Very few things evoke such fond summertime memories quite like biting into a cold slice of watermelon. Other melons, like cantaloupe and honeydew, make for a refreshing and delectable treat on a hot summer day as well. Growing a quality crop of melons in zone 5 gardens has been purported by many to be a challenge. However, with some planning and attention to detail, it is possible to grow your own mouthwatering melons at home. Read on for tips on growing short summer melon plants in zone 5.

Picking Melons for Zone 5

Can you grow melons in zone 5 gardens? Yes, you can. One of the key components to growing melons in zone 5 is making sure to select varieties that will perform well. Since the growing season is generally shorter, be sure to choose melons which have lower number of “days to maturity.” Most often, these short summer melon plants will produce smaller fruits, as they will take less time to completely ripen than their larger counterparts.

Tips for Growing Zone 5 Melons

Seed Starting– A major cause for concern when growing melons in zone 5 is seed starting. While those in warmer climates may enjoy the luxury of direct sowing seeds into the garden, many zone 5 growers choose to start their seeds indoors in biodegradable pots. Since most melon plants do not like to have their roots disturbed during the planting process, these pots allow transplants to be placed directly into the garden after all chance of frost has passed. Mulching– Melon crops will suffer during extended periods of cold weather. Melons should always be grown in full sun and warm soil. Due to the shorter growing season, soil in the zone 5 garden may begin to warm more slowly than is desired. The use of black plastic mulches within the melon patch is beneficial to soil temperatures as well as useful in weed suppression later in the season. Row Covers– The use of plastic row tunnels or floating row covers is another option when growing melons. These structures increase early season temperatures and allow for more ideal growing conditions. Even though the melons will appreciate the increase in temperatures, be aware that these structures will also prevent pollinators from reaching your plants. Without these pollinators, no melons will be produced. Feed and Water– Melon plants can be very heavy feeders. In addition to these techniques, ensure that melons are planted in well-amended soil and receive at least 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm.) of water each week.

Something about ripe fruit makes you think of sunshine and warm weather. However, many fruit trees thrive in chillier climes, including USDA hardiness zone 5, where winter temperatures dip as low as -20 or -30 degrees F. (-29 to -34 C.). If you are thinking of growing fruit trees in zone 5, you’ll have a number of options. Read on for a discussion of fruit trees that grow in zone 5 and tips for choosing fruit trees for zone 5.

Zone 5 Fruit Trees

Zone 5 gets pretty cold in the winter, but some fruit trees grow happily in even colder zones like this. The key to growing fruit trees in zone 5 is to pick the right fruit and the right cultivars. Some fruit trees survive zone 3 winters, where temperatures dip down to -40 degrees F. (-40 C.). These include favorites like apples, pears, and plums. Those same fruit trees grow in zone 4, as well as persimmons, cherries, and apricots. In terms of fruit trees for zone 5, your choices also include peaches and paw paws.

Common Fruit Trees for Zone 5

Anyone who lives in a chilly climate should plant apples in their orchard. Yummy cultivars like Honeycrisp and Pink Lady thrive in this zone. You can also plant delightful Akane or versatile (though ugly) Ashmead's Kernel. When your ideal zone 5 fruit trees include pears, look for cultivars that are cold hardy, delicious, and disease resistant. Two to try include Harrow Delight and Warren, a juicy pear with a buttery flavor. Plums are also fruit trees that grow in zone 5, and you’ll have quite a few to choose between. Emerald Beauty, a yellowish green plum, may be the plum king with top taste scores, great sweetness, and long harvest periods. Or plant cold hardy Superior, a hybrid of Japanese and American plums. Peaches as fruit trees for zone 5? Yes. Choose big, beautiful Snow Beauty, with its red skin, white flesh, and sweetness. Or go for White Lady, an excellent white peach with high sugar content.

Uncommon Fruit Trees That Grow in Zone 5

When you are growing fruit trees in zone 5, you may as well live dangerously. In addition to the usual zone 5 fruit trees, why not try something daring and different. Pawpaw trees look like they belong in the jungle but are cold hardy down to zone 5. This understory tree is happy in shade but makes do with sun as well. It grows to 30 feet tall (9 m.) and offers hefty fruit with rich, sweet, custardy flesh. Cold hardy kiwi will survive winter temperatures down to -25 degrees F. (-31 C.). Don’t expect the fuzzy skin you see in commercial kiwis though. This zone 5 fruit is small and smooth skinned. You’ll need both sexes for pollination as well as a vine support.

In cooler climates where the gardening season is limited, some flowering shrubs can give the landscape three to four seasons of interest. Many flowering shrubs offer fragrant flowers in spring or summer, berries in late summer to fall, beautiful fall color, and even winter interest from colorful stems or persistent fruit. Continue reading for a list of flowering shrubs for zone 5.

Hardy Flowering Shrubs

A gardener or landscaper has plenty of choices available for growing flowering shrubs in zone 5. Starting with the classic hardy flowering shrubs, zone 5 gardeners can choose from many varieties of hydrangea, viburnum, lilac, spirea, rhododendron, azalea, dogwood, ninebark, and roses. 

Hydrangeas bloom for long periods in midsummer; some varieties even have fall colored foliage. 

Viburnums are a favorite of birds because of their berries which can persist well into winter. Viburnums have spring or summer flowers depending on the variety, which then turn into berries, and many varieties also display beautiful fall foliage. 

Lilacs are much loved for their extremely fragrant spring flowers and many new varieties are reblooming and cold hardy. 

Spirea is a classic, low maintenance landscape shrub with many varieties offering colorful foliage throughout the summer.

Rhododendrons put on a beautiful display of flowers in spring and are also broadleaf evergreens, giving the landscape winter interest.

Dogwood flowers in spring, then most varieties produce berries, but their real charm comes from their bright red or yellow stems that stand out against the winter snow.

Ninebark shrubs provide the landscape with an array of colorful foliage throughout the growing season. This colorful foliage makes their white spring flower clusters really stand out. Rose shrubs can make excellent choices when growing flowering shrubs in zone 5 gardens.

Easy Elegance and Knock Out shrub roses bloom from spring to fall frost. Below is a list of some less common flowering shrubs for zone 5 landscapes.

• Flowering Almond
• Alpine Currant
• Bush Honeysuckle
• Butterfly Bush
• Caryopteris
• Elderberry
• Forsythia
• Fothergilla
• Kerria
• Mock Orange
• Mountain Laurel
• Potentilla
• Purpleleaf Sandcherry
• Rose of Sharon
• Smokebush

Every spring, thousands of people from all over the country flock to Washington D.C. for the National Cherry Blossom Festival. In 1912, Tokyo Mayor Yukio Ozaki gifted these Japanese cherry trees as a symbol of friendship between Japan and the U.S., and this annual festival honors that gift and friendship. Those of us who do not live in D.C. do not have to travel hundreds of miles and fight crowds of tourists to enjoy beautiful flowering trees like this. While unique, exotic flowering trees were once hard to get, today most of us have the leisure of just going to a local garden center and selecting from many ornamental trees. Even in cooler climates, like zone 5, there are many choices of flowering trees. Continue reading to learn about flowering trees for zone 5.

Popular Zone 5 Flowering Trees

There are several varieties of ornamental cherry and plum trees that are hardy in zone 5. Popular varieties include:

• Newport plum (Prunus cerasifera), which displays pink flowers in early spring, followed by purple foliage until fall. Height and spread are 15 to 20 feet (5-6 m.).
• Pink Snow Showers cherry (Prunus ‘Pisnshzam'), a weeping tree which is covered in pink blossoms in spring and reaches a height and spread of 20 to 25 feet (5-8 m.).
• Kwanzan cherry (Prunus serrulata) is one of the cherry varieties in Washington D.C.’s cherry festival. It has deep pink blooms in spring and reaches heights and spreads of 15 to 25 feet (5-8 m.).
• Snow Fountain cherry (Prunus ‘Snofozam') is another weeping variety. It has white flowers in spring and a height and spread of 15 feet (5 m.).

Crabapples are another hugely popular type of flowering trees for zone 5. New varieties of crabapple are more resistant to diseases that commonly affect crabapples. Today you can even get crabapple trees that do not produce any messy fruit. Popular varieties of crabapples for zone 5 are:

• Camelot crabapple (Malus ‘Camzam'), which stays small at 8 to 10 feet (2-3 m.) and produces an abundance of deep pink to white blooms. This is a fruiting crabapple.
• Prairiefire crabapple (Malus ‘Prairiefire'), with deep red-purple blooms and a height and spread of 20 feet (6 m.). This crabapple produces deep red fruit.
• Louisa crabapple (Malus ‘Louisa') is a weeping variety that tops out at 15 feet (5 m.). It has pink blossoms and golden fruit.
• Spring Snow crabapple (Malus ‘Spring Snow') does not bear fruit. It has white flowers and grows up to 30 feet (9 m.) tall and 15 feet (5 m.) wide.

