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 Reminiscent® Coral Rose (Rosa) with ruffled coral petals and green leaves in sunlight - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Two Reminiscent® Coral Rose (Rosa) blooms with lush green leaves, adorned with water droplets, take center stage. Blurred potted plants in the background enhance the focus on these fragrant garden roses - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Reminiscent® Coral Rose (Rosa)

$22.99
$40.99 $22.99

A close-up of a blooming Reminiscent® Crema Rose (Rosa) with layered, slightly curled petals and hints of yellow at the center, surrounded by green leaves - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCClose-up of four creamy white Reminiscent® Crema Rose (Rosa) blooms with pale yellow centers and green leaves. The blurred background hints at pink flowers - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

Reminiscent® Crema Rose (Rosa)

$22.99
$40.99 $22.99

Close-up on a cluster of blooming orange Reminiscent® Ginger Rose (Rosa) with multi-petaled flowers, green leaves, and rosebuds, all glistening with water droplets - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc. A cluster of blooming Reminiscent® Ginger Rose (Rosa) with orange-yellow flowers, green leaves, and rosebuds is displayed against brown mulch in a garden. - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Reminiscent® Ginger Rose (Rosa)

$22.99
$22.99
Close-up of a fragrant Reminiscent® Pink Rose (Rosa) with layered pink petals and green leaves on a disease-resistant bush, another pink bloom partially visible in the background. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCA close-up of the Reminiscent® Pink Rose (Rosa) reveals fragrant, delicate pink petals and lush green leaves against a softly blurred background. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

Reminiscent® Pink Rose (Rosa)

$22.99
$40.99 $22.99
A hand gently holds a large Reminiscent® Yellow Garden Rose (Rosa) in bloom, surrounded by green leaves dotted with glistening droplets, showcasing the natural beauty of this vibrant flowering shrub. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCA close-up of a fully bloomed Reminiscent® Yellow Garden Rose (Rosa) shows its delicate, layered petals with softly blurred green leaves in the background. - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Reminiscent® Yellow Garden Rose (Rosa)

$22.99
$40.99 $22.99
A cluster of Ringo All-Star™ Rose (Rosa) dazzles with large petals in pink, coral, and red tones around yellow centers, creating a stunning, disease-resistant rose bush amid lush green foliage. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCTop-down view of the Ringo All-Star™ Rose (Rosa) bush with abundant pink and coral blooms, thrives among lush green leaves and brown wood chips. A red plant marker stands out at its base in this vibrant garden display. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

Ringo All-Star™ Rose (Rosa)

$17.24
$22.99 $17.24

A close-up of the Ringo® Double Pink Rose (Rosa) shows soft, layered pink petals with a yellow-orange center, set against green leaves - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A close-up of the Ringo® Double Pink Rose (Rosa) in full bloom shows ruffled, darker pink petals near the center and yellow stamens against green leaves - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Ringo® Double Pink Rose (Rosa)

$17.24
$22.99 $17.24
Close-up of vibrant yellow Ringo® Rose (Rosa) flowers with orange centers in sunlight, surrounded by green leaves. A bee gathers nectar on a petal of this blooming shrub; softly blurred background enhances the scene. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCThe Ringo® Rose (Rosa) is a multi-colored rose with a red-orange center, five petals, and long yellow stamens, blooming among green leaves in bright sunlight. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

Ringo® Rose (Rosa)

$17.24
$22.99 $17.24

A close-up of Ripple Effect™ Summersweet (Clethra), featuring clusters of small, white, tubular flowers blooming above lush green leaves - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.Ripple Effect™ Summersweet (Clethra) features upright clusters of fragrant white flower spikes above lush green foliage against a blurred background of greenery - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Ripple Effect™ Summersweet (Clethra)

$22.99
$22.99
A Rise Up Amberness® Climbing Rose (Rosa) in full bloom, displaying orange petals and several green buds on one stem, stands out against a softly blurred background of garden greenery and mulch - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Clusters of vibrant yellow Rise Up Amberness® Climbing Rose (Rosa) blooms, surrounded by green leaves and buds, thrive outdoors as sunlight casts shadows across the mulch-covered ground - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Rise Up Amberness® Climbing Rose (Rosa)

$22.99
$22.99

A close-up of the vibrant orange-yellow Rise Up Emberays® Climbing Rose (Rosa) shows yellow at its center, surrounded by dark green leaves and blurred pink flowers in the background. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCClusters of orange-yellow and pink Rise Up Emberays® Climbing Rose (Rosa) bloom with green leaves before a blurred wooden trellis and gray stone wall, adding vibrant color to the scene. - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Rise Up Emberays® Climbing Rose (Rosa)

$22.99
$22.99

Close-up of Rise Up Lilac Days® Climbing Rose (Rosa) in full bloom, showcasing delicate pink petals, yellow stamens, and healthy green leaves - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Rise Up Lilac Days® Climbing Rose (Rosa) displays vibrant pink blooms with yellow centers, set among green leaves and flourishing outdoors in sunlight - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Rise Up Lilac Days® Climbing Rose (Rosa)

$22.99
$22.99

A vibrant Rise Up® Ringo® Climbing Rose (Rosa) with yellow petals and red center blooms on a leafy stem in a garden, surrounded by blurred trees, plants, and houses under cloudy autumn skies. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCA lush Rise Up® Ringo® Climbing Rose (Rosa) bush bursts with vibrant yellow roses among glossy green leaves, set in a mulched garden bed with other blooming plants in the background. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

Rise Up® Ringo® Climbing Rose (Rosa)

