Zone 3 - Plants

With the right selection, Zone 3 gardens can still enjoy beautiful blooms, strong foliage, and dependable performance each season. Our high-quality plants at Garden Crossings are specifically selected for Zone 3 conditions, so you can create a garden designed for resilience, reliability, and northern-climate success. Shop plants for your zone!

Red yarrow flowers blooming among green foliage in a Zone 3 garden
Close-up of vibrant 'Astra Blue' Balloon Flower (Platycodon) blooms showing prominent veined petals and green leaves in the background under bright sunlight - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A close-up of the 'Astra Blue' Balloon Flower (Platycodon), a deer-resistant perennial, displays vibrant purple blooms with delicate petal veins, set against green buds and leaves - Photo Courtesy of Pixabay

'Astra Blue' Balloon Flower (Platycodon)

$17.99
$17.99

Cluster of pale pink, star-shaped 'Astra Pink' Balloon Flowers (Platycodon) with light pink veins, green foliage, and several pink buds - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.A close-up of a 'Astra Pink' Balloon Flower (Platycodon) shows its pale pink-purple petals with light violet veins, blooming among green leaves and unopened buds - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

'Astra Pink' Balloon Flower (Platycodon)

$17.99
$17.99

Close-up of densely growing 'Bull's Blood' Beet (Beta) with numerous crinkled leaves in shiny, varied shades of purple-red and visible veins - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

'Bull's Blood' Beet (Beta)

$14.99
$14.99
Close-up of 'Green Jewel' Coneflower (Echinacea) with pale green, spiky petals and a textured green center, set amid lush leaves and blurred pink flowers - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Close-up of several 'Green Jewel' Coneflower (Echinacea) blooms with spiky central disks and narrow green petals, surrounded by leaves and a few blurred pink flowers in the background - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

'Green Jewel' Coneflower (Echinacea)

$17.99
$17.99

'Ice Ballet' Milkweed (Asclepias) features clusters of small white flowers and narrow pointed green leaves, growing outdoors among other plants - - A close-up of 'Ice Ballet' Milkweed (Asclepias) shows clusters of small white flowers amid green leaves, with a blurred background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

'Ice Ballet' Milkweed (Asclepias)

$17.99
$17.99

Close-up of several cone-shaped clusters of pale green and cream 'Limelight' Panicle Hydrangea flowers, with soft green leaves and a background of blurred greenery - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A dense row of 'Limelight' Panicle Hydrangea shrubs showcases large, cone-shaped white flower clusters against a blue sky, with green leaves and mulch at the base - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

'Limelight' Panicle Hydrangea

$23.99
$23.99

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 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
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 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

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
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
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

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 '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 '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
'Angel Bells' Bellflower (Campanula) features lush green foliage and dense clusters of small white bells, thriving in garden beds with mulch and grass - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.A cluster of 'Angel Bells' Bellflower (Campanula) blooms above green foliage in a mulched garden bed, with white flowers with blurred purple blooms and lush grass in the background - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Angel Bells' Bellflower (Campanula)

$19.99
$19.99
A round, dense Anna's Magic Ball® Arborvitae (Thuja) with golden foliage sits among reddish-brown volcanic rocks in a landscaped garden, with a tree trunk visible in the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Two small Anna's Magic Ball® Arborvitae (Thuja) shrubs with dense, bright green to golden needle-like foliage are planted in mulch. The foreground shrub is highlighted, both arranged neatly in a row - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Anna's Magic Ball® Arborvitae (Thuja)

$23.99
$23.99

Arctic Fire® Red Red-Twig Dogwood (Cornus) is a leafless shrub that stands out with many upright, bright red stems in a field of similar plants, set against dry soil and scattered fallen leaves - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A vibrant Arctic Fire® Red Red-Twig Dogwood (Cornus) with lush green leaves grows in a sunlit garden, bordered by grass and other plants, set against a softly blurred natural background - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Arctic Fire® Red Red-Twig Dogwood (Cornus)

$22.99
$22.99

Arctic Fire® Yellow Red-Twig Dogwood (Cornus) features clusters of small white blooms amid broad, veined green leaves, creating a lush look and vibrant winter interest with its bold foliage. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCA dense cluster of Arctic Fire® Yellow Red-Twig Dogwood (Cornus) branches glows yellow amid melting snow, with leafless trees and blue sky behind, evoking early spring or late winter in a natural setting. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

Arctic Fire® Yellow Red-Twig Dogwood (Cornus)

$23.99
$23.99

A close-up of the vibrant 'Arizona Apricot' Blanket Flower (Gaillardia), a butterfly attractant, glowing in sunlight with green leaves and softly blurred foliage in the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Close-up of vibrant yellow and orange 'Arizona Apricot' Blanket Flower (Gaillardia) blooms with round, spiky yellow buds and green foliage - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

Arizona Apricot' Blanket Flower (Gaillardia)

$17.99
$17.99

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
Close-up of Baby Kim® Lilac (Syringa) showing fragrant, light purple star-shaped blooms with green leaves in the background - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.Clusters of small, fragrant lavender blooms are surrounded by green leaves on Baby Kim® Lilac (Syringa), with vibrant flowers densely packed on its compact stems against a blurred grassy background - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Baby Kim® Lilac (Syringa)

$23.99
$23.99
Bouquet of purple flowers on a Bellflower plant for Zone 3 with green leaves on a natural background

Choosing the Right Plants for Zone 3

USDA Hardiness Zone 3 experiences extreme winter cold between -30° and -40°F. It also has a short, intense growing season from June to September. But this doesn’t mean gardeners are limited in their plant options. It’s a common misconception that flowers and shrubs only grow in warm, sunny climates. You just need the right plants!

Zone 3 bushes and shrubs, along with Zone 3 flowers, are chosen for extreme cold tolerance and the ability to thrive in regions with long, harsh winters and short growing seasons.

Bush honeysuckle plants for Zone 3.

Get Your Zone 3 Shrubs and Perennials Delivered

Family-owned and operated, Garden Crossings has a collection of exceptionally hardy perennials, garden shrubs, and ornamental grasses that return year after year despite freezing temperatures and challenging conditions. We also have selections for your growing conditions, from full-sun perennials to full-shade shrubs, to support your plants’ growth. Order online for shipping or pick up at our Zeeland, MI garden center!

FAQs

USDA Hardiness Zone 3 covers northern regions of the United States. This includes parts of northern Minnesota, Wisconsin, and North Dakota. If you’re unsure of your zone, check our Hardiness Zone Map using your ZIP code.

Zone 3 can grow a wide variety of cold-hardy plants that survive cold winter temperatures if cared for properly. Zone 3 bushes and shrubs include lilacs, certain hydrangea species, and arborvitae, an easy-care evergreen. Hostas and coneflowers are great perennials for this zone.

Hostas, black-eyed Susans, and daylilies all grow well in this zone. You should also consider your sunlight conditions to support growth in your garden. For example, daylilies prefer full sun (at least 6 hours), while hostas often grow best in partial shade.