Zone 6 Plants for Color, Structure, and Seasonal Interest

USDA Zone 6 gives gardeners plenty of options for building colorful, layered landscapes. The zone is defined by an average annual extreme minimum winter temperature of -10°F to 0°F, with Zone 6a covering -10°F to -5°F and Zone 6b covering -5°F to 0°F.

Garden Crossings offers Zone 6 plants suited to these winter conditions, including flowering shrubs, evergreens, and other landscape choices. The current collection includes plants for full sun, part shade, and full shade, making it easier to match your selections to the conditions in your yard.

Lavender Bubbles' Allium, an ornamental onion with round, vivid purple blooms, creates a striking display against green grass, adding bold color and interest with blurred grass in the background - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.
Close-up of vibrant purple 'Adam's Courage' Clematis flowers with pointed petals and dark centers, set among green leaves - Photo Courtesy of Donahue's ClematisClose-up of 'Adam's Courage' Clematis six-petaled pink and purple bloom featuring darker pink streaks and a cluster of dark pink stamens at the center, set against lush green foliage - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

'Adam's Courage' Clematis

$20.99
$20.99

A close-up of the 'Airbrush Effect' Rose Mallow (Hibiscus) showcases its vibrant pink blooms amid lush green leaves in bright sunlight, with softly blurred, colorful flowers in the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A close-up of the Airbrush Effect' Rose Mallow (Hibiscus) shows its vibrant pink petals with a deep red center, framed by lush green leaves and unopened buds in the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

'Airbrush Effect' Rose Mallow (Hibiscus)

$21.99
$21.99
'All Gold' Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa) forms a lush mound of bright green, arching leaves, thriving in shade and offering a graceful, cascading look for your garden - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A clump of 'All Gold' Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa) with narrow, arching yellow-green leaves grows in a garden bed beside rocks and soil - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

'All Gold' Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa)

$18.99
$18.99

Several bumblebees collect nectar from clusters of vibrant purple 'All The Buzz' Allium flowers with green stems set against a blurred garden background - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.‘All The Buzz’ Allium adds vibrant pink-purple blooms on tall green stems to gardens, standing out among yellow flowers and lush foliage - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

'All The Buzz' Allium

$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)

$15.99
$19.99 $15.99
Close-up of 'Angel Eyes' Rose Mallow (Hibiscus) with pale pink petals, a deep red center, and a yellow stamen—this perennial features dinner plate-sized blooms among lush green leaves and blurred background foliage - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

'Angel Eyes' Rose Mallow (Hibiscus)

$21.99
$21.99

Close-up of 'Apple Slices' Spigelia with red and yellow pointed flowers blooming among lush green leaves - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Close-up of red and yellow 'Apple Slices' Spigelia flower buds grow among green leaves, with variegated hosta foliage in the blurred background - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

'Apple Slices' Spigelia

$21.99
$30.99 $21.99

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

Close-up of 'Ascot Rainbow' Spurge (Euphorbia) has variegated green leaves with yellow edges and clusters of small yellow-green flowers with maroon centers on upright stems - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A dense cluster of 'Ascot Rainbow' Spurge (Euphorbia) with variegated green foliage and red-tinged leaves grows in a garden, set beside taller trees and pink flowering plants - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

'Ascot Rainbow' Spurge (Euphorbia)

$17.99
$17.99

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

A large clump of 'Aureola' Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa), with long, arching green and yellow striped leaves, grows in a garden filled with pink flowers and vibrant green foliage - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.Long, narrow blades of 'Aureola' Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa) in green, yellow, and pinkish-red overlap to form a dense, textured pattern of delicate, arching leaves - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

'Aureola' Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa)

$18.99
$18.99

The 'Autumn Gold' Narrow-Leaved Sunflower (Helianthus) features vibrant yellow daisy-like blooms with dark brown centers, surrounded by green narrow leaves and buds. This drought-tolerant perennial has slightly uneven petals and looks healthy - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A close-up of 'Autumn Gold' Narrow-Leaved Sunflower (Helianthus), a drought-tolerant perennial with a dark center, bright yellow petals, and green foliage, with fall garden flowers blurred in the sunlit background - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.

'Autumn Gold' Narrow-Leaved Sunflower (Helianthus)

$15.29
$17.99 $15.29

A cluster of 'Bacio Del Sole' False Sunflower (Heliopsis), a drought-tolerant perennial, features golden-yellow, orange daisy-like blooms with dark brown centers and green leaves, set against a white background - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.

'Bacio Del Sole' False Sunflower (Heliopsis)

$15.29
$17.99 $15.29

A dense, drought-tolerant 'Bandwidth' Maiden Grass (Miscanthus) with narrow green leaves and white stripes grows in a mulched garden bed bordered by stone edging - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.'Bandwidth' Maiden Grass (Miscanthus) features tall, narrow green blades with light yellow stripes, forming dense, lush clumps. Drought tolerant and ideal for sunny spots, it adds striking texture among other ornamental grasses - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.

