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 close-up of the Boulevard® Bernadine™ Clematis, featuring pale lavender blue pointed petals and a center of dark purple and white stamens, surrounded by green leaves - Photo Courtesy of Donahue's ClematisPale lavender-blue flowers with pointed petals and spiky purple centers bloom among green leaves, highlighting the striking beauty of the reblooming Boulevard® Bernadine™ Clematis - Photo Courtesy of Donahue's Clematis

Boulevard® Bernadine™ Clematis

$20.99
$20.99

A close-up of a pale, creamy white Boulevard® Corinne™ Clematis with pink streaks and beige stamens set against green leaves - Photo Courtesy of Donahue's Clematis

Boulevard® Corinne™ Clematis

$20.99
$20.99
A close-up of a vibrant purple Boulevard® Diana's Delight™ Clematis with pointed petals, a pale yellow center, and green leaves surrounding the flower - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Boulevard® Diana's Delight™ Clematis

$20.99
$20.99

Boulevard® Edda Clematis features vibrant lavender-purple flowers with pointed petals and a pink center, thriving in sunlight among green leaves. This compact climber brings bold color and beauty to any garden setting - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A hand holds a vibrant Boulevard® Edda Clematis flower with six pointed petals and dark stamens, surrounded by green leaves and other lavender-purple blooms from this compact climbing variety - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Boulevard® Edda Clematis

$20.99
$20.99

A close-up of the Boulevard Ines Clematis shows vibrant purple petals and a cluster of pink and dark purple stamens - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A close-up of the lavender Boulevard Ines Clematis in full bloom shows its pointed petals and detailed cente - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Boulevard® Ines Clematis

$20.99
$20.99

Close-up of vibrant magenta Boulevard® Issey™ Clematis flowers with striking yellow centers, set against lush green leaves - Photo Courtesy of Donahue's Clematis

Boulevard® Issey™ Clematis

$20.99
$20.99
Two deep red flowers with pointed petals and bold purple stamens bloom among green leaves in sunlight, highlighting the beauty of the Boulevard® Nubia Clematis flowering vine - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A vibrant red Boulevard® Nubia Clematis flower displays large, pointed petals and white-tipped stamens at its center, surrounded by lush green leaves - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Boulevard® Nubia Clematis

$20.99
$20.99

The Boulevard® 'Olympia' Clematis features vibrant purple pointed blooms with creamy centers, surrounded by lush green leaves and a few closed buds - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Close-up of vibrant purple Boulevard® 'Olympia' Clematis blooms with large petals and pale yellow centers, surrounded by green leaves - Photo Courtesy of Donahue's Clematis

Boulevard® Olympia Clematis

$20.99
$20.99

Close-up of three vibrant purple Boulevard® Parisienne™ Clematis blooms with pointed petals and reddish centers, set against green leaves on this compact flowering vine - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Two large, pale purple Boulevard® Parisienne™ Clematis flowers with pointed petals and spiky maroon-white centers bloom among green leaves on this compact flowering vine - Photo Courtesy of Donahue's Clematis

Boulevard® Parisienne Clematis

FREE
FREE

Close-up of vibrant Boulevard® Ravel™ Clematis with delicate purple-blue blooms, dark centers, lush green leaves, and a single closed bud - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.

Boulevard® Ravel™ Clematis

$20.99
$20.99

The Boulevard® Rebecca™ Clematis is a deer-resistant plant featuring six large scarlet-red flowers with pale purple stamens, blooming amid green foliage and supported by bamboo stakes in your garden - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A vibrant magenta Boulevard® Rebecca™ Clematis flower with pointed petals and a white center blooms among green leaves in dappled sunlight - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Boulevard® Rebecca™ Clematis

$20.99
$20.99

Close-up of a large, pale lavender Boulevard® Samaritan Jo™ Clematis bloom with pointed purple-edged petals and yellow-tipped filaments at the center, set against blurred green leaves in the background - Photo Courtesy of Donahue's ClematisClose-up of pale purple Boulevard® Samaritan Jo™ Clematis flowers with pointed petals and yellow stamens, surrounded by green leaves - Photo Courtesy of Donahue's Clematis

Boulevard® Samaritan Jo Clematis

$20.99
$20.99

Two large pink Boulevard® 'Sarah Elizabeth™' Clematis flowers with dark purple centers and pointed petals bloom among green leaves and buds, highlighting the shade-tolerant beauty of this variety against a blurred gray background - Photo Courtesy of Donahue's ClematisA close-up of Boulevard® 'Sarah Elizabeth™' Clematis displays six pointed pink petals, purple stamens, and a light green center with a soft, blurred background - Photo Courtesy of Donahue's Clematis