Ornamental pear trees have become very popular zone 5 flowering trees. Ornamental pears do not produce edible pear fruit. They are prized mainly for their snow white spring blooms and excellent fall foliage. Common varieties of ornamental pear trees are:

• Autumn Blaze pear (Pyrus calleryana ‘Autumn Blaze'): height 35 feet (11 m.), spread 20 feet (6 m.).
• Chanticleer pear (Pyrus calleryana ‘Glen's Form'): height 25 to 30 feet (8-9 m.), spread 15 feet (5 m.).
• Redspire pear (Pyrus calleryana ‘Redspire'): height 35 feet (11 m.), spread 20 feet (6 m.).
• Korean Sun pear (Pyrus fauriel): by far my favorite of the ornamental pears, this little tree only grows about 12 to 15 feet (4-5 m.) tall and wide.

My absolute favorite of zone 5 ornamental trees are redbud trees. Redbud varieties for zone 5 are:

• Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis): this is the common variety of redbud with a height and spread of around 30 feet (9 m.).
• Forest Pansy redbud (Cercis Canadensis ‘Forest Pansy’): this unique redbud has purple foliage throughout the summer. Its flowers are not quite as showy as other redbuds though. Forest Pansy has a height of 30 feet (9 m.) with a 25 foot (8 m.) spread.
• Lavender Twist redbud (Cercis canadensis ‘Covey') is a weeping variety of redbud with a dwarf height and spread of 8 to 10 feet (2-3 m.).

Also very popular in zone 5 are flowering dogwood trees. Flowering dogwoods tolerate full sun to part shade, making them very versatile in the landscape. Like ornamental pears, they have spring flowers and colorful fall foliage. Popular varieties are:

• Pagoda dogwood (Cornus alternifolia): height 20 feet (6 m.), spread 25 feet (8 m.).
• Golden Shadows dogwood (Cornus alternifolia ‘W. Stackman'): has variegated yellow and green foliage. It does best with afternoon shade and stays small at 10 feet (3 m.) tall and wide.
• Kousa Dogwood (Cornus ‘Kousa’) has bright red fruit throughout summer. It reaches a height of 30 feet (9 m.) with a spread of around 20 feet (6 m.).

Some other popular zone 5 ornamental tree varieties are:

• Autumn Brillance serviceberry
• Dwarf Red buckeye
• Chinese Fringe tree
• Japanese Lilac tree
• PeeGee Hydrangea tree
• Walker's Weeping peashrub
• Thornless Cockspur hawthorn
• Russian Olive
• Saucer magnolia
• Showy mountain ash

Growing Flowering Trees in Zone 5

Zone 5 ornamental trees do not require any extra care than any other trees. When first planted, they should be regularly and deeply watered during the first growing season. By the second year, roots should be established well enough to seek out their own water and nutrients. In cases of drought, you should provide all landscape plants with extra water. In spring, flowering trees can benefit from a fertilizer specifically made for flowering trees, with extra phosphorus.

Holly is an attractive evergreen tree or shrub with shiny leaves and bright berries. There are many species of holly (Ilex ssp.) including the popular ornamentals Chinese holly, English holly, and Japanese holly. Unfortunately, for those who live in chilly zone 5, few of these are hardy holly varieties. However, growing holly plants in zone 5 is possible if you select carefully. Read on for information about choosing holly shrubs for zone 5.

Hardy Holly Varieties

You’ll find over 400 species of holly in the world. Many are broadleaf evergreens and offer glossy leaves and bright, bird-pleasing berries. The species range in zone, shape, and cold hardiness. Hollies are not demanding or difficult plants to grow. However, before you start growing holly plants in zone 5, you’ll want to check their cold hardiness. Chinese, English, and Japanese holly shrubs are not hardy holly varieties. None of these popular plants could be used as zone 5 holly shrubs since none survive zone 5 winters, which can get between -10 and -20 degrees F. (-23 to -29 C.). These species are sometimes hardy to zone 6 but cannot survive the temperatures in zone 5. So, are there holly varieties for those residing in zone 5? Yes, there are. Consider the American holly, a native plant, and the blue hollies, also known as the Meserve hollies.

Holly Shrubs for Zone 5

The following holly shrubs are recommended for growing in zone 5 landscapes:

American Holly

American holly (Ilex opaca) is a plant native to this country. It matures into a lovely pyramid-shaped tree that grows to 50 feet (15 m.) tall with a 40-foot (12 m.) spread. This type of holly thrives in USDA hardiness zones 5 through 9. Growing the shrub in zone 5 is possible if you plant American holly and site it where it receives four hours or more of direct, unfiltered sunshine per day. This holly shrub needs soil that is acidic, rich, and well-drained.

Blue Hollies

Blue hollies are also known as Meserve hollies (Ilex x meserveae). They are holly hybrids developed by Mrs. F. Leighton Meserve of St. James, New York. She produced these hollies by crossing prostrate holly (Ilex rugosa) – a cold hardy variety – with English holly (Ilex aquifolium). These evergreen shrubs are more cold-tolerant than many types of holly. They have leathery, dark blue-green leaves with spines like English holly leaves. Growing these plants in zone 5 is easy. Plant the cold-hardy holly shrubs in well-drained, moist soil. Choose a location where they will get some shade in summer. If you are looking for zone 5 holly shrubs in this group, consider the blue holly cultivars 'Blue Prince' and 'Blue Princess'. They are the most cold-hardy of the series. Other Meserve hybrids that can serve the landscape well include China Boy and China Girl. Don’t expect rapid growth when you are planting Meserve hollies. They will get to about 10 feet (3 m.) tall in time, but it will take them quite a few years.

A good privacy hedge creates a wall of green in your garden that prevents nosy neighbors from looking in. The trick to planting an easy-care privacy hedge is to select shrubs that thrive in your particular climate. When you live in zone 5, you’ll need to select cold hardy shrubs for hedges. If you are considering privacy hedges for zone 5, read on for information, suggestions, and tips.

Growing Hedges in Zone 5

Hedges range in size and purpose. They can serve an ornamental function or a practical one. The types of shrubs you select depend on the hedge’s primary function, and you should keep it in mind as you select them.

A privacy hedge is a living equivalent of a stone wall. You plant a privacy hedge to prevent neighbors and passers-by from having a clear view into your yard. That means you will need shrubs taller than an average person, probably at least 6 feet (2 m.) tall. You will also want evergreen shrubs that do not lose their foliage in winter.

If you live in zone 5, your climate gets chilly in winter. The coldest temperatures in zone 5 areas can get between -10 and -20 degrees F. (-23 to -29 C.). For zone 5 privacy hedges, it is important to select plants that accept those temperatures. Growing hedges in zone 5 is only possible with cold hardy shrubs.

Zone 5 Privacy Hedges

What kind of shrubs should you consider when you are planting privacy hedges for zone 5? The shrubs discussed here are hardy in zone 5, over 5 feet (1.5 m.) tall, and evergreen.

Boxwood is well worth a close look for a zone 5 privacy hedge. This is an evergreen shrub hardy to far lower temperatures than those found in zone 5. Boxwood works well in a hedge, accepting severe pruning and shaping. Many varieties are available, including Korean boxwood (Buxus microphylla var. koreana) that grows to 6 feet (2 m.) tall and 6 feet (2 m.) wide.

Mountain mahogany is another family of cold hardy shrubs that are great for hedges. Curl-leaf mountain mahogany (Cercocapus ledifolius) is an attractive native shrub. It grows to 10 feet (3 m.) tall and 10 feet (3 m.) wide and thrives in USDA hardiness zones 3 through 8.

When you are growing hedges in zone 5, you should consider a holly hybrid. Merserve hollies (Ilex x meserveae) make beautiful hedges. These shrubs have blue-green foliage with spines, thrive in USDA plant hardiness zones 5 to 7, and grow to 10 feet (3 m.) tall.

Evergreen trees are a staple of cold climates. Not only are they often very cold-hardy, but they also stay green through even the deepest winters, bringing color and light to the darkest months. Zone 5 may not be the coldest region, but it’s cold enough to deserve some good evergreens. Keep reading to learn more about growing evergreens in zone 5, including some of the best zone 5 evergreen trees to choose from.

Evergreen Trees for Zone 5

While there are many evergreens that grow in zone 5, here are some of the most favored choices for growing evergreens in zone 5 gardens: Arborvitae – Hardy down to zone 3, arborvitae is one of the more commonly planted evergreens in the landscape. Many sizes and varieties are available to suit any area or purpose. They are especially lovely as standalone specimens but make great hedges too. Silver Korean Fir – Hardy in zones 5 through 8, silver Korean fir tree grows to 30 feet (9 m.) in height and has striking, white-bottomed needles that grow in an upward pattern and give the whole tree a beautiful silvery cast. Colorado Blue Spruce – Hardy in zones 2 through 7, Colorado blue spruce reaches heights of 50 to 75 feet (15-23 m.). It has striking silver to blue needles and is adaptable to most soil types. Douglas Fir – Hardy in zones 4 through 6, Douglas fir grows to heights of 40 to 70 feet (12-21 m.). It has blue-green needles and a very orderly, pyramidal shape around a straight trunk. White Spruce – Hardy in zones 2 through 6, this tree tops out at 40 to 60 feet (12-18 m.) tall. Narrow for its height, white spruce has a straight, regular shape and large cones than hang down in a distinctive pattern. White Fir – Hardy in zones 4 through 7, white fir reaches 30 to 50 feet (9-15 m.) in height. It has silver-blue needles and light bark. Austrian Pine – Hardy in zones 4 through 7, this tree grows to 50 to 60 feet (15-18 m.) tall. Austrian pine has a wide, branching shape and is very tolerant of alkaline and salty soils. Canadian Hemlock – Hardy in zones 3 through 8, Canadian hemlock reaches heights of 40 to 70 feet (12-21 m.) tall. Trees can be planted very close together and pruned to make an excellent hedge or natural border.