'Bandwidth' Maiden Grass (Miscanthus)

$18.99
$18.99
The 'Barbara Harrington' Clematis features bright magenta and pink flowers with yellow centers. Its textured petals and vibrant colors create a striking display against lush green foliage - Photo Courtesy of Donahue's Clematis

'Barbara Harrington' Clematis

$20.99
$20.99

Two vibrant red 'Beauty of Livermere' Oriental Poppy (Papaver) blooms rise above green leaves and unopened buds, set against a background of white star-shaped flowers and dense foliage - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Close-up of a vibrant ‘Beauty of Livermere’ Oriental Poppy (Papaver) displays striking red, crinkled petals above lush green leaves, making a bold statement with its spring blooms in the garden - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

'Beauty of Livermere' Oriental Poppy (Papaver)

$17.99
$17.99

A dense cluster of 'Bedazzled Lavender' Hybrid Spring Phlox blooms in purple, covering the ground and bordered by dark soil and green grass in the background - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.Close-up of 'Bedazzled Lavender' Hybrid Spring Phlox blooms in a yellow pot, displaying light purple flowers with green stems and leaves peeking through the dense blossoms of this charming native perennial - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

'Bedazzled Lavender' Hybrid Spring Phlox

$15.29
$17.99 $15.29

Close-up of 'Bedazzled Pink' Hybrid Spring Phlox features dense clusters of star-shaped, vibrant pink blooms and lush green foliage, creating a lively floral display that brightens a spring garden - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A dense mound of vibrant pink 'Bedazzled Pink' Hybrid Spring Phlox in full bloom, growing in a mulched spring garden bed with wooden edging and surrounded by lush green foliage - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

'Bedazzled Pink' Hybrid Spring Phlox

$17.99
$17.99
A clump of 'Bells and Whistles' Bellflower (Campanula), a striking purple flower with bell-shaped blooms and green leaves, grows in a garden bed with soil visible around the plant - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.A cluster of vibrant purple 'Bells and Whistles' Bellflower (Campanula) with green leaves blooms in a garden bed among other plants and grasses, with wooden picnic tables and a lawn blurred in the background - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

'Bells and Whistles' Bellflower (Campanula)

$19.99
$19.99
Bright yellow 'Bit of Honey' False Sunflower (Heliopsis) with orange centers blooms in the garden, featuring drought-tolerant perennial foliage and variegated leaves that stand out - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A cluster of bright yellow 'Bit of Honey' False Sunflower (Heliopsis) blooms with lush green leaves marked by white veins, thriving in a garden bed - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

'Bit of Honey' False Sunflower (Heliopsis)

$19.99
$19.99

A tall spike of 'Black Eyed Angels' Hybrid Bee Delphinium features striking white blooms with dark centers amid lush foliage - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A close-up of 'Black Eyed Angels' Hybrid Bee Delphinium reveals tall clusters of white flowers with dark centers, ideal for cut flower arrangements, set among green buds and blurred purple blooms in the background - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

'Black Eyed Angels' Hybrid Bee Delphinium

$18.99
$18.99

The 'Black Scallop' Bugleweed (Ajuga) features deep purple-green foliage surrounding tall spikes of vibrant purple flowers - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Close-up of a 'Black Scallop' Bugleweed (Ajuga) spike standing above dark, glossy, textured leaves. The blurred yellow-green foliage in the background highlights this perennial's striking groundcover appeal - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

'Black Scallop' Bugleweed (Ajuga)

$17.99
$17.99

The 'Blackberry Merlot' Rose Mallow (Hibiscus) features large red, crinkled blooms with bold centers, accented by green foliage and buds—delivering stunning dinner plate-size flowers to your garden - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.A large 'Blackberry Merlot' Rose Mallow (Hibiscus) bush with vibrant red, dinner plate-sized blooms grows in a garden among other hibiscus bushes, with greenhouses visible in the background under a cloudy sky - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

'Blackberry Merlot' Rose Mallow (Hibiscus)

$21.99
$21.99

silver-green cotoneaster shrub adding texture to a Zone 6 garden

Choosing Zone 6 Flowers for Your Garden

When selecting zone 6 flowers, hardiness is only the starting point. Also consider sunlight, soil moisture, bloom time, mature size, and how each plant will fit into the surrounding landscape.

Perennials can help create a zone 6 flower garden that returns with fresh color and texture from year to year. Browse our perennial plants to compare options for beds, borders, and mixed plantings.

The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is designed to help gardeners estimate which perennial plants are most likely to survive winter in a given location, but individual growing requirements still matter.

Pink Yuki Cherry Blossom deutzia flowering in a Zone 6 garden

Add Long-Lasting Structure With Zone 6 Shrubs

Zone 6 shrubs can add height, screening, flowers, foliage color, and year-round structure. The live collection includes deciduous and evergreen choices, along with plants suited for borders, mass plantings, specimens, containers, and other landscape uses.

When planning a larger bed or foundation planting, explore our shrubs alongside other zone 6 plants. Look at mature height and width before planting so each shrub has enough room to develop naturally.

FAQs

Zone 6 is based on average annual extreme minimum winter temperatures from -10°F to 0°F. Individual varieties may differ in cold tolerance, so always check the listed hardiness range for the specific plant.

Many flowering perennials grow well in Zone 6. The best choices depend on your garden’s sunlight, moisture, bloom season, mature size, and the color or texture you want to add.

Many deciduous and evergreen shrubs are suitable for Zone 6. Choose varieties whose hardiness range includes your location, then match their sun, moisture, and mature-size requirements to your planting site.