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.
Outline of a house with pink and white flowers in front on a white background - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.Diagram showing plant layout with colored circles and measurements - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

EZ Scapes™ - Sun-Loving Extravaganza - Garden Kit

$148.42
$156.36 $148.42
Dense clumps of Feather Falls™ Sedge (Carex), a variegated plant with long, slender green and white striped leaves, growing outdoors in soil - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.A Feather Falls™ Sedge (Carex), known for its long green and white striped leaves and fuzzy, wheat-like flower spikes, is potted on a patio with decorative metal furniture in the background - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

Feather Falls™ Sedge (Carex)

$15.99
$19.99 $15.99

Clusters of small, white Festival Star® Baby's Breath (Gypsophila) flowers with green leaves and stems create a lush, dense look. These delicate blooms are surrounded by fresh greenery - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A close-up of Festival Star® Baby's Breath (Gypsophila) shows clusters of tiny white flowers and green stems against a blurred background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Festival Star® Baby's Breath (Gypsophila)

$17.99
$17.99

A close-up of 'Fiesta Time' Hollyhock (Alcea) displays compact, double rose-pink blooms with frilly petals and a white fringe, set among green leaves and a softly blurred outdoor background - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.Fiesta Time' Hollyhock (Alcea) features large, frilly pink and white double blooms rising above green leaves alongside delicate yellow and white wildflowers, set against a softly blurred green background for a charming cottage garden look - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

Fiesta Time' Hollyhock (Alcea)

$17.99
$17.99
The Frog in My Throat Hosta, a large variety with striking green and white leaves, thrives in soil covered with pine needles - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.The Frog in My Throat Hosta is a large hosta with variegated leaves showcasing creamy yellow centers surrounded by green edges. Viewed from above against a dark backdrop and lush greenery - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

Frog in My Throat Hosta

$19.99
$19.99
Garden Girls® 'Cover Girl' Tall Garden Phlox bursts with vibrant purple blooms and lush green leaves with a blurred green background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A cluster of vibrant purple Garden Girls® 'Cover Girl' Tall Garden Phlox with green leaves, surrounded by more purple and pink blooms in a garden bed with soil visible at the bottom - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Garden Girls® 'Cover Girl' Tall Garden Phlox

$17.99
$17.99
Garden Girls® 'Dream Girl' Tall Garden Phlox features clusters of vibrant purple blooms with white centers and green foliage in the garden, offering fragrant, reblooming flowers - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.A lush bush of Garden Girls® 'Dream Girl' Tall Garden Phlox, featuring abundant clusters of bright purple flowers, grows among green foliage and white blooms in a garden bed before a brick building - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

Garden Girls® 'Dream Girl' Tall Garden Phlox

$19.99
$19.99
Garden Girls® 'Fancy Girl' Tall Garden Phlox displays vibrant light purple and pink blooms with delicate petals and dark green foliage - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.Garden Girls® 'Fancy Girl' Tall Garden Phlox showcases dense clusters of five-petaled light purple blooms among green foliage, with darker plants visible in the background to the right - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

Garden Girls® 'Fancy Girl' Tall Garden Phlox

$19.99
$19.99
Close-up of Garden Girls® 'Glamour Girl' Tall Garden Phlox features vibrant coral pink blooms with lush green foliage, thrives in bright sunlight - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A dense cluster of coral pink Garden Girls® 'Glamour Girl' Tall Garden Phlox blooms amid green foliage and tall grass on a sunny day - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Garden Girls® 'Glamour Girl' Tall Garden Phlox

$19.99
$19.99

Close-up of vibrant pink Garden Girls® 'Material Girl' Tall Garden Phlox bloom in the foreground, with more pink flowers and green foliage blurred behind - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.A vibrant cluster of Garden Girls® 'Material Girl' Tall Garden Phlox in full bloom, surrounded by green grass and other plants, creates a stunning perennial display in a garden setting - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

Garden Girls® 'Material Girl' Tall Garden Phlox

$17.99
$19.99 $17.99
Close-up of Garden Girls® 'Party Girl' Tall Garden Phlox features clusters of light pink and white blooms with purple centers set against lush green foliage, creating a dense, vibrant perennial flower display - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Garden Girls® 'Party Girl' Tall Garden Phlox features clusters of tall green stems topped with numerous pale purple and white perennial blooms, perfect for adding color to any outdoor garden setting - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Garden Girls® 'Party Girl' Tall Garden Phlox

$19.99
$19.99
Close-up of Garden Girls® 'Uptown Girl' Tall Garden Phlox displays clusters of vibrant pink, five-petaled blooms surrounded by green leaves and buds, highlighting the lasting beauty of this long-blooming perennial - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A cluster of vibrant pink Garden Girls® 'Uptown Girl' Tall Garden Phlox blooms above green leaves, showcasing this long-blooming perennial against a blurred grassy backdrop - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Garden Girls® 'Uptown Girl' Tall Garden Phlox

$17.99
$17.99

A striking display of 'Green Twister' Coneflower (Echinacea) features large brown centers and petals blending green, yellow, and pink - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.

