Zone 5 Plants for Color, Structure, and Cold-Hardy Performance

Gardeners in USDA Zone 5 have plenty of options for creating colorful, layered landscapes. Zone 5 is defined by an average annual extreme minimum winter temperature of -20°F to -10°F, with Zone 5a covering -20°F to -15°F and Zone 5b covering -15°F to -10°F.

Garden Crossings offers zone 5 plants suited to those colder winter conditions, including flowering shrubs, evergreens, and other landscape choices. When planning your garden, start with hardiness, then consider sunlight, soil moisture, mature size, and seasonal interest.

Zone 5 Plants for Color, Structure, and Cold-Hardy Performance
A dense cluster of 'Whitecap' Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum) fills the frame, with yellow-centered white blooms and green foliage - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.A close-up of 'Whitecap' Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum) blooms displays crisp white petals and yellow centers overlapping, with these cheerful perennial flowers filling the frame in a fresh, vibrant display - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.

'Whitecap' Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum)

$17.99
$17.99

A dense patch of yellow-flowering Woodland Elf' Barrenwort (Epimedium), with delicate blooms and elongated, reddish-green leaves - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.'Woodland Elf' Barrenwort (Epimedium) is a bushy groundcover with yellow flowers and long green leaves tinged reddish-brown beside a trellis fences and rocks in a garden bed - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

'Woodland Elf' Barrenwort (Epimedium)

$18.69
$21.99 $18.69
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
A close-up of fresh, ripe ‘Allstar’ Strawberry Junebearing (Fragaria) with green leaves, displayed on a green and white plate. The strawberries are red with visible seeds and look juicy - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

Allstar' Strawberry - Junebearing (Fragaria)

$10.99
$10.99
Close-up of three Amazing Daisies® 'Banana Cream II' Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum) blooms with white petals and yellow centers, surrounded by green leaves and stems in natural sunlight - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A cluster of Amazing Daisies® 'Banana Cream II' Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum) with yellow centers blooms in dark mulch, surrounded by purple flowers and green foliage - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Amazing Daisies® 'Banana Cream II' Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum)

$18.99
$18.99

Top-down view of Amazing Daisies® 'Marshmallow' Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum) with white, frilly-petaled blooms with yellow centers, great for brightening gardens amidst lush green foliage. - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc. A cluster of Amazing Daisies® 'Marshmallow' Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum) with white petals and yellow centers blooms in a garden bed with green leaves and mulch, set against a grassy background - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Amazing Daisies® 'Marshmallow' Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum)

$18.99
$18.99

Close-up of Amazing Daisies® 'Spun Silk' Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum) blooms with yellow centers and long, narrow petals, set against lush green foliage for a fresh, vibrant look in a perennial garden - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A cluster of Amazing Daisies® 'Spun Silk' Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum) displays white, frilled petals and yellow centers among green foliage - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Amazing Daisies® 'Spun Silk' Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum)

$16.14
$18.99 $16.14

Top-down view of Amazing Daisies® Daisy May® Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum) features clusters of white blooms with yellow centers and lush green foliage, creating a cheerful, perennial display that brightens any garden when grown in sunny outdoor spots - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A cluster of Amazing Daisies® Daisy May® Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum) blooms with white petals and yellow centers, nestled among green foliage and soil, highlighting the beauty of this classic perennial - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Amazing Daisies® Daisy May® Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum)

$19.99
$19.99

Close-up of purple lavender Salvia 'Amethyst Fringe' flowers in a field with a soft, blurred background of similar blossoms and green foliage. - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.A flowering Salvia 'Amethyst Fringe' with tall spikes of purple blossoms and abundant green foliage, photographed outdoors among other plants under a cloudy sky. - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

Amethyst Fringe' Perennial (Salvia)

$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)

$22.99
$40.99 $22.99

Two dark red, yellow-centered 'Aphrodite' Sweetshrub (Calycanthus) flowers bloom among green leaves in sunlight, with a white house partially visible in the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.‘Aphrodite’ Sweetshrub (Calycanthus) is a fragrant flowering shrub with numerous deep red, cup-shaped blooms and lush green foliage that glows in sunlight - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Aphrodite' Sweetshurb (Calycanthus)

$23.99
$23.99

An Aquavita® Juniper (Juniperus), an evergreen shrub with dense blue-green foliage, grows in a mulched garden bed bordered by grass and other shrubs, with colorful flowers nearby - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.Close-up of Aquavita® Juniper (Juniperus), showcasing evergreen needle-like leaves and blue berries against a soft green backdrop - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Aquavita® Juniper (Juniperus)

$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)

$21.99
$21.99

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)

$21.99
$39.99 $21.99

Close-up of Arctic Fox™ Lemon Cream Foxglove (Digitalis) shows pale yellow, tubular flowers clustered on a tall green stem - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.

