The Best Plants for Zone 5
Where is Zone 5?
If you live in Zone 5, you should know it has a fairly short growing season, with a frost-free period lasting only from early June until early September. States within hardiness planting zone 5 include: Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York and Wisconsin. The best plants for zone 5 include: asters, astilbe, bee balm, cannas, coneflowers, crocus, daffodils, delphiniums, hibiscus, hostas, hyacinths, irises, lilies, peonies, phlox, salvia, sedum, tulips and yarrow.
Remember that your zone 5 garden may have deviations in the typical zone 5 garden such as micro-climates and that your location may be associated with unusual conditions for the region. Always remember that growing zone maps are not perfect and that elements like soil, moisture, humidity, heat, or other weather conditions at the time can influence how well your plants will grow in any particular US growing zone.
Use our growing zone finder to get more information about your exact hardiness zone.
Fall-Planted Bulbs for Zone 5
Largely because they signal the welcome return of warmer weather, spring blooms not only possess considerable natural beauty, but they also tend to occupy a special place in our hearts. Fall-planted bulbs include tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, alliums and crocus, a small plant that can flower even before the end of winter. Grow them in rich, well-drained soil that will receive plenty of sunlight. Remove weeds, loosen soil and add compost before planting.
Best Fall-Planted Bulbs for Zone 5
Purple Prince Lily Tree®
Regular price
$34.99 - $39.99
$7.99 - $17.99
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Regular price
$34.99 - $39.99
$7.99 - $17.99
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Casablanca Lily
Regular price
$30.99 - $32.99
$15.99
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Regular price
$30.99 - $32.99
$15.99
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Conca d'Or Lily Tree®
Regular price
$39.99
$7.99 - $11.99
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Regular price
$39.99
$7.99 - $11.99
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Sunset Carpet Border Lily™ Mixture
Regular price
$49.99 - $109.99
$31.99 - $61.99
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Regular price
$49.99 - $109.99
$31.99 - $61.99
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5 for $6.99
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- / per
10 for Regular price
$63.99
$19.99
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5 for Regular price
$34.99
$16.99
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5 for Regular price
$38.99
$17.99
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5 for Regular price
$35.99
$16.99
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5 for Regular price
$39.99
$19.99
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Sun Perennials for Zone 5
Sun perennials are revered for their versatility, attract pollinators to your landscape and produce countless, lovely blooms for years or even decades. No wonder these are some of the world's most popular flowers! Sun-loving perennials include roses, peonies, irises, daylilies, hibiscus, coneflowers and asters. These varieties perform best when receiving about 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Without it, the plants grow poorly, and their blooms, if any emerge, are drab and lifeless.
Best Sun Perennials for Zone 5
Discovery Dutch Iris
Regular price
$32.99 - $139.99
$9.99 - $61.99
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Regular price
$32.99 - $139.99
$9.99 - $61.99
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French Blend Peony Mixture
Regular price
$64.99 - $79.99
$24.99 - $30.99
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Regular price
$64.99 - $79.99
$24.99 - $30.99
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Stella de Oro Dwarf Reblooming Daylily
Regular price
$49.99 - $62.99
$12.49 - $26.99
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Regular price
$49.99 - $62.99
$12.49 - $26.99
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Giant Columbine Mixture
Regular price
$43.99 - $45.99
$8.99 - $15.99
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Regular price
$43.99 - $45.99
$8.99 - $15.99
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Peony Mixture Super Sak®
Regular price
$74.99 - $79.99
$29.99 - $39.99
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Regular price
$74.99 - $79.99
$29.99 - $39.99
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Crème de la Crème Phlox
Regular price
$24.99 - $94.99
$5.99 - $41.99
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Regular price
$24.99 - $94.99
$5.99 - $41.99
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Rozanne Everblooming Geranium
Regular price
$41.99 - $49.99
$16.99 - $17.99
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Regular price
$41.99 - $49.99
$16.99 - $17.99
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Sarah Bernhardt Peony
1 for $24.99
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1 for $24.99
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Cheyenne Spirit Coneflower Mixture
5 for $39.99
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5 for $39.99
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Orange Glory Flower
Regular price
$23.99 - $28.99
$13.99
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Regular price
$23.99 - $28.99
$13.99
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Shade Perennials for Zone 5
Some gardeners don't even try to grow anything in the shaded areas of their gardens or yards. That's a shame, because some incredible plant varieties—including those that yield many delicate, colourful blooms—fare well when grown within dark shadows. We recommend such shade seekers as hellebores, hostas, astilbe, bleeding hearts, toad lilies and ferns. Poor soil can hinder a shade perennial garden more than a lack of sunlight, so be sure to add plenty of organic matter when preparing a new one. Avoid damaging roots when planting Shade Perennials near trees.