Green Twister Coneflower (Echinacea)

$17.99
$17.99

Vibrant Hearts on Fire' Bleeding Heart plant with bright yellow-green leaves and clusters of red flowers with white tips, photographed in a garden setting. - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.A flowering Hearts on Fire' Bleeding Heart with bright yellow-green leaves and clusters of red heart-shaped flowers, growing outdoors in mulch with a stone wall and greenery in the background. - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

Hearts on Fire' Bleeding Heart (Dicentra)

$19.99
$19.99
Close-up of Living Large® Big Sky Perennial Salvia features tall spikes of purple-blue flowers on green stems and leaves, blooming outdoors in bright sunlight - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.A lush garden bed showcases Living Large® Big Sky Perennial Salvia, a large bush with dense spikes of vibrant purple-blue flowers and green foliage - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

Living Large® Big Sky Perennial Salvia

$19.99
$19.99

Luminary® 'Backlight' Tall Garden Phlox features abundant small white blooms atop tall green stems, flourishing outdoors amid lush greenery with blurred garden plants in the background - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.Clusters of Luminary® 'Backlight' Tall Garden Phlox display vibrant, powdery mildew-resistant white blooms atop green stems and leaves, with a blurred background emphasizing the delicate petals and lush appearance - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Luminary® 'Backlight' Tall Garden Phlox

$19.99
$19.99

A cluster of Luminary® 'Opalescence' Tall Garden Phlox, a mildew-resistant, fragrant perennial with blooming pink flowers and green leaves, grows in a garden bed against a blurred grass and soil background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Luminary® 'Opalescence' Tall Garden Phlox blooms in light pink with darker centers on green stems amid lush garden foliage - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Luminary® 'Opalescence' Tall Garden Phlox

$19.99
$19.99

A large Luminary® 'Pink Lightning' Tall Garden Phlox, a vibrant and pollinator-friendly plant, flourishes outdoors with clusters of bright pink flowers and dark green leaves among trees and other blooming plants - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.Close-up of Luminary® 'Pink Lightning' Tall Garden Phlox with clusters of vibrant pink blooms with tightly packed petals, creating a lush, colorful display - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Luminary® 'Pink Lightning' Tall Garden Phlox

$18.99
$18.99

A lush garden showcases Luminary® 'Prismatic Pink' Tall Garden Phlox, its vivid purple-pink blooms and rich green foliage standing out among perennials - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.Clusters of Luminary® 'Prismatic Pink' Tall Garden Phlox bloom amidst silvery-green foliage against a brick wall - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

Luminary® 'Prismatic Pink' Tall Garden Phlox

$19.99
$19.99

Luminary® 'Sunset Coral' Tall Garden Phlox displays vibrant coral pink blooms amid green foliage and ornamental grasses, adding brilliant color to the garden with a lush backdrop of greenery and blurred landscape - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.Luminary® 'Sunset Coral' Tall Garden Phlox features a cluster of vibrant coral pink and red blooms with small purple centers, densely blooming against green grass - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Luminary® 'Sunset Coral' Tall Garden Phlox

$19.99
$19.99

A garden bed featuring the vibrant Luminary® 'Ultraviolet' Tall Garden Phlox in full bloom, surrounded by white daisies with yellow centers and tall green grasses as a backdrop - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Luminary® 'Ultraviolet' Tall Garden Phlox features bright magenta blooms and green leaves, making this perennial stand out in garden beds, especially with blurred plants in the background - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

Luminary® 'Ultraviolet' Tall Garden Phlox

$19.99
$19.99

A cluster of vibrant yellow Mega Millions' Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), a pollinator-friendly perennial, blooms with dark brown centers amid green foliage and wood chip mulch - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.Top-down view of a cluster of Mega Millions' Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia) with bright yellow, pollinator-friendly blooms featuring dark centers grows among lush green leaves and wood chip mulch in a garden - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Mega Millions' Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia)

$17.99
$17.99
A dense growth of blooming purple bell-shaped Mini Marvels™ 'Midnight' Bellflower (Campanula) grows in a garden bed, surrounded by green foliage and soil - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.Dense clusters of vibrant purple, bell-shaped Mini Marvels™ 'Midnight' Bellflower (Campanula) bloom close to the ground as a stunning perennial ground cover, framed by green foliage and soil, with lush greenery in the background - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Mini Marvels™ 'Midnight' Bellflower (Campanula)

$17.99
$19.99 $17.99

A compact Mini Marvels™ 'Starbright' Bellflower (Campanula) plant with dense clusters of small white flowers and green foliage in a mulched or wood chip-covered garden beds - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.A dense bush of Mini Marvels™ 'Starbright' Bellflower (Campanula), covered in numerous white bell-shaped flowers, grows in a mulched garden bed. A small white plant label is visible behind - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Mini Marvels™ 'Starbright' Bellflower (Campanula)

$18.99
$18.99
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.