.99

The 'School Mouse' Hosta, a miniature variety with wavy green leaves and light purple flowers, thrives among pine needles and soil - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.The 'School Mouse' Hosta, a charming miniature hosta with ruffled leaves, grows beautifully in garden beds with pine needles and soil - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

'School Mouse' Hosta

$18.99
$18.99

Top-down view of 'Seasons in the Sun' Hosta forming a dense cluster of large, bright golden-yellow leaves in the garden bed - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.‘Seasons in the Sun’ Hosta features lush, golden-yellow leaves that brighten shaded gardens bordered by soil and mulch - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

'Seasons in the Sun' Hosta

$18.89
$20.99 $18.89
‘Silly String’ Hosta is a compact variety with blue-green, long, narrow, wavy-edged leaves that form a dense, fountain-like cluster—an ideal choice to add unique texture and charm to your garden - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.A cluster of 'Silly String' Hosta, featuring blue foliage and drooping, bell-shaped purple flowers, grows in a garden bed surrounded by lush greenery - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

'Silly String' Hosta

$18.99
$18.99

Tall green 'Soulmate' Milkweed (Asclepias) plants show clusters of small pink-purple flowers. In the background, blurred red-roofed farm buildings and greenery under a bright sky - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.

'Soulmate' Milkweed (Asclepias)

$17.99
$17.99
Close-up of ‘Spot On’ Lungwort (Pulmonaria) features green leaves with white spots and clusters of small pink and purple flowers - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A cluster of 'Spot On' Lungwort (Pulmonaria) shows green leaves with white spots and purple-blue and pink blooms, thriving in mulched soil with a yellow-green shade plant in the background - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

'Spot On' Lungwort (Pulmonaria)

$19.99
$19.99

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.