Evergreen plants in the landscape are a terrific way to reduce winter doldrums as you wait for those first spring flowers and summer vegetables. Cold-hardy yews are outstanding performers both in ease of care and also versatility. Many can be sheared into a hedge and there are low-growing specimens and tall, stately plants. There are many perfect yew plants for zone 5, one of our coldest planting regions in North America. Select zone 5 yew varieties that suit your garden vision, and you will have provable winners year-round.

Selecting Yew Plants for Zone 5

Deciduous plants offer springtime excitement, autumn color, and a range of forms, but evergreens have the tenacity and durable green beauty. Yew plants are shrubs to small trees which enliven the garden even in the middle of winter. There are many cold-hardy yews that fit the bill for zone 5, most of which are adapted to full or partial sun locations and even some shady areas. If you need a plant for any light exposure that grows slowly and tolerates occasional neglect, yews might be for you. Growing yews in cold climates require some protection from wind, as cold breezes can damage the tips of the needles and well-draining soil. Other than that, these plants can adapt to almost any soil as long as it is acidic and situation. Yews make formal hedges, elegant trees, green groundcover, foundation plants, and even topiaries. You can even shear the plant quite severely and it will reward you with emerald-green growth.

Zone 5 Yew Varieties

The smaller yews can get 3 to 5 feet (1-1.5 m.) in height. Yews in zone 5 are wonderful in containers, as borders and accents behind other plants.

• 'Aurescens' grows only 3 feet (1 m.) tall and wide, and its new growth has a golden tint.
• Another low grower is 'Watnung Gold' with bright yellow foliage.
• A good groundcover is 'Repandens,' which gets 4 feet (1 m.) tall but grows much wider.
• The dwarf Japanese cultivar 'Densa' is compact at 4 feet (1 m.) tall by 8 feet wide (2 m.).
• 'Emerald Spreader' is another great groundcover at only 2 ½ feet (76 cm.) in height and sprawling out with deep green needles.
• Some other smaller yew plants for zone 5 to consider are 'Nana,' 'Green Wave,' 'Tauntonii,' and 'Chadwikii.'

Privacy hedges and stand-alone trees need to be big, and some of the largest yews can approach 50 feet (15 m.) or slightly more when mature. Plant these big guys in a field or on the calm side of the house when growing yews in cold climates. This will prevent wind shears from damaging the delicate leaves.

• The North American yews are the largest forms.
• The native Pacific yew is in this group and achieves 50 feet (15 m.) with a lovely loose pyramid shape. 'Capitata' develops into a medium-sized tree with needles that bronze in winter. A slender, yet tall specimen is 'Columnaris' with year-round green foliage.
• Chinese yew grows up to 40 feet (12 m.) while English yews generally are a bit shorter. Both have numerous cultivars with variegated to golden foliage and even a weeping variety.

Give yews in zone 5 a little protection the first year or two in case long freezes are expected. Mulching the root zone should keep the youngsters healthy until the spring thaw.

Vegetable starts are useful in cold climates because they allow you to have bigger plants earlier than you would if you had to wait to plant them from seed. Hardy plants can be set out earlier than tender ones but it also helps to have a rule of thumb for zone 5 vegetable planting. This would be the optimum time to plant so newly installed vegetables don't experience a killing freeze. It also indicates when the soil will have warmed enough for young roots to spread. Along with a few tips and tricks, even northern gardeners can have bountiful crops and beautiful vegetables.

When to Plant Crops in Zone 5

When do you plant vegetables in zone 5? This is a very important detail if a successful garden is to be achieved. Young starts are very susceptible to late season freezes. Zone 5 can experience temperatures of -10 to 0 degrees Fahrenheit (-23 to -18 C.). Planting anywhere near the time of year these temps are experienced is plant suicide. You need to know the date of your last frost. This is the optimum time for planting vegetables in zone 5. May 30th is the recommended time for zone 5 vegetable planting. This is the date when all chance of frost has passed in the zone. In some zone 5 areas, the date may be a tad earlier due to temperature fluctuations. That is why the United States Department of Agriculture has put out a zone map. All you have to do is find your region and then note your zone. The zone will also give you the average annual extreme minimum temperature, or how cold the region can get. Most major countries have a similar system. Zone 5 has two divisions, 5a and 5b. The difference in temperatures may help you know when to plant crops in zone 5. The areas designated 5b are a little bit warmer than those in 5a and might be able to get away with planting earlier.

Tips on Planting Vegetables in Zone 5

Seed packets are filled with pertinent growing information. You can find out when to start seeds for transplant, which generally states the number of weeks before plants can be set out. This is valuable information for planting vegetables in zone 5 where gardeners often need to start seeds indoors or purchase starts. These babies can then be hardened off and planted outdoors at the appropriate time. Hardening off helps prevent plant shock which can diminish plant health and sometimes cause death. Gradually introducing indoor grown plants to the outdoors before removing them from pots and installing them into the ground will prepare them for outdoor conditions. Direct sunlight, soil temperatures, ambient temperatures, and even wind are all conditions the plant must adjust to in order for a successful transplant. Careful preparation of the garden bed will enhance plant growth and production. Fluffing up the soil to a depth of at least 8 inches (20.5 cm.) and adding well-rotted manure or compost increases porosity, nutrient content, and allows fine, young roots to spread easily. It may be a good idea to do a soil test to determine if any major nutrients are missing in the soil. Prior to planting is the best time to mix in additives so plants will have their perfect nutrient needs. Moisten the soil well and keep young plants from drying out. As plants establish, supports such as stakes or cages are necessary for larger plants that may sprawl on the ground, exposing their fruits and vegetables to insect pests or rot. As long as planting takes place after the date of the last frost and soil is fertile and well draining, you should be eating from your garden in no time.

The imminent arrival of spring heralds the planting season. Starting your tender vegetables at the correct time will ensure healthy plants that can produce bumper crops. You need to know the best time for planting seeds in zone 5 to avoid killing freezes and get the best yields. The key is knowing the date of your last frost and using tricks like raised beds and cold frames to get a jump start on that garden. Read on to find out when to start seeds in zone 5.

Seed Planting Times for Zone 5

Zone 5 has a shorter growing season than warmer climes. That doesn't mean you can't get loads of produce, but it does mean you need to check your seed packets and pay attention to the "days to maturity" portion of the instructions. This will tell you how long your seeds will take from planting to harvest. Some vegetables are cool season crops and can be started even when outdoor temperatures are still cool while others such as melons, tomatoes, and eggplant require warm soil to germinate and bright, sunny, warm conditions. Timing your planting correctly is crucial to successful harvests, but when to start seeds in zone 5? The first official frost-free date is May 30th while the first chance of a freeze is October 30th. That means you need to choose plants that will mature before late October and get them started as soon as possible to extend your growing season. Some gardeners in cooler regions opt to use transplants that they set out in late May, while others grow in greenhouses to get a jump start. If that option is not available to you, or you prefer to start seeds in the ground, May 30th is your date for zone 5 seed starting. May 30th is a ballpark date. If your area is exposed, high in the mountains, or tends to get frost pockets late into the season, you will need to adjust your planting time. Seed packets contain a lot of helpful information, including regional planting times. Usually, this is displayed on a map that is color coded to correspond to specific dates. These are the seed company's suggested planting times, and they will vary dependent upon the type of vegetable or fruit. These suggestions will give you a better idea of seed planting times for zone 5. Properly preparing the soil with plenty of organic material, assuring percolation, and removing impediments to tiny seedlings is equally important.

Tips on Zone 5 Vegetable Planting

Cool season vegetables like brassicas, beets, spring onions, and others can usually be planted as soon as soil is workable. That means they may experience a late season freeze. To protect seedlings, erect a hoop house to keep ice crystals off the plants. This will slightly raise the temperature inside and prevent severe damage to young vegetables. Due to the late start date for planting seeds in zone 5, some produce that needs a longer growing season should be started indoors and transplanted out at the end of May. These are tender plants and cannot get the growing time they need by starting them earlier outdoors because they will fail to germinate. Starting seeds in flats indoors can give you decent sized plants that are ready for the appropriate outdoor planting time. For additional information on when and what vegetables to plant in zone 5 regions, check with your local extension office for assistance.

Japanese maples make excellent specimen plants for the landscape. Usually having red or green foliage in the summer, Japanese maples display an array of colors in autumn. With proper placement and care, a Japanese maple can add an exotic flare to almost any garden that will be enjoyed for years.

While there are varieties of Japanese maples for zone 5, and even some that are hardy in zones 3 and 4, many other varieties are only hardy to zone 6. Read on to learn more about growing Japanese maples in zone 5 and the best varieties for colder climates.

Can Japanese Maples Grow in Zone 5 Climates?

There are many popular varieties of zone 5 Japanese maples. However, in the northern parts of zone 5, they may need a little extra winter protection, especially against harsh winter winds.

Wrapping sensitive Japanese maples with burlap in early winter can give them that added protection. While Japanese maples are not too picky about soil, they cannot tolerate salt, so do not plant them in areas where they will be exposed to salt injury in the winter.

