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.
A dense cluster of light purple 'Stand By Me Lavender' Bush Clematis flowers with yellow centers, surrounded by green leaves and unopened buds - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.‘Stand By Me Lavender’ Bush Clematis, a perennial that resists deer and rabbits, shows off light purple blooms and green leaves outdoors, supported by wooden stakes with more flowers softly blurred in the background - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

'Stand By Me Lavender' Bush Clematis

$21.99
$21.99

A hand holds a pink 'Stand By Me Pink' Bush Clematis bloom with five pointed petals and a yellow center, set against green leaves - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.A lush cluster of 'Stand By Me Pink' Bush Clematis with light purple and pink bell-shaped blooms and green leaves grows on a trellis in a compact vine display, surrounded by other pink and green plants - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

'Stand By Me Pink' Bush Clematis

$21.99
$21.99
A close-up of the 'Stand By Me' Bush Clematis shows its purple, bell-shaped flowers with drooping petals and green leaves against a blurred grassy background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A dense cluster of 'Stand By Me' Bush Clematis blooms with purple, bell-shaped flowers and green leaves stands in a garden bed, showcasing its non-clinging vine form among some dry twigs in the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

'Stand By Me' Bush Clematis

$21.99
$21.99

Close-up of 'Summer Cloud' Dwarf Delphinium features vibrant blue flowers with white and yellow centers, accented by green buds and leaves - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

'Summer Cloud' Delphinium

$17.99
$17.99

'Summer Nights' Dwarf Delphinium features sapphire-blue, heat-tolerant blooms with delicate petals on slender green stems and leaves, thriving in a natural outdoor setting - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

'Summer Nights' Delphinium

$17.99
$17.99

A top-down view of a bushy Sun King' Golden Japanese Spikenard (Aralia) with bright green leaves grows among mulch and other plants in a garden bed, with purple flowers visible on the right side - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCLarge Sun King' Golden Japanese Spikenard (Aralia) with bright green, compound leaves dominates a shaded garden. Pink flowers and various other green plants surround the bush, with tall trees and dense foliage in the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

'Sun King' Golden Japanese Spikenard (Aralia)

$18.99
$18.99

A lush clump of bright green 'Sun Mouse' Hosta, a perennial shade plant, grows in a garden bed near a stone and gravel path - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

'Sun Mouse' Hosta

$18.99
$18.99
'Time in A Bottle' Hosta features standout yellow-green, wavy-edged leaves and small clusters of light blue flowers - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.'Time in A Bottle' Hosta features wavy, bright yellow-green leaves that stand out among purple-blue flowers, with soil and stone paving bordering the garden bed - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

'Time in A Bottle' Hosta

$20.99
$20.99
Several lush blue and gold 'Touch of Class' Hosta plants with broad, heart-shaped leaves featuring creamy yellow centers thrive in soil alongside other small green shade garden plants - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.The 'Touch of Class' Hosta is a stunning shade garden plant with large blue-green, heart-shaped leaves and light green streaks, shown growing outdoors among pine needles and branches - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

'Touch of Class' Hosta

$20.99
$20.99

A dense cluster of bright yellow 'Tuscan Sun' False Sunflower (Heliopsis) with green leaves, grows in a garden against a black lattice fence and other plants - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.A cluster of bright yellow 'Tuscan Sun' False Sunflower (Heliopsis) blooms with green leaves fills the frame, creating a cheerful, dense display - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

'Tuscan Sun' False Sunflower (Heliopsis)

$19.99
$19.99

Close-up of tall spikes of vibrant purple 'Violet Profusion' Perennial Salvia with green leaves grow closely in a garden bed, adding lasting color with blurred plants in the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.'Violet Profusion' Perennial Salvia features tall spikes of small, vibrant purple flowers rising above lush green foliage, making a striking addition to any garden bed - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

'Violet Profusion' Perennial Salvia

$18.99
$18.99

Close-up of ‘Violets are Blue’ Hybrid Bee Delphinium with vibrant blue flowers with white centers amid green foliage, as some buds stay closed, adding contrast to the open blossoms - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.Spikes of ‘Violets are Blue’ Hybrid Bee Delphinium bloom in vibrant purple and blue among deeply lobed green leaves, with shrubs creating a lush backdrop for this striking perennial garden display - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

'Violets are Blue' Hybrid Bee Delphinium

$19.99
$19.99

The 'Vulcan' Hosta, a striking shade perennial, features large white-centered variegated leaves in a garden bed, complemented by yellow-green ornamental grass and brown mulch - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.A cluster of 'Vulcan' Hosta, a prized shade perennial, boasts large leaves with creamy white centers and dark green edges, creating a lush display in the garden - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