Arctic Fox™ Lemon Cream Foxglove (Digitalis)

$18.99
$18.99
A close-up of Arctic Fox™ Rose Foxglove (Digitalis), a classic cottage garden favorite, showing dense clusters of pink, bell-shaped flowers with lighter peach interiors and tiny speckles along a vertical green stem - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.Close-up of Arctic Fox™ Rose Foxglove (Digitalis) with tall stalks of peach-pink tubular blooms and green leaves. This long-blooming perennial adds cottage charm, thriving in sunlight and complementing any garden with its stunning color - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.

Arctic Fox™ Rose Foxglove (Digitalis)

$18.99
$18.99

Three large, peach-colored At Last® Rose (Rosa) blooms are surrounded by purple-green foliage and small pink flower clusters, forming a charming floral display. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCTwo blooming At Last® Rose (Rosa) plants with layered petals, green leaves, and a rosebud stand out against translucent panels - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

At Last® Rose (Rosa)

$22.99
$40.99 $22.99

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 close-up of the Azurri Blue Satin® Rose of Sharon shows its light purple bloom with a white and dark red center, surrounded by green leaves and flower buds. This seedless Hibiscus shrub features striking summer flowers. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCClose-up of Azurri Blue Satin® Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus), featuring light purple petals with a creamy white center and red streaks radiating from the middle, set against a backdrop of green leaves. - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Azurri Blue Satin® Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus)

$22.99
$22.99

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)

$22.99
$22.99
Several large purple-blue Baroness Fookes™ Clematis flowers with pale yellow centers bloom among green leaves with ruffled petals with a reddish stripe - Photo Courtesy of Donahue's Clematis

Baroness Fookes™ Clematis

$20.99
$20.99
A close-up of a 'Bartzella' Peony (Paeonia) in full bloom, showcasing its large yellow ruffled petals with orange tones at the center, set against lush green foliage - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A large 'Bartzella' Peony (Paeonia) in full bloom displays pale yellow, delicately layered petals and yellow stamens, set against lush green foliage - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

Bartzella' Peony (Paeonia)

$40.99
$40.99

A cluster of Bejewled® 'Dark Amethyst' Beardtongue (Penstemon) with vivid reddish-purple flowers and green stems thrives in a garden bed - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.A cluster of tall, green Bejewled® 'Dark Amethyst' Beardtongue (Penstemon) with dense spikes of vibrant reddish-purple flowers grows in a garden bed, with more of these perennial pollinator plants visible in the background - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

Bejeweled® 'Dark Amethyst' Beardtongue (Penstemon)

$14.24
$18.99 $14.24
A garden bed of Bejeweled® 'Lavender Sapphires' Beardtongue (Penstemon) showcases tall green plants with clusters of vibrant purple blooms, petals scattered on the soil - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.A dense cluster of tall, purple Bejeweled® 'Lavender Sapphires' Beardtongue (Penstemon) blooms in a mulched bed, surrounded by colorful flowers and greenery - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

Bejeweled® 'Lavender Sapphires' Beardtongue (Penstemon)

$15.19
$18.99 $15.19
White snowberry clusters growing on a leafy Zone 5 shrub

Choosing Zone 5 Flowers for Your Garden

When selecting zone 5 flowers, think about more than bloom color alone. Matching plants to your garden’s sun exposure and moisture conditions can make a big difference in long-term performance.

Perennials are especially useful for adding color and texture that returns year after year. Explore our Zone 5 perennials to find options for beds, borders, and mixed plantings.

If you’re comparing the best flowers for Zone 5, look for varieties with bloom times that complement one another. Combining spring, summer, and fall interest can help keep the garden colorful for a longer stretch of the growing season.

Lavender chastetree flowers blooming on a leafy Zone 5 shrub

Add Structure With Zone 5 Shrubs

Zone 5 shrubs can bring height, screening, flowers, foliage color, and year-round structure to the landscape. The current collection includes both deciduous and evergreen choices, with options for full sun, part shade, and even some full-shade locations.

Browse our shrubs alongside other zone 5 plants to compare mature size, light needs, and landscape uses before choosing the right varieties for your space.

FAQs

Zone 5 is based on average annual extreme minimum winter temperatures from -20°F to -10°F. Individual varieties may differ in cold tolerance, so always confirm the hardiness range for the specific plant.

Many flowering perennials grow well in Zone 5. Your best options depend on sunlight, soil moisture, bloom season, mature size, and the overall look you want for your garden.

Many deciduous and evergreen shrubs are suitable for Zone 5, including certain butterfly bush, arborvitae, hydrangea, lilac, juniper, and other varieties. The live Garden Crossings collection currently includes both flowering and evergreen shrub options for this zone.