Japanese maples also cannot deal with waterlogged soil in spring or fall. They need to be planted in a well-draining site.

Japanese Maples for Zone 5

Below is a list of some of the common Japanese maples for zone 5:

• Waterfall
• Glowing Embers
• Sister Ghost
• Peaches & Cream
• Amber Ghost
• Bloodgood
• Burgundy Lace

Dry shade describes the conditions under a tree with a dense canopy. Thick layers of foliage prevent sun and rain from filtering through, leaving an inhospitable environment for flowers. This article focuses on zone 5 dry shade plants. Read on to find suggested flowering plants for dry shade in zone 5.

Zone 5 Dry Shade Gardens

If you have a tree with a dense canopy, the area under the tree is probably in dry shade. Moisture is blocked from above by the tree’s leaves and branches and absorbed from below by thirsty roots, leaving little moisture for other plants to survive. There is no doubt that this is a difficult area to landscape, but there are some shade loving plants that thrive in dry conditions. There isn’t much you can do to improve the conditions under the tree. Adding a layer of better soil or organic matter under the tree can seriously damage the roots and even kill the tree. When growing zone 5 plants in dry shade, it’s better to find plants to suit the conditions rather than trying to change the conditions to suit the plants.

Plants for Dry Shade

Here are some preferred plants for zone 5 dry shade gardens. White Woods asters have thin, dainty white petals that show up well in the shade. These woodland plants look right at home under a tree where they bloom in August and September. Add spring color by planting golden narcissus bulbs. The bulbs will have plenty of sunlight to bloom and fade before a deciduous tree leafs out. Lenten roses produce large blossoms in late winter or early spring. They come in white and a range of purples and pinks. The blossoms have thick petals, often with veins in contrasting colors. These lovely, fragrant flowers are often used as a groundcover under trees. Interplant with white anemones for a longer lasting display. How about adding some foliage to your zone 5 dry shade garden? Christmas ferns don’t just tolerate dry, shady conditions, they insist on it. They look best when massed together in large swaths. Yellow archangel is a groundcover that produces tiny yellow flowers in June, but it’s best known for the striking, variegated foliage. The white markings on green leaves stand out in the shade of a tree.

Nut trees add both beauty and bounty to the landscape. Most of them live a long time, so you can think of them as a legacy to future generations. There are many factors to consider when choosing zone 5 nut trees, and this article covers the trees best suited to the area.

Choosing Nut Trees for Zone 5

Many nuts would be perfect for the cold winters and warm growing seasons in zone 5 if it weren’t for the possibility of an early warm spell followed by another freeze. During a warm spell, the buds on a tree begin to swell, and refreezing damages or kills the nut buds. Nuts such as almonds and pecans may not die, but they won’t fill out completely. It’s best to avoid trees that may prove a disappointment and grow those that have a proven record of success. So, what nut trees grow in Zone 5? Here are some of the best nut trees for zone 5 regions: Walnuts – Walnuts are perfect for zone 5. Black walnuts grow into massive shade trees up to 100 feet (30.5 m.) tall, but they have a couple of drawbacks. First, they excrete a chemical through their roots and fallen leaves that makes it impossible for most other plants to thrive. Many plants die, while others simply fail to thrive. There are a few plants that can tolerate black walnuts, and if you’re willing to limit the area to those plants, this may be the tree for you. The second drawback is that it may be 10 years or more before you see your first crop of nuts. English walnuts grow to only half the size of a black walnut, but they aren’t quite as toxic, and you may see nuts in as few as four years. Hickory – Hickory nuts grow on trees similar to walnut trees. They do quite well in zone 5, but the taste isn’t as good as that of other nuts, and they're difficult to shell. The hican is a cross between a hickory and pecan. It has a better flavor and is easier to shell than a hickory. Hazelnut – Hazelnuts grow on shrubs rather than trees. This 10 foot (3 m.) shrub is an asset to the landscape. The leaves have a brilliant, orange-red color in fall, and one variety, the contorted hazelnut, has crooked branches that add interest in winter after the leaves have fallen. Chestnut – Although the American chestnut has been decimated by blight, the Chinese chestnut continues to thrive. The 50 foot (15 m.) tree grows faster than many of the other nut trees that grow in zone 5, and you’ll harvest nuts sooner.

Weeping ornamental trees add a dramatic, graceful look to landscape beds. They are available as flowering deciduous trees, nonflowering deciduous trees, and even evergreens. Usually used as specimen trees in the garden, different types of weeping trees can be placed in different beds to add variety, while also carrying out shape consistency throughout the landscape. Nearly every hardiness zone has a few choices of weeping trees. This article will discuss growing weeping trees in zone 5.

About Weeping Ornamental Trees

Most weeping trees are grafted trees. On weeping ornamental trees, the graft union is usually at the top of the trunk, just below the tree canopy. A benefit of having this graft union where it is on weeping trees is that the weeping branches generally hide it. A drawback is that in the winter the graft union doesn’t have the protection and insulation of snow or mulch at the ground level.

In northern areas of zone 5, you may have to wrap the graft union of young weeping trees with bubble wrap or burlap for winter protection. Suckers that develop at any time below the graft union should be removed because they will be of the rootstock and not the weeping tree. Letting them grow can eventually lead to the death of the top part of the tree and reversion to the rootstock.

Weeping Trees for Zone 5 Gardens

Below are lists of the different types of weeping trees for zone 5:

Flowering Deciduous Weeping Trees

• Japanese Snowbell ‘Fragrant Fountain' (Styrax japonicas)
• Walker's Weeping Peashrub (Caragana arborescens)
• Weeping Mulberry (Morus alba)
• Lavender Twist Redbud (Cercis canadensis ‘Lavender Twist')
• Weeping Flowering Cherry (Prunus subhirta)
• Snow Fountain Cherry (Prunus x snofozam)
• Pink Snow Showers Cherry (Prunus x pisnshzam)
• Weeping Pink Infusion Cherry (Prunus x wepinzam)
• Double Weeping Higan Cherry (Prunus subhirtella ‘Pendula Plena Rosea’)
• Louisa Crabapple (Malus ‘Louisa')
• First Editions Ruby Tears Crabapple (Malus ‘Bailears’)
• Royal Beauty Crabapple (Malus ‘Royal Beauty')
• Red Jade Crabapple (Malus ‘Red Jade')

Nonflowering Deciduous Weeping Trees

• Crimson Queen Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum ‘Crimson Queen’)
• Ryusen Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum ‘Ryusen’)
• Tamukeyama Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum ‘Tamukeyamu’)
• Kilmarnock Willow (Salix caprea)
• Niobe Weeping Willow (Salix alba ‘Tristis')
• Twisty Baby Locust (Robinia pseudocacia)

Weeping Evergreen Trees

• Weeping White Pine (Pinus strobus 'Pendula')
• Weeping Norway Spruce (Picea abies ‘Pendula')
• Pendula Nootka Alaska Cedar (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis)
• Sargent’s Weeping Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis ‘Sargentii’)

Planting flower bulbs is a fantastic way to get the jump on spring gardening. If you plant bulbs in the fall, you’re guaranteeing color and life in your garden early in the spring, probably long before you’re able to go out and plant anything with your hands. So, what are some good cold hardy bulbs? Keep reading to learn more about growing bulbs in zone 5 and some of the best zone 5 flower bulbs.

Zone 5 Flower Bulbs

When it comes to cold-hardy bulbs, there are actually a number to choose from. Here are some of the most commonly planted bulbs for zone 5 gardens: Daffodil – Daffodil bulbs are a popular standard in most gardens. A wide variety of daffodils are available in shades of white, yellow, and orange and in all kinds of sizes. Plant your bulbs in the fall, pointy end up, twice as deep as the height of the bulb. Iris – This genus of flowers includes over 300 species, many of which will grow with no problem in zone 5. Plant iris bulbs in mid to late summer. Tulip – Tulip are very diverse and come in just about any color you could want. Plant tulip bulbs in late autumn for flowers the following spring. Lily – Lilies come in just about every color and variety you could want, and many are suitable to zone 5 gardening. When you plant your bulbs in the fall, thoroughly loosen the soil and work in plenty of organic material to ensure good drainage. Snowdrop – Snowdrop are some of the first flowers to emerge in the spring, often while there is still snow on the ground. The bulbs are usually sold green, or undried, so plant them in the fall immediately after you buy them for the best results. Hyacinth – These flowers are known mostly for their heavenly scent that’s associated so strongly with spring. Plant your hyacinth bulbs in early autumn to give the roots time to establish before the first frost. Crocus – The crocus is one of the earliest spring flowers to pop up in the garden. It’s also one of the hardiest, so zone 5 gardens are no problem for this bulb. This is just a short list to choose from. For more information about the best flower bulbs in your region, check with your local extension office.

Grasses add incredible beauty and texture to the landscape all year-round, even in northern climates that experience sub-zero winter temperatures. Read on for more information about cold hardy grasses and a few examples of the best grasses for zone 5.