'Vulcan' Hosta

$17.99
$17.99
Close-up of a 'Webmaster' Spiderwort (Tradescantia) flower with three purple petals, yellow stamens, and long green leaves. Other similar perennial flowers and buds appear among the surrounding foliage - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.'Webmaster' Spiderwort (Tradescantia) features slender green leaves and small purple flowers, thriving in mulched garden beds among grass and lush greenery - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

'Webmaster' Spiderwort (Tradescantia)

$15.99
$19.99 $15.99
‘White Profusion’ Perennial Salvia is a bushy perennial with tall spikes of small white flowers and green leaves, shown growing in a mulched pollinator garden bed among more ‘White Profusion’ plants in the background - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.Close-up of ‘White Profusion’ Perennial Salvia features dense green stems topped with clusters of delicate white blooms, ideal for creating a thriving pollinator garden against a lush green outdoor backdrop - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

'White Profusion' Perennial Salvia

$18.99
$18.99

A 'Wrinkle in Time' Hosta with green and yellow variegated leaves and purple, bell-shaped flowers on tall stems. Several more are slightly blurred in the background - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.‘Wrinkle in Time’ Hosta is a standout shade perennial with green leaves edged in yellow and tall stems of small purple flowers. Ideal for borders, it thrives among other hostas and leafy plants in the garden or greenhouse - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

'Wrinkle in Time' Hosta

$18.99
$18.99
Top-dwon view of a vibrant cluster of Athena Gold™ False Sunflower (Heliopsis) perennial blooms bright yellow in a wood-mulched garden bed, with green leaves peeking below the dense flowers - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.Athena Gold™ False Sunflower (Heliopsis) is a bushy yellow perennial with bright daisy-like blooms above green leaves, thriving in a garden bed mulched with wood and surrounded by grass - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

Athena Gold™ False Sunflower (Heliopsis)

$19.99
$19.99
A dense clump of tall, slender, purple-tinted Blackhawk' Big Blue Stem Grass (Andropogon) grows in a garden with green grass and other plants in the background - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.Close-up of dark purple blades of Blackhawk' Big Blue Stem Grass (Andropogon) with yellowish pollen, set against a blurred green background - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

Blackhawks' Big Blue Stem Grass (Andropogon)

$17.99
$17.99
Clusters of bright orange Butterfly Weed Milkweed (Asclepias) flowers bloom above green, slender leaves, with buds still unopened—creating a dense, vibrant butterfly garden display - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Clusters of vivid orange Butterfly Weed Milkweed (Asclepias) flowers with narrow green leaves thrive in full sun - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Butterfly Weed Milkweed (Asclepias)

$17.99
$17.99

Close-up of several Chick Charms® Apple Teaser Hens & Chicks (Sempervivum) with pointed, reddish-purple-tipped leaves, arranged closely together and thriving in natural outdoor light - Photo Courtesy of Garden Solutions.A close-up of Chick Charms® Apple Teaser Hens & Chicks (Sempervivum), a drought-tolerant perennial with pointed green leaves tipped in dark red, forming a neat rosette in a small black pot - Photo Courtesy of Garden Solutions.

Chick Charms® Apple Teaser Hens & Chicks (Sempervivum)

$9.89
$10.99 $9.89
Close-up of Chick Charms® Butterscotch Baby™ Hens & Chicks (Sempervivum), a hardy succulent with pointed, fleshy leaves in varied hues, glistening with water droplets - Photo Courtesy of Garden Solutions.Close-up of Chick Charms® Butterscotch Baby™ Hens & Chicks (Sempervivum), a hardy succulent with pointed, fleshy leaves in red and green tones arranged in a fuzzy-edged rosette - Photo Courtesy of Garden Solutions.

Chick Charms® Butterscotch Baby™ Hens & Chicks (Sempervivum)

$9.99
$9.99

Close-up of Chick Charms® Candied Apple Hens & Chicks (Sempervivum), showing burgundy-red, pointed rosette leaves with water droplets. Yellowish-green foliage of this drought-tolerant perennial appears in the background - Photo Courtesy of Garden Solutions.

Chick Charms® Candied Apple Hens & Chicks (Sempervivum)

$8.99
$9.99 $8.99

Close-up of Chick Charms® Cherries Jubilee™ Hens & Chicks (Sempervivum), a drought-tolerant perennial with pointed, fleshy leaves in a rosette pattern, showcasing water droplets and a subtle red-green color gradient - Photo Courtesy of Garden Solutions.

Chick Charms® Cherries Jubilee™ Hens & Chicks (Sempervivum)

$8.99
$9.99 $8.99

Close-up of Chick Charms® Choco-Latte Hens & Chicks (Sempervivum), a drought-tolerant perennial with dark red, pointed fleshy leaves in a rosette pattern. Tiny hairs line the smooth leaf edges, showcasing its unique texture - Photo Courtesy of Garden Solutions.

Chick Charms® Choco-Latte™ Hens & Chicks (Sempervivum)

$8.99
$9.99 $8.99
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.