Popular Varieties
Best Shade Perennials for Zone 5
Hosta Mixture Super Sak®
Regular price
$79.99 - $134.99
$9.99 - $56.99
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Regular price
$79.99 - $134.99
$9.99 - $56.99
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Lily-of-the-Valley
Regular price
$44.99 - $48.99
$24.99
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Regular price
$44.99 - $48.99
$24.99
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Old-Fashioned Bleeding Heart
Regular price
$25.99 - $36.99
$9.99 - $16.99
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Regular price
$25.99 - $36.99
$9.99 - $16.99
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Black Pearls Astilbe
1 for Regular price
$35.99
$13.99
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1 for Regular price
$35.99
$13.99
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White Feather Hosta
Regular price
$32.99 - $37.99
$12.99 - $13.99
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Regular price
$32.99 - $37.99
$12.99 - $13.99
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Alexander's Great Siberian Bugloss
Regular price
$42.99 - $169.99
$19.99 - $64.99
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Regular price
$42.99 - $169.99
$19.99 - $64.99
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Heuchera Mixture
Regular price
$79.99 - $189.99
$29.99 - $64.99
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Regular price
$79.99 - $189.99
$29.99 - $64.99
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Toad Lily Mixture
3 for Regular price
$36.99
$17.99
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3 for Regular price
$36.99
$17.99
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Flowering Fern™
Regular price
$31.99 - $119.99
$14.99 - $44.99
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Regular price
$31.99 - $119.99
$14.99 - $44.99
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First Blush Hosta
Regular price
$43.99 - $54.99
$21.99 - $24.99
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Regular price
$43.99 - $54.99
$21.99 - $24.99
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Spring-Planted Bulbs for Zone 5
Spring-planted bulbs that bloom during the summer can thrive in most hardiness zones. What's more, they produce some of the most vibrant colours of the year. Varieties include dahlias, lilies, gladiolus, caladium, cannas, and begonias. In cooler regions, try planting summer bulbs outdoors in pots before transferring them—once the soil is warm enough—to your garden bed or border. Most can go in the ground once the possibility of frost has passed.
Best Spring-Planted Bulbs for Zone 5
Classic Dinnerplate Dahlia Collection
10 for Regular price
$89.99
$49.99
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10 for Regular price
$89.99
$49.99
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Lilac Time Dahlia
2 for Regular price
$41.99
$18.99
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2 for Regular price
$41.99
$18.99
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Labyrinth Dahlia
2 for Regular price
$41.99
$19.99
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2 for Regular price
$41.99
$19.99
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Decorative Dahlia Mixture
5 for Regular price
$99.99
$24.99
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5 for Regular price
$99.99
$24.99
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All Season Lily Mixture
Regular price
$99.99
$34.99 - $37.99
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Regular price
$99.99
$34.99 - $37.99
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Patio Dahlia Mixture
6 for Regular price
$99.99
$37.99
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6 for Regular price
$99.99
$37.99
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Dinnerplate Dahlia Mixture
5 for Regular price
$99.99
$34.99
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5 for Regular price
$99.99
$34.99
- Unit price
- / per
Jowey Winnie Dahlia
2 for Regular price
$43.99
$19.99
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2 for Regular price
$43.99
$19.99
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Belle of Barmera Dahlia
2 for Regular price
$41.99
$18.99
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2 for Regular price
$41.99
$18.99
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6 Months of Flowering Cyclamen
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$39.99 - $54.99
$19.99 - $28.99
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Regular price
$39.99 - $54.99
$19.99 - $28.99
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Plant Hardiness Zone Map, which divides the continental U.S. into eight gardening zones based on wintertime minimum temperature averages, can help you select plants that have the best chance of flourishing where you live. Each of our product pages lists the hardiness zones in which that particular plant is best suited for growing. Take the time to learn your location on the garden zone map. Don't wait until the next planting season begins to ask yourself, "What is my gardening zone?" or "What gardening zone am I in?" We can't emphasize this point enough: It's crucial for you to know your zone before choosing your plants. Selecting the right plants for your zone helps ensure a better performing and more attractive garden. As you become a more seasoned gardener and come to be more familiar with the advantages—and the limitations—of your growing season, you'll learn which of your favourite plants you can grow most successfully.