Zone 5 Native Grasses

Planting native grasses for your particular area offers many benefits because they are perfectly suited to the growing conditions. They provide shelter for wildlife, require little maintenance, survive with limited water, and rarely need pesticides or chemical fertilizer. Although it’s best to check with your local garden center for grasses native to your area, the following plants are excellent examples of hardy zone 5 grasses native to North America:

• Prairie Dropseed: Prairie Dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis) has pink and brownish blooms that are graceful and arching with bright green foliage that turns reddish orange in autumn.
• Purple Love Grass: Purple Love Grass (Eragrostis spectabilis) has reddish purple blooms, and bright green grass that turns orange and red in autumn.
• Prairie Fire Red Switchgrass: Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum ‘Prairie Fire’) has rose blooms, and blue-green foliage turning deep red in summer.
• ‘Hachita’ Blue Grama Grass: Blue Grama Grass (Bouteloua gracili ‘Hachita’) has reddish purple blooms, and bluish green/grayish green foliage turns golden brown in autumn.
• Little Bluestem: Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) has purplish bronze flowers, and grayish green grass that turns bright orange, bronze, red, and purple in autumn.
• Eastern Gamagrass: Eastern Gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides) has purple and orange flowers, with green grass that turns reddish bronze in autumn.

Other Types of Grass for Zone 5

Below are some additional cold hardy grasses for zone 5 landscapes:

• Purple Moor Grass: Purple Moor Grass (Molina caerulea) has purple or yellow flowers, and pale green grass turning brown in autumn.
• Tufted Hairgrass: Tufted Hairgrass (Deschampsia cespitosa) has purple, silver, gold, and greenish yellow blooms with dark green foliage.
• Korean Feather Reed Grass: Feather Reed Grass (Calamagrostis brachytricha) has pinkish blooms, and bright green foliage turning yellow beige in fall.
• Pink Muhly Grass: Pink Muhly Grass (Muhlenbergia capillaries) – also known as Pink Hair Grass, it has bright pink blooms and dark green foliage.
• Hameln Fountian Grass: Hameln Fountain Grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Hameln’) also known as Dwarf Fountain Grass; this grass produces pinkish white blooms with deep green foliage turning orange bronze in autumn.
• Zebra Grass: Zebra Grass (Miscanthus sinensis ‘Strictus’) has reddish brown blooms and medium green grass with bright yellow, horizontal stripes.

Shady garden situations are one of the most challenging in which to plant. In zone 5, your challenges go up to include frigid winters. Therefore, any plants chosen for shady areas must also tolerate temperatures well below zero. However, there are plenty of options for shade plants in zone 5. Select from perennials, evergreen shrubs, or deciduous trees. There are surely some plants that will suit any garden needs.

Perennial Zone 5 Shade Loving Plants

Planting conditions vary from garden to garden, but when you have both shade and freezing winter temperatures to contend with, your plant options begin to look a little slim. Your local extension office can be of great help in providing you with plants that are hardy in zone 5 and that thrive in shade. Remember to consider the other site conditions when choosing zone 5 shade plants, such as drainage, soil type, and average moisture as you make your selections of shade plants for zone 5. Most perennials have a "here today, gone tomorrow" nature because they die back in winter and arise in spring. This aspect makes them especially hardy because no tender green parts are exposed during winter. As long as the soil is mulched, providing a thick blanket to protect roots, a remarkable number of perennials survive cold regions like zone 5. Perennials also come in a wide range of colors, sizes, and site preferences. One of the classic shade perennials that is tolerant to zone 4 is the hosta. These large leaved beauties come in many leaf colors and sizes. Hellebores are another plant with shady impact. They survive zone 5 harsh winters and are one of the earliest bloomers with prolific flowers and attractively lobed leaves. Some other perennial shade plants for zone 5 are:

• Lily of the Valley
• Astilbe
• Huechera
• Red Trillium
• Cardinal Flower
• Bleeding Heart
• Bugleweed
• Foxglove
• Brunnera
• Lungwort
• Bergenia
• Lady's Mantle
• Candytuft
• Asian Lily

Woody Zone 5 Shade Loving Plants

A shade garden benefits from the dimension that trees and shrubs can provide. Whether the plant is evergreen or deciduous, larger plants trace the path the eye sketches when entering the shady garden. Many of the options for shade plants in zone 5 will even flower and fruit, further adding interest to a low light area. The fine foliage of barberry is decorated with deeply red berries in fall and many dogwoods produce their ornamental flower-like bracts followed by cheery bird attracting fruits. Evergreen specimens such as Green Velvet boxwood, Aurea Compact hemlock and Dwarf Bright Gold yew provide year around texture and color. Seasonal change is evident in Tiger Eye sumac and Dwarf European viburnum. Other shade plants for zone 5 might be:

• Taunton Yew
• Summersweet
• Snowberry
• Bush Honeysuckle
• Annabelle Hydrangea
• Northern Lights Azalea
• Highbush Cranberry
• Nannyberry
• Witch Alder

Choosing Zone 5 Shade Plants

Planning is important when designing any garden space. Just randomly throwing together a bunch of shade tolerant plants does not make an appealing design. Evaluate the space and its conditions before choosing your selections. For instance, many areas get half a day of sunlight, making them partial shade locations. Virginia bluebells will thrive in such a situation but only if the soil is moist much of the time. Solomon's seal prefers a bit more shade and drier soil. If you have a fully shaded location much of the day, such as under tall trees, plants like Japanese painted fern will bring color and ease of care. Bear's breeches will also prefer full shade but needs the soil to be consistently moist. Evaluating each plant's needs will ensure the correct choices for your shady garden. Fortunately, many are adaptable to partial or full shade, making them foolproof choices.

If you live in USDA zone 5 and are looking to overhaul, redesign or just tweak your landscape, planting some zone 5 suitable shrubs may be the answer. The good news is that there are many options for growing shrubs in zone 5. Zone 5 shrub varieties can be used as privacy screens, accent plants along with seasonal color or as border plants. Read on to find out about bushes for zone 5 climates.

About Bushes for Zone 5 Climates

Shrubs are an important feature in a landscape. Evergreen shrubs become anchors of permanence and deciduous shrubs add interest with their changing foliage and blossoms throughout the seasons. They add scale and structure to the garden in conjunction with trees and other perennials. Before planting zone 5 shrubs, do some research and carefully consider their requirements, ultimate size, adaptability, and seasons of interest. For instance, does the shrub have a creeping habit, is it mounded, and what is its overall spread? Know the shrub’s site conditions. That is, what pH, texture, and drainage of the soil does it prefer? How much sun and wind exposure does the site get?

Zone 5 Shrub Varieties

It’s all very well to read a list of shrubs suited to zone 5, but it’s always a good idea to do a little local research as well. Take a look around and note what types of shrubs are common to the area. Consult your local extension office, nursery or botanical garden. On that note, here is a partial list of shrubs suited to growing in zone 5 gardens.

Deciduous shrubs

Deciduous shrubs under 3 feet (1 m.) include:

• Abelia
• Bearberry
• Crimson Pygmy Barberry
• Japanese Quince
• Cranberry and Rockspray Cotoneaster
• Nikko Slender Deutzia
• Bush honeysuckle
• Japanese Spirea
• Dwarf Cranberry Bush

Somewhat larger (3-5 feet or 1-1.5 m. tall) shrubs that are suited to zone 5 are:

• Serviceberry
• Japanese Barberry
• Purple Beautyberry
• Flowering Quince
• Burkwood Daphne
• Cinquefoil
• Weeping Forsythia
• Smooth Hydrangea
• Winterberry
• Virginia Sweetspire
• Winter Jasmine
• Japanese Kerria
• Dwarf Flowering Almond
• Azalea
• Native Shrub Roses
• Spirea
• Snowberry
• Viburnum

Larger deciduous shrubs, those that get from 5-9 feet (1.5-3 m.) in height, include:

• Butterfly Bush
• Summersweet
• Winged Euonymus
• Border Forsythia
• Fothergilla
• Witch Hazel
• Rose of Sharon
• Oakleaf Hydrangea
• Northern Bayberry
• Tree Peony
• Mock orange
• Ninebark
• Purple Leaved Sandcherry
• Pussy Willow
• Lilac
• Viburnum
• Weigela

Evergreen shrubs

As to the evergreens, several shrubs of between 3-5 feet (1-1.5 m.) in height include:

• Boxwood
• Heather/Heath
• Wintercreeper Euonymus
• Inkberry
• Mountain Laurel
• Heavenly Bamboo
• Canby Paxistima
• Mugo Pine
• Leatherleaf
• Eastern Red Cedar
• Drooping Leucothoe
• Oregon Grape Holly
• Mountain Pieris
• Cherry Laurel
• Scarlet Firethorn

Larger, more tree-like shrubs that grow from 5 to 15 feet (1.5-4.5 m.) in height may include varieties of the following:

• Juniper
• Arborvitae
• Rhododendron
• Yew
• Viburnum
• Holly
• Boxwood

Perennial vines add color, height, and texture to your garden. If you want to start growing vines in zone 5, you may hear that many of the more engaging vines live and die in one season or insist on tropical weather. The truth is, cold hardy vines for zone 5 do exist, but you’ll have to search for them. Read on for a few zone 5 vine varieties that are perennials worth planting in the landscape.

Choosing Cold Hardy Vines for Zone 5

Zone 5 is on the cool side of the hardiness charts. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, winter temperatures in plant hardiness zone 5 regions dip to -20 degrees F. (-29 C.). That means that zone 5 vine varieties must be quite cold hardy to survive. Choosing vines for zone 5 is a process of sifting through the zone 5 vines available and finding plants that please you. 