$22.99
$22.99
Close-up of clusters of small, star-shaped pink and red flowers with yellow centers bloom atop thick, greenish-gray leaves. Rock 'N Grow® 'Back in Black' Stonecrop (Sedum) is a drought-tolerant succulent ideal for vibrant, textured displays - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A young Rock 'N Grow® 'Back in Black' Stonecrop (Sedum) features clusters of small, deep reddish-purple buds in dry garden beds with blurred green and purple foliage in the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Rock 'N Grow® 'Back in Black' Stonecrop (Sedum)

$14.24
$18.99 $14.24

Close-up of small, pinkish-green flowers rise above rounded green leaves and closed buds on the drought-tolerant Rock 'N Grow® 'Coraljade' Stonecrop (Sedum), known for its dense, textured look in subtle earthy hues - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A dense cluster of Rock 'N Grow® 'Coraljade' Stonecrop (Sedum) with thick, dark green leaves and pink-green flower heads thrives in soil, highlighting this drought-tolerant plant against a grassy background - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

Rock 'N Grow® 'Coraljade' Stonecrop (Sedum)

$18.99
$18.99

A dense cluster of green, drought-tolerant Rock 'N Grow® 'Lemonjade' Stonecrop (Sedum) with thick leaves and rounded flower heads grows closely together in a sunlit garden bed, showcasing its striking beauty - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Rock 'N Grow® 'Lemonjade' Stonecrop, a drought-tolerant perennial, blooms yellow-green in the foreground with tall purple salvia flowers and a lush green grassy area softly blurred in the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Rock 'N Grow® 'Lemonjade' Stonecrop (Sedum)

$18.99
$18.99

A dense cluster of drought-tolerant Rock 'N Grow® 'Midnight Velvet' Stonecrop (Sedum) with dark purple leaves and stems, topped by reddish-pink flowers, grows in a mulched garden bed - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.Cluster of Rock 'N Grow® 'Midnight Velvet' Stonecrop (Sedum) with dark purple leaves and dense reddish-pink flower clusters, growing in a mulched garden bed bordered by green grass - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

Rock 'N Grow® 'Midnight Velvet' Stonecrop (Sedum)

$18.99
$18.99
A dense cluster of Rock 'N Grow® 'Tiramisu' Stonecrop (Sedum), a drought-tolerant succulent with thick green leaves and many small pinkish-red flowers, thrives outdoors in soil, its vibrant blossoms highlighted by sunlight - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Top-down view of small, pink and red flowers grow on dark stems amid dry mulch and soil, with some green leaves at the edges, making Rock 'N Grow® 'Tiramisu' Stonecrop (Sedum) - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Rock 'N Grow® 'Tiramisu' Stonecrop (Sedum)

$18.99
$18.99
Close-up of variegated green and cream leaves on Rock 'N Low® 'Boogie Woogie' Stonecrop (Sedum), a rabbit-resistant perennial with clusters of bright yellow flowers - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Rock 'N Low® 'Boogie Woogie' Stonecrop (Sedum) is a dense, low-growing green perennial with small yellow flowers shown with bare soil around it and a few white flowers at the edge - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Rock 'N Low® 'Boogie Woogie' Stonecrop (Sedum)

$19.99
$19.99
Rock 'N Low® 'Yellow Brick Road' Stonecrop (Sedum) forms a dense ground cover of small, rounded leaves, with patches of bare earth and stones visible at the edges - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.A dense mound of Rock 'N Low® 'Yellow Brick Road' Stonecrop (Sedum) with yellow flowers serves as a drought-tolerant ground cover in a garden bed, surrounded by green plants and foliage against a soil and mulch backdrop - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

Rock 'N Low® 'Yellow Brick Road' Stonecrop (Sedum)

$18.99
$18.99
Close-up of Rock 'N Round® 'Bright Idea' Stonecrop (Sedum) features dense green foliage and clusters of small yellow fall flowers. This eye-catching plant grows closely together for vibrant garden displays - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Top-down view of Rock 'N Round® 'Bright Idea' Stonecrop (Sedum) is a dense, rounded plant with dark green leaves and clusters of bright yellow fall flowers in a garden bed with soil and dry grass patches - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Rock 'N Round® 'Bright Idea' Stonecrop (Sedum)

$19.99
$19.99

A dense cluster of small, pale pink, star-shaped flowers from the drought-tolerant Rock 'N Round® 'Bundle of Joy' Stonecrop (Sedum) covers green foliage near a garden border with wood mulch, sunlight highlighting the delicate blooms - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A dense cluster of pale pink, star-shaped flowers from the drought-tolerant Rock 'N Round® 'Bundle of Joy' Stonecrop (Sedum) grows low in a garden bed, surrounded by green foliage and wood mulch - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Rock 'N Round® 'Bundle of Joy' Stonecrop (Sedum)

$18.99
$18.99
Dense clusters of pink-purple flowers from drought-tolerant Rock 'N Round® 'Popstar' Stonecrop (Sedum) spill over a cracked concrete border, with green leaves and more blooms in the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A dense mound of small pink and purple flowers from Rock 'N Round® 'Popstar' Stonecrop (Sedum) blooms in a garden bed, showing off its drought-tolerant perennial beauty, with mulch, soil, and edging visible in the background - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

Rock 'N Round® 'Popstar' Stonecrop (Sedum)

$18.99
$18.99
Close-up of clusters of vibrant pink star-shaped flowers densely cover Rock 'N Round® 'Pride and Joy' Stonecrop (Sedum), creating a colorful display - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Rock 'N Round® 'Pride and Joy' Stonecrop (Sedum) forms dense mounds of green foliage topped with star-shaped pink flowers, creating vibrant garden texture and serving as an excellent pollinator plant - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

Rock 'N Round® 'Pride and Joy' Stonecrop (Sedum)

$18.99
$18.99
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.