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.
The 'Vulcan' Hosta, a striking shade perennial, features large white-centered variegated leaves in a garden bed, complemented by yellow-green ornamental grass and brown mulch - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.A cluster of 'Vulcan' Hosta, a prized shade perennial, boasts large leaves with creamy white centers and dark green edges, creating a lush display in the garden - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

'Vulcan' Hosta

$17.99
$17.99
A close-up of 'Watermelon Ruffles' Rose Mallow (Hibiscus) in full bloom, displaying vibrant pink ruffled petals and a yellow-tipped stamen, with lush green leaves and more hibiscus flowers in the background. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCA close-up of a vibrant pink 'Watermelon Ruffles' Rose Mallow (Hibiscus) in full bloom, surrounded by green foliage and several unopened buds under bright sunlight. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

'Watermelon Ruffles' Rose Mallow (Hibiscus)

$34.99
$34.99

Close-up of a 'Webmaster' Spiderwort (Tradescantia) flower with three purple petals, yellow stamens, and long green leaves. Other similar perennial flowers and buds appear among the surrounding foliage - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.'Webmaster' Spiderwort (Tradescantia) features slender green leaves and small purple flowers, thriving in mulched garden beds among grass and lush greenery - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

'Webmaster' Spiderwort (Tradescantia)

$15.99
$19.99 $15.99
‘White Profusion’ Perennial Salvia is a bushy perennial with tall spikes of small white flowers and green leaves, shown growing in a mulched pollinator garden bed among more ‘White Profusion’ plants in the background - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.Close-up of ‘White Profusion’ Perennial Salvia features dense green stems topped with clusters of delicate white blooms, ideal for creating a thriving pollinator garden against a lush green outdoor backdrop - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

'White Profusion' Perennial Salvia

$18.99
$18.99

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
Close-up of Arctic Blaze® Fuchsia Perennial Salvia features clusters of bright pink, tubular flowers with unique lobed petals and reddish stems, surrounded by green foliage - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.

Arctic Blaze® Fuchsia Perennial Salvia

$17.99
$17.99
Close-up of vivid magenta-pink Arctic Blaze® Purple Perennial Salvia flowers with fuzzy petals and dark stems, set against a blurred green background - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.

Arctic Blaze® Purple Perennial Salvia

$17.99
$17.99
Close-up of vibrant Arctic Blaze® Red Perennial Salvia flowers with delicate petals and dark stems, set against green leaves. This hardy perennial is in full bloom, known for its rich color, unique shape, and deer-resistant qualities - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.

Arctic Blaze® Red Perennial Salvia

$17.99
$17.99

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

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.