When you are choosing vines for zone 5, take stock of the space you have to offer. Is the area you intend a vine to inhabit in the shade? Is it sunny? What’s the soil like? How is the drainage? All of these factors are important considerations. 

Other things to think about include how much space the vine will have to climb and spread horizontally. Consider, too, whether you want to start growing vines in zone 5 with flowers or with fruits or if you are just interested in foliage.

Popular Zone 5 Vine Varieties

For big, bold, fiery blossoms on a 30 foot (9 m.) vine, consider trumpet vine (Campsis selections). The vine grows fast and produces orange, red, and/or yellow flowers that prove very attractive to hummingbirds. It grows happily in zones 5 through 9. Another bright flower vine is clematis (Clematis spp.). 

Pick a cultivar that offers the flower hue you like best. Clematis vine heights vary from only 4 feet (1 m.) up to 25 feet (8 m.). It’s easy to start growing vines in zone 5 if you select cold hardy clematis. The cold hardy variety of the kiwi vine is called arctic kiwi (Actinidia kolomikta). 

It survives in zone 5, and even down to zone 3. The large, beautiful leaves are variegated in pinks and whites. These vines grow over 10 feet (3 m.) tall and do best grown on a trellis or fence. They produce small, tasty fruit but only if you have a male and female vine in close proximity. 

Perhaps the most famous “fruit of the vine” is grapes (Vitis spp.) Easy to grow, grapevines do just fine in average, well-draining soil as long as they have full sun. They are hardy to zone 4 and they need sturdy structures to climb.

An annual is a plant that completes its life cycle in one year, meaning it sprouts from seed, grows and forms flowers, sets its seed, and dies all within one growing season. However, in cooler northern climates like zone 5 or lower, we often grow plants that are not hardy enough to survive our cold winters as annuals. For example, lantana is a very popular annual in zone 5, used to attract butterflies. However, in zones 9 to 11, lantana is a perennial and actually considered an invasive plant in some warm climates. In zone 5, lantana cannot survive the winter, so it does not become an invasive nuisance. Like lantana, many of the plants we grow as annuals in zone 5 are perennials in warmer climates. Continue reading for more information on common zone 5 annuals.

Growing Annuals in Zone 5 Gardens

With frost being a threat as late as May 15th and as early as October 1st, zone 5 gardeners do not have a very long growing season. Oftentimes, with annuals, we find that it's easier to purchase them in spring as small plants rather than grow them from seed. Buying already established annuals allows us that instant gratification of a pot full of blooms. In cooler northern climates like zone 5, usually by the time spring and nice weather comes, we all have spring fever and tend to splurge on the big full hanging baskets or annual container mixes at our local garden centers. It is easy to be fooled into thinking spring is here by a beautiful sunny, warm day in mid-April; we usually allow ourselves to be fooled like this because we have been craving warmth, sun, flowers and green leafy growth all winter. Then a late frost happens and, if we are not prepared for it, it can cost us all those plants that we jumped the gun and bought. When growing annuals in zone 5, it's important to pay attention to weather forecasts and frost warnings in spring and autumn so that we can protect our plants as needed. It is also important to note that many of the beautiful, full plants we buy in spring have been grown in a warm, protective greenhouse and may need time to adjust to our drastic spring weather patterns. Still, with a careful eye on weather changes, zone 5 gardeners can enjoy many of the same beautiful annuals that gardeners in warmer climates use.

Hardy Annuals for Zone 5

Below is a list of the most common annuals in zone 5:

• Geraniums
• Lantana
• Petunia
• Calibrachoa
• Begonia
• Alyssum
• Bacopa
• Cosmos
• Gerbera Daisy
• Impatiens
• New Guinea Impatiens
• Marigold
• Zinnia
• Dusty Miller
• Snapdragon
• Gazania
• Nicotiana
• Flowering Kale
• Mums
• Cleome
• Four O’ Clocks
• Cockscomb
• Torenia
• Nasturtiums
• Moss Roses
• Sunflower
• Coleus
• Gladiolus
• Dahlia
• Sweet Potato Vine
• Cannas
• Elephant Ear

Once you’ve seen a magnolia, you’re not likely to forget its beauty. The tree’s waxy flowers are a delight in any garden and often fill it with an unforgettable fragrance. Can magnolia trees grow in zone 5? While some magnolia species, like southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora), won’t tolerate zone 5 winters, you’ll find attractive specimens that will. If you want to know about the best magnolia trees for zone 5 or have other questions about zone 5 magnolia trees, read on.

Can Magnolia Trees Grow in Zone 5?

Many types of magnolias are available in commerce, including trees with flowers that are pink, purple, white, or yellow. Most magnolia blossoms are very lovely and fragrant. They have been called the emblematic flower of the old south. If you think of magnolias as only heat-loving southern belles, think again. You can find magnolia trees suited for virtually every growing location and many different hardiness zones. Can magnolia trees grow in zone 5? Yes, they can, as long as you pick appropriate zone 5 magnolia trees.

Best Magnolia Trees for Zone 5

One of the best magnolia trees for zone 5 is star magnolia (Magnolia kobus var. stellata). This big-name magnolia is very popular in northern nurseries and gardens. An early bloomer, star magnolia takes its place among the most beautiful of magnolias in zone 5. Its blossoms are huge and very fragrant. Another of the top magnolia trees in zone 5 gardens is the cucumber tree magnolia (Magnolia acuminata), native to this country. Bearing leaves up to 10 inches (23 cm.) long, the cucumber tree magnolia can grow to 50 feet (15 cm.) tall with 3 inch (8 cm.) blossoms that appear in late spring. The flowers are followed by cucumber-like fruit. If you like the star species but prefer to plant taller magnolia trees in zone 5, consider the hybrid magnolia called 'Merrill.’ It results from crosses between Magnolia kobus trees and the shrubby variety stellata. It’s a cold-hardy early bloomer and grows to two stories in height. A few other species to consider as magnolia trees in zone 5 include 'Ann' and ‘Betty’ magnolia cultivars, both of which grow to 10 feet (3 m.). ‘Yellow Bird’ (Magnolia x brooklynensis 'Yellow Bird') and 'Butterflies' magnolia top out at between 15 and 20 feet (5-6 m.).

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. Magnolia – Magnolia 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.

Rhododendron shrubs provide your garden with bright spring flowers as long as you site the shrubs in an appropriate location in an appropriate hardiness zone. Those who live in cooler regions need to select hardy rhododendron varieties to be sure the bushes make it through the winter. For tips on planting rhododendrons in zone 5, as well as a list of good zone 5 rhododendrons, read on.

How to Grow Rhododendrons for Zone 5

When you are planting rhododendrons in zone 5, you need to recognize that rhododendrons have very specific growing requirements. If you want your shrubs to thrive, you need to take their sun and soil preferences into account. Rhododendrons are called the queens of the shade garden for good reason. They are flowering shrubs that require a shady location to grow happily. When you are planting rhododendrons in zone 5, partial shade is fine, and full shade is also possible. Zone 5 rhododendrons are also particular about soil. They need moist, well-drained, acidic soils. Hardy rhododendron varieties prefer soil fairly high in organic matter and porous media. It’s wise to mix in topsoil, peat moss, compost, or sand before planting.

Hardy Rhododendron Varieties

If you live in a region classified as zone 5, your winter temperatures can dip well below zero. That means that you’ll need to select rhododendrons for zone 5 that can survive. Fortunately, the Rhododendron genus is very large, with 800 to 1000 different species-- including the entire azalea clan. You’ll find quite a few hardy rhododendron varieties that will do well as rhododendrons for zone 5. In fact, most rhododendrons thrive in USDA hardiness zones 4 to 8. If you are pining for azaleas, you’ll have to be a little more selective. Some thrive down to zone 3, but many don’t grow well in such cold regions. Avoid species that are borderline hardy in favor of plants hardy to zone 4 if possible. You find some top choices for zone 5 rhododendrons in the Northern Lights Series of hybrid azaleas. These plants were developed and released by the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Northern Lights rhododendrons are not just borderline zone 5 rhododendrons. They are hardy in regions where temperatures drop to -30 degrees to -45 degrees F. (-34 to -43 C.). Take blossom color into account when you are picking zone 5 rhododendrons from the Northern Lights series. If you want pink flowers, consider "Pink Lights" for pale pink or “Rosy Lights” for deeper pink. Rhododendron "White Lights" produce pink buds that open to white flowers. For unusual salmon-colored flowers, try "Spicy Lights," a shrub that grows to 6 feet (2 m.) tall with an 8 foot (2 m.) spread. "Orchid Lights" are zone 5 rhododendrons that grow to 3 feet (1 m.) tall with ivory-colored flowers. While Northern Lights are reliable as zone 5 rhododendrons, your selection is not limited to this series. A variety of other zone 5 rhododendrons are available.

Planting shrubs shade in zone 5 is a bit of a balancing act. The shrubs need to be able to withstand very cold temperatures in the winter and also survive in low light conditions. Before you head to the garden store to buy a shrub, look carefully at the type of shade your garden offers. Shade is generally classified as light, moderate or heavy. The zone 5 shade shrubs that will thrive in your yard vary depending on the type of shade involved.

