Growing Trees In Zone 5: Planting Trees In Zone 5 Gardens

zone 5 tree
zone 5 tree
(Image credit: SazzyB)

Growing trees in zone 5 isn’t too difficult. A lot of trees will grow with no problem, and even if you stick to native trees, your options will be pretty broad. Here’s a list of some of the more interesting trees for zone 5 landscapes.

Growing Trees in Zone 5

Since there are a number of trees that can easily be grown in zone 5 gardens, here are some of the more commonly planted types: Crabapple – While you might not get the tastiest fruit off of them, crabapple trees are very low maintenance and can be visually stunning with brightly colored flowers, fruits, and leaves. Japanese Tree Lilac – A showy tree all year-round, the Japanese tree lilac has fragrant white blossoms in summer after all other lilacs have faded. In the winter, it loses its leaves to reveal attractive red bark. Weeping Willow – A distinctive and beautiful shade tree, the weeping willow can grow as much as 8 feet (2 m.) per year. It absorbs water very well and can be planted strategically to remove problem damp spots in a yard. Red Twig Dogwood – Perfect for winter interest, red twig dogwood gets its name from the vivid red bark. It also produces attractive white flowers in the spring and bright red foliage in the fall. Serviceberry – A very low maintenance and hardy tree, the serviceberry looks good all year long with attractive white flowers, edible blue berries, bright fall foliage, and pleasant smooth bark. River Birch – The river birch tree has remarkable bark that peels away naturally to create a striking textured appearance. MagnoliaMagnolia trees are famous for their dazzling array of pink and white flowers. Many magnolias aren’t hardy to zone 5, but some cultivars perform very well in this cold climate.

Liz Baessler
Senior Editor

The only child of a horticulturist and an English teacher, Liz Baessler was destined to become a gardening editor. She has been with Gardening Know how since 2015, and a Senior Editor since 2020. She holds a BA in English from Brandeis University and an MA in English from the University of Geneva, Switzerland. After years of gardening in containers and community garden plots, she finally has a backyard of her own, which she is systematically filling with vegetables and flowers.