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.
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 Brilliantina® Abelia shrub with variegated green leaves edged in yellow and clusters of small tubular white flowers, shown outdoors in bright sunlight - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.Close-up of a cluster of small, tubular white and pale pink flowers blooms at the center of Brilliantina® Abelia set against a blurred green background - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Brilliantina® Abelia

$21.99
$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
A vibrant cluster of Candy Cloud™ Blue Mounding Phlox blooms among green foliage, its delicate petals forming a dense, colorful display - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.

Candy Cloud™ Blue Mounding Phlox

$18.99
$18.99

Close-up of Candy Cloud™ Dark Pink Mounding Phlox showcases dense clusters of vibrant, five-petaled dark pink flowers, creating a rich, colorful groundcover ideal for adding floral beauty to your landscape - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.A row of Candy Cloud™ Dark Pink Mounding Phlox forms a vibrant, dense mound of dark pink blooms in the garden bed, with soil at the edges and contrasting white flowers visible in the background - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.

Candy Cloud™ Dark Pink Mounding Phlox

$18.99
$18.99
Close-up of Candy Cloud™ Lavender Mounding Phlox is a spring-blooming perennial with dense clusters of vibrant purple and light pink flowers whose overlapping petals create a colorful, textured display - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.A dense cluster of Candy Cloud™ Lavender Mounding Phlox, a spring-blooming perennial, covers the ground amid soil, with additional patches of mounding phlox flowers visible in the background - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.

Candy Cloud™ Lavender Mounding Phlox

$18.99
$18.99
Close-up of a cluster of vibrant pink flowers, each with five petals, densely packed together with green leaves peeking through, typical of spring-blooming perennials like Candy Cloud™ Pink Mounding Phlox - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.A dense patch of Candy Cloud™ Pink Mounding Phlox fills the garden bed with clusters of small, five-petaled pink flowers each spring, creating a vibrant groundcover amid mulch and green foliage - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.

Candy Cloud™ Pink Mounding Phlox

$18.99
$26.99 $18.99
A close-up of Castle Keep® Blue Holly (Ilex), an evergreen with glossy, spiky dark purple leaves featuring pink-tipped edges. Water droplets sit on the foliage, and a plant container is softly blurred in the background. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCTop-down view of Castle Keep® Blue Holly (Ilex) is a dense evergreen shrub with glossy, dark green, spiky-edged leaves, reddish new growth, and droplets of water on its foliage. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

Castle Keep® Blue Holly (Ilex)

$21.99
$21.99
Densely packed, glossy green and reddish-purple spiky leaves of Castle Rouge® Blue Holly (Ilex) display sharp edges and a blend of mature green with young reddish foliage, shown outdoors in natural light - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.Close-up of Castle Rouge® Blue Holly (Ilex) with shiny green leaves, some showing reddish tips, in bright sunlight; the background features blurred foliage in deep purple and green tones - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Castle Rouge® Blue Holly (Ilex)

$21.99
$39.99 $21.99

Clusters of bright red berries adorn the glossy, spiky dark green leaves of Castle Spire® Blue Holly (Ilex), an evergreen shrub with sharply pointed, shiny foliage. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCA close-up of Castle Spire® Blue Holly (Ilex) branches with green spiky leaves and clusters of bright red berries, dusted in snow. The background is softly blurred, featuring hints of snow and a gray wall. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

Castle Spire® Blue Holly (Ilex)

$21.99
$39.99 $21.99

A close-up of dense Castle Wall® Blue Holly (Ilex), a compact evergreen shrub with dark green, spiky leaves and clusters of small red berries, lightly dusted with snow. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCA tall, dense Castle Wall® Blue Holly (Ilex) stands in a mulched garden bed, its small, dark green leaves blending beautifully with nearby bushes and trees. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

Castle Wall® Blue Holly (Ilex)

$21.99
$21.99
A Cedar Rapids® False Cypress (Chamaecyparis) with dense, bright green foliage is growing in a mulched garden bed, bordered by flowering bushes and lush grass. - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc. The Cedar Rapids® False Cypress (Chamaecyparis) features dense, vibrant green, finely textured foliage. Its bushy branches create a lush look, making it an elegant choice for evergreen hedges in any garden setting. - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Cedar Rapids® False Cypress (Chamaecyparis)

$22.99
$40.99 $22.99
Top-down view of Celtic Pride® Siberian Cypress (Microbiota) is a dense, green evergreen groundcover with feathery, spreading branches surroundd by small white blooms - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc. Dense green shrubs and evergreen groundcover, like deer-resistant Celtic Pride® Siberian Cypress (Microbiota), fill the foreground near a tree trunk, with bright pink flowers and leafy bushes behind. Sunlit trees and water are visible in the background. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

Celtic Pride® Siberian Cypress (Microbiota)

$22.99
$22.99

Close-up of dense clusters of small, serrated yellow-green leaves on thin reddish stems of Cesky Gold® Dwarf Birch (Betula), with sunlight highlighting the vibrant foliage - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Cesky Gold® Dwarf Birch (Betula) from Proven Winners, a round shrub with dense small green leaves, grows in a mulched garden bed beside a light gray metal fence. Sunlight highlights its healthy foliage - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Cesky Gold® Dwarf Birch (Betula)

$22.99
$22.99

Clusters of small white flowers and buds on Chardonnay Pearls® Deutzia shrub are surrounded by lush green leaves, creating a dense and vibrant garden display - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCClusters of small, star-shaped white flowers with yellow centers bloom among green leaves and buds on the deer-resistant Chardonnay Pearls® Deutzia flowering shrub. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

Chardonnay Pearls® Deutzia

$21.99
$21.99

A close-up of a lush, green Cheer Drops® Arborvitae (Thuja), a dense, feathery Proven Winners shrub, set against a light sky and surrounded by similar foliage - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.A row of dense, green Cheer Drops® Arborvitae (Thuja) shrubs stands in a landscaped yard with smaller leafy plants in front and a partly cloudy sky above - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Cheer Drops® Arborvitae (Thuja)

$17.24
$22.99 $17.24
Close-up of several Chick Charms® Apple Teaser Hens & Chicks (Sempervivum) with pointed, reddish-purple-tipped leaves, arranged closely together and thriving in natural outdoor light - Photo Courtesy of Garden Solutions.A close-up of Chick Charms® Apple Teaser Hens & Chicks (Sempervivum), a drought-tolerant perennial with pointed green leaves tipped in dark red, forming a neat rosette in a small black pot - Photo Courtesy of Garden Solutions.

Chick Charms® Apple Teaser Hens & Chicks (Sempervivum)

$8.24
$10.99 $8.24
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.