The key to planting a beautiful shade garden is finding attractive shrubs that thrive in shade in your hardiness zone. If you live in zone 5, your climate is on the cool side. However, you’ll find lots of options for bushes for zone 5 shade.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s plant hardiness zone system runs from icy zone 1 to sweltering zone 12, with the zones defined by a region’s coldest winter temperature. Zone 5 is somewhere in the cool middle, with lows between -20 and -10 degrees Fahrenheit (-29 and -23 C.). Read on for information about zone 5 shade shrubs.

Shrubs for Shade - Zone 5

Most plants need some sunlight to survive. You’ll find more options for bushes for zone 5 shade if you have “light shade” areas – those getting filtered sunshine – than for those shade areas receiving only reflected sunlight. Even fewer zone 5 bushes for shade grow in “deep shade” areas. Deep shade is found under dense evergreen trees or anywhere that sunlight is blocked.

Flowering Shrubs for Shade - Zone 5

• Bigleaf Hydrangea - Bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) are great flowering shrubs for partial shade. They have big, beautiful blooms in the summer and you can actually change their bloom color by changing the pH of your soil. Choose a variety of bigleaf hydrangea that is hardy to zone 5 like ‘Midnight Rider’ or ‘Endless Summer’ or ensure your shrub gets winter protection. ‘Midnight Rider’ hydrangea, available from Fast Growing Trees, is a heavy bloomer with unique dark foliage. ‘Endless Summer’ hydrangeas, also available from Fast Growing Trees, are easy to care for and thrive in partial to full shade.
• Rhododendron - Rhododendron are zone 4-8 champions and love partial shade. Plant rhododendron shrubs in moist, slightly acidic soil and watch them thrive. There are many different colors of blooms available so you can really choose the best one for your garden personality. ‘Holden’s Peach’ hybrid rhododendron, available from Fast Growing Trees, has peachy pink and yellow blooms and glossy evergreen foliage. And the lavender rhododendron shrub, also from Fast Growing Trees, has clusters of vibrant purple blossoms.
• Mountain Laurel - Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) is a native broadleaf evergreen shrub that grows well in partial shade. It favors cool, well-draining, acidic soil. Mountain laurel has gorgeous, showy flowers that attract native pollinators from late spring through early summer. It is also deer resistant. Find ‘Pink Charm’ mountain laurel shrubs from Plant Addicts nursery.

Evergreen Shrubs for Shade - Zone 5

• Sweet Box - Sweet box (Sarcococca hookeriana) is a broadleaf evergreen shrub that is perfect for shady spots in zone 5 gardens. It does well in part shade to full shade and prefers well-drained soil. Sweet box has delicate flowers that bloom in late winter to early spring and add beautiful fragrance wherever planted. Plant ‘Sweet & Lo’ sweet box shrubs from Fast Growing Trees to add year-round interest to even the shadiest spots.
• Hybrid Yew - Hybrid yews like Taxus x media ‘Stonehenge Dark Druid’ are tolerant of most lighting conditions and do well in zone 5. Hybrid yew shrubs prefer loam soil and don’t tolerate wet conditions so be sure to plant in an area with good drainage. These easy-care evergreens attract birds with their berries and are drought-resistant to boot. ‘Stonehenge Dark Druid’ yews, available from Plant Addicts nursery, are compact, naturally round shrubs that do well in most home gardens including in urban areas.
• Boxwood - Boxwood shrubs (Buxus sempervirens) are steady workhorses in landscape gardening. They add structure and greenery and make good foundation plantings, hedges, or specimen plantings. Varieties like ‘Green Mountain’, available from Garden Goods Direct, will work in your zone 5 garden with partial shade and well-drained soil.

Shrubs for Light Shade

You are in luck if your backyard garden gets sunlight filtered through the branches of open-canopied trees like birch. If this is the case, you’ll find many more options for zone 5 shade shrubs than you might think. Select among:

• Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia)
• Cornelian cherry dogwood (Cornus mas)
• Hazelnut (Corylus species)
• Dwarf fothergilla (Fothergilla gardenia)
• Mock orange (Philadelphus coronaries)

Shrubs for Moderate Shade

When you are growing bushes in zone 5 shade in an area that gets some reflected sunshine, you’ll find options as well. Quite a few varieties thrive in this type of shade in zone 5. These include:

• Sweet shrub (Calycanthus floridus)
• Sweetfern (Comptonia peregrina)
• Daphne (Daphne species)
• Witch hazel (Hamamelis species)
• Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia)
• Holly (Ilex species)
• Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica)
• Leucothoe (Leucothoe species)
• Oregon holly grape (Mahonia aquifolium)
• Northern bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica)

Shrubs for Deep Shade

When your garden gets no sunlight at all, your choices for zone 5 bushes for shade are more limited. Most plants prefer at least dappled light. However, a few shrubs grow in zone 5 deep shade areas. These include:

• Japanese kerria (Kerria japonica)
• Laurel (Kalmia species)

Shop Shrub Planting Essentials

Zone 5 can be a tough planting zone for many plants. The temperatures can dip below -20 degrees Fahrenheit (-29 C.), a temperature to which many plants can't adapt. Zone 5 ground cover plants are a great way to keep the soil warm around the roots of other plants. 

Planting ground covers in zone 5 also helps conserve moisture in summer, reduce weeds, and add seamless beauty in broad, colorful swathes across the landscape. Read on for some hardy ground cover options for your northern garden.

Hardy Ground Cover Plants

Ground cover choices must take into account the site drainage, exposure, soil type, and, of course, the USDA hardiness zone. Other options such as deciduous vs. evergreen, woody vs. herbaceous, and flowering or fruiting are also part of the equation as you assess your ground cover choices. 

Finding the perfect ground cover for zone 5 must take all these into consideration while providing outstanding cold hardiness. Luckily, there are a host of wonderful plants that can provide varying functions and eye appeal that thrive in chilly winter climates. 

In zone 5, hardy ground cover plants undergo punishing winters with not only cold temperatures but often high damaging winds and brutally hot summers. These extremes require only the toughest plants in order to survive. 

Evergreen plants offer year-round color and texture. Some of the low-growing conifers are perfect as ground covers. For example:

• Many of the juniper species are hardy to zone 3 and grow just 6 to 12 inches (15-30.5 cm.) off the ground with a spreading habit.
• Kinnikinick, or bearberry, is a wonderful ground cover for zone 5, with attractive berries that attract birds and foliage that tends to get a reddish-purple tinge at the edges as fall enters.
• Creeping cotoneaster produces bright, red berries; delicate, glossy foliage; and a low profile.
• Another evergreen, spreading plant is wintercreeper (Euonymus fortune), which comes in several colors.

Each of these is also low maintenance and easy to care for once established. If you want rich, jewel tones and springtime glory spread across the landscape, there are even more zone 5 ground cover plants.

• Blue star creeper is practically indestructible. You can even walk on this plant with no damage, making it great as a lawn substitute. It produces sweet, little, starry flowers all through spring.
• Try growing herbs, like creeping thyme, or succulents, such as sedum or hens and chicks, that will add interest to the garden.
• Ice plant lives up to its name by surviving into zone 3 and putting on a color show of the most vibrant pink flowers.

Additional ground covers that will all keep the colors coming from spring through summer include:

• Ajuga
• Vinca
• Basket of Gold
• Aubretia
• Winecups
• Snow in Summer
• Sweet Woodruff
• Deadnettle
• Creeping Jenny

Planting Ground Covers in Zone 5 Shade

Add extreme winters to a shady location, and you have a problem area. It can be difficult to find shade-loving plants in warmer regions but the special challenges of a zone 5 location make the task especially difficult. 

Fortunately, there are some heroes among plants that will thrive in low-light locations of zone 5. Pachysandrais a really outstanding plant with delicate leaves and a flair for flourishing in shade. Lady's mantle forms dense mats over time and has elegant foliage. 

Many grass-like and ferny plants are useful in full shade locations. Black mondo grass and liriope produce blade-like foliage and have ease of care. Brass buttons and corydalis have fern-like foliage in hues of bronze, green, and eggplant. 

Japanese painted ferns have numerous colors in the leaves and airy foliage. Other alternatives for shade areas might be creeping dogwood or wintercreeper. Each has a different season of interest all year around. 

Zone 5 options abound for ground covers. All you have to do is look and plan ahead for a blanket of texture, greenery, fruit, flowers, and color.

If you live in USDA plant hardiness zone 5, you’re accustomed to dealing with some very cold winters. As a result, gardening choices are limited, but maybe not as limited as you think. For example, there are several types of cold hardy cactus that tolerate sub-zero winters. Want to learn more about cactus plants for zone 5? Keep reading.