Boulevard® Sarah Elizabeth Clematis

$20.99
$20.99

A close-up of the Boulevard® Tumaini™ Clematis, a vibrant, compact clematis ideal for patio containers, featuring pointed petals and a cluster of dark purple and white stamens at its center, framed by green leaves - Photo Courtesy of Donahue's ClematisClose-up of blooming Boulevard® Tumaini™ Clematis with delicate purple petals and intricate centers, set amid green foliage - Photo Courtesy of Donahue's Clematis

Boulevard® Tumaini™ Clematis

$20.99
$20.99

A cluster of vibrant purple and white Bouquet Perfect™ 'Blue Ripples' Primrose (Primula) flowers with green leaves blooms outdoors - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.A cluster of vibrant purple and white ruffled Bouquet Perfect™ 'Blue Ripples' Primrose (Primula) flowers with green leaves in a blue ceramic pot, set outdoors against blurred green foliage - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

Bouquet Perfect™ 'Blue Ripples' Primrose (Primula)

$18.99
$18.99
A close-up of three pale yellow Bouquet Perfect™ 'Spearmint' Primrose (Primula) with double blooms and ruffled petals, surrounded by bright green foliage - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.Bouquet Perfect™ 'Spearmint' Primrose (Primula) features creamy white, double ruffled blooms and large green leaves with occasional brown edges - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

Bouquet Perfect™ Spearmint Primrose (Primula)

$18.99
$18.99
Bouquet Perfect™ 'Violetta' Primrose (Primula) features vibrant purple double flowers with ruffled petals, lush green foliage, and subtle magenta centers - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.A lush cluster of Bouquet Perfect™ 'Violetta' Primrose (Primula) with vibrant purple ruffled petals and green leaves in a dark planter set against blurred foliage and a wooden fence - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

Bouquet Perfect™ Violetta Primrose (Primula)

$18.99
$18.99

A cluster of ruffled, vibrant 'Bouquet Perfect™ Watercolour Blue' Primrose blooms, surrounded by lush green leaves - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.A close-up of Bouquet Perfect™ 'Watercolour Blue' Primrose (Primula) in full bloom, surrounded by green leaves - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

Bouquet Perfect™ Watercolour Blue Primrose (Primula)

$18.99
$18.99
Clusters of vibrant pink and deep blue berries grow among veined, elongated green leaves on the Brandywine™ Witherod (Viburnum), where tightly packed berry bunches cover this eye-catching flowering shrub. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCClusters of small white flowers with yellow centers sit on glossy green leaves of the Brandywine™ Witherod (Viburnum). This dense, flat-topped shrub stands out with vibrant foliage - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

Brandywine™ Witherod (Viburnum)

$21.99
$39.99 $21.99

Close-up of vibrant purple berries on the Bubble Up™ Beautyberry (Callicarpa), clustered along a slender branch with elongated green leaves, set against a softly blurred natural background - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.Close-up of Bubble Up™ Beautyberry (Callicarpa) branches with clusters of vibrant purple berries nestled among green leaves, set in a lush, sunlit outdoor garden - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Bubble Up™ Beautyberry (Callicarpa)

$22.99
$22.99

Bubbly Wine® Weigela features lush green leaves with yellow edges and is deer-resistant. This vibrant shrub forms a dense, textured display, offering lasting beauty and healthy foliage for your garden. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCClose-up of Bubbly Wine® Weigela features variegated green and yellow leaves with clusters of small pink trumpet-shaped flowers. This bushy shrub adds vibrant color and thrives outdoors in any garden setting. - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Bubbly Wine® Weigela

$22.99
$22.99

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

Tall spikes of vibrant lavender-pink Buzz & Bloom™ Lavender Lullaby Lambs Ear (Stachys) flowers bloom in a garden, surrounded by green foliage and softly blurred plants in the background, creating a colorful and lively outdoor scene - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.A cluster of tall, purple flowering Buzz & Bloom™ Lavender Lullaby Lambs Ear (Stachys) with green leaves grows in a garden bed covered with brown mulch. Lavender-pink flowers and lush grass, along with other plants, are visible in the background - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

Buzz & Bloom™ Lavender Lullaby Lambs Ear (Stachys)

$19.99
$19.99
Tall stalks of white Buzz & Bloom™ White Whisper Lambs Ear flowers grow closely together in a garden, set against a blurred green and brown background - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.Buzz & Bloom™ White Whisper Lambs Ear (Stachys) is a bushy perennial featuring tall spikes of delicate white flowers surrounded by green, textured leaves - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

Buzz & Bloom™ White Whisper Lambs Ear (Stachys)

$19.99
$19.99
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.