Zone 5 Cactus Plants

Here are some of the best cactus plants for zone 5 landscapes: Brittle Prickly Pear (Opuntia fragilis) provides creamy yellow blooms in summer. Strawberry Cup (Echinocereus triglochidiatus), also known as King’s Crown, Mohave Mound, or Claret Cup, has bright red blooms in late spring and early summer. Beehive (Escobaria vivipara), also known as Spiny Star or Foxtail, produces pink blooms in late spring. Tulip Prickly Pear (Opuntia macrorhiza), also known as Plains Prickly Pear or Bigroot Prickly Pear, also produces yellow blooms in summer. Panhandle Prickly Pear (Opuntia polyacantha), also known as Tequila Sunrise, Hairspine Cactus, Starvation Prickly Pear, Navajo Bridge and others produces yellowish orange blooms in late spring or early summer. Fendler’s Cactus (Echinocereus fender v. kuenzleri) provides the garden with deep pink/magenta blooms in late spring and early summer. Bailey’s Lace (Echinocereus reichenbachii v. baileyi), also known as Bailey’s Hedgehog, produces pink blooms in late spring and summer. Mountain Spiny Star (Pediocactus simpsonii), also known as Mountain Ball, has pink blooms in late spring, early summer.

Tips on Growing Cactus in Zone 5

Cacti like lean soil with an alkaline or neutral ph. Don’t bother improving the soil with peat, manure, or compost. Plant cactus in well-drained soil. Cactus planted in moist, poorly drained soil will soon rot. Raised or mounded beds will improve drainage if winter rain or snow is frequent. Mixing native soil generously with coarse sand will also improve drainage. Don’t mulch the soil around cacti. However, you can top-dress the soil with a thin layer of pebbles or gravel. Ensure the planting area receives plenty of sunlight year-round. Water cactus regularly during the summer months but allow the soil to dry between waterings. Discontinue watering in autumn so cacti have time to harden off and shrivel before winter. If possible, plant your cactus near south or west-facing walls, or near a concrete driveway or sidewalk (but safely away from play areas or other places where the spines can cause injury).

If you love butterflies and want to attract more of them to your garden, consider planting a butterfly garden. Think plants for butterflies won’t survive in your cooler zone 5 region? Think again. There are many hardy plants that attract butterflies. Read on to find out about butterfly gardening in zone 5 and what plants will attract butterflies.

About Butterfly Gardening in Zone 5

Before you begin picking out plants for the butterflies, give some thought to their needs. Butterflies are cold blooded and need the sun to warm their bodies. To fly well, butterflies need body temperatures of between 85 to 100 degrees F. (29-38 C.). So, select a site for the zone 5 butterfly garden plants that is in the sun near a sheltering wall, fence, or stand of evergreens that will protect the insects from winds. You might also incorporate some dark colored rocks or boulders into the zone 5 butterfly garden. These will heat up in the sun and give the butterflies a place to rest. When the insects can stay warm, they fly more, eat more, and search for mates more often. Hence, they lay more eggs and you get more butterflies. Commit to not using pesticides. Butterflies are extremely susceptible to pesticides. Also, Bacillus thuringiensis kills both moth and butterfly larvae, so even though this is a biological pesticide, it should be avoided.

Hardy Plants that Attract Butterflies

Butterflies go through four life cycles: egg, larvae, pupae, and adult. Adults feed on the nectar of many types of flowers and larva feed mostly on the leaves of a more limited variety. You may want to plant both plants that attract the adult insects and those that will sustain the larvae or caterpillars. Many butterfly plants also attract hummingbirds, bees, and moths. Consider blending native and non-native plants in the butterfly garden. This will broaden the number and type of butterflies that visit. Also, plant large groupings of flowers together, which will attract more butterflies than just a plant here and there. Choose plants that bloom on a rotating basis throughout the season, so the butterflies have a continuous source of nectar. There are some plants (like butterfly bush, coneflower, black-eyed Susan, lantana, verbena) that are virtual butterfly magnets, but there are many others that are equally attractive to one species or more. Mix annuals in with perennials. Perennials for butterflies include:

• Allium
• Chives
• Forget-me-not
• Bee balm
• Catmint
• Coreopsis
• Lavender
• Liatris
• Lily
• Mint
• Phlox
• Red valerian
• Sunflower
• Veronica
• Yarrow
• Goldenrod
• Joe-Pye weed
• Obedient plant
• Sedum
• Sneezewood
• Pentas

Annuals that can be tucked in amongst the above perennials include:

• Ageratum
• Cosmos
• Heliotrope
• Marigold
• Mexican sunflower
• Nicotiana
• Petunia
• Scabiosa
• Statice
• Zinnia

These are only partial lists. There are many more butterfly attractive plants like azalea, blue mist, buttonbush, hyssop, milkweed, sweet William… the list goes on.

Additional Plants for Butterflies

While you’re planning your butterfly garden, be sure to incorporate plants for their offspring. Black Swallowtail caterpillars seem to have a rather human palate and prefer to dine on carrots, parsley, and dill. Wild cherry, birch, poplar, ash, apple trees, and tulip trees are all favored by Tiger Swallowtail larvae. Monarch offspring prefer milkweed and butterfly weed and the larvae of the Great Spangled Fritillary prefer violets. Buckeye butterfly larvae grub on snapdragons while Mourning Cloak nibbles on willow and elm trees. Viceroy larvae have a yen for fruit from plum and cherry trees as well as pussy willows. Red-spotted purple butterflies also prefer trees such as willows and poplars, and Hackberry butterfly larvae feed on hackberry, of course.

North America is divided into 11 hardiness zones. These hardiness zones indicate each zone’s average lowest temperatures. Most of the United States is in hardiness zones 2 through 10, with the exception of Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. Plant hardiness zones indicate the lowest temperatures a plant can survive in. For example, zone 5 plants cannot survive in temperatures lower than -15 to -20 degrees F. (-26 to –29 C.). Fortunately, there are many plants, especially perennials, which can survive in zone 5 and lower. Continue reading to learn more about growing perennials in zone 5.

Growing Perennials in Zone 5

While zone 5 is not the coldest zone in the U.S. or North America, it is still a cold, northern climate with winter temperatures that can dip down to -20 degrees F. (-29 C.). Snow is also very common in zone 5 winters, which actually helps insulate plants and their roots from the brutal winter chill. Regardless of this frigid winter weather, there are many common zone 5 perennials and bulbs you can grow and enjoy year after year. In fact, bulb plants have many varieties that will naturalize in zone 5, including:

• Tulips
• Daffodils
• Hyacinths
• Alliums
• Lilies
• Irises
• Muscari
• Crocus
• Lily-of-the-valley
• Scilla

Zone 5 Perennial Plants

Below is a list of common perennial flowers for zone 5:

• Hollyhock
• Yarrow
• Wormwood
• Butterfly weed/Milkweed
• Aster
• Baptisia
• Bachelor’s Button
• Coreopsis
• Delphinium
• Dianthus
• Coneflower
• Joe Pye weed
• Filipendula
• Blanket flower
• Daylily
• Hibiscus
• Lavender
• Shasta Daisy
• Blazing Star
• Bee balm
• Catmint
• Poppy
• Penstemon
• Russian Sage
• Garden Phlox
• Creeping Phlox
• Black Eyed Susan
• Salvia

Rosemary is traditionally a warm climate plant, but agronomists have been busy developing cold hardy rosemary cultivars suitable for growing in cold northern climates. Keep in mind that even hardy rosemary plants benefit from ample winter protection, as temperatures in zone 5 may drop as low as -20 degrees F. (-29 C.).

Selecting Zone 5 Rosemary Plants

The following list includes rosemary varieties for zone 5:

Alcalde (Rosemarinus officinalis ‘Alcalde Cold Hardy’) – This cold hardy rosemary is rated for zones 6 through 9, but it may survive the upper ranges of zone 5 with adequate protection. If you’re in doubt, plant Alcalde in a pot and bring it indoors in autumn. Alcalde is an upright plant with thick, olive-green foliage. The blooms, which appear from early summer to fall, are an attractive shade of pale blue.

Madeline Hill (Rosemarinus officinalis ‘Madeline Hill’) – Like Alcalde, Madeline Hill rosemary is officially hardy to zone 6, so be sure to provide plenty of winter protection if you want to try leaving the plant outdoors year-round. Madeline Hill displays rich, green foliage and dainty, pale blue flowers. Madeline Hill is also known as Hill Hardy Rosemary.

Arp Rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis ‘Arp’) – While Arp is a very cold hardy rosemary, it may struggle outdoors in zone 5. Winter protection is critical, but if you want to eliminate all doubt, bring the plant indoors for the winter. Arp rosemary, a tall variety that reaches heights of 36 to 48 inches (91-122 cm.), displays clear blue flowers in late spring and early summer.

Athens Blue Spire Rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis ‘Blue Spires’) – Athens Blue Spire presents pale, gray green foliage and lavender blue flowers. Once again, even cold hardy rosemary such as Athens Blue Spire may struggle in zone 5, so give the plant plenty of protection.

Growing Rosemary in Zone 5

The most important aspect of growing rosemary plants in cooler climates is to provide adequate winter care. These tips should help:

Cut the rosemary plant within a couple of inches (5 cm.) from the ground after the first hard frost.

Cover the remaining plant completely with 4 to 6 inches (10-15 cm.) of mulch. (Remove most of the mulch when new growth appears in spring, leaving only about 2 inches (5 cm.) in place.)

If you live in a very cold climate, consider covering the plant with extra protection such as a frost blanket to protect the plant from frost heaving.

Don’t overwater. Rosemary doesn’t like wet feet, and damp soil in winter places the plant at a higher risk of damage.

If you choose to bring rosemary indoors during the winter, provide a brightly lit spot where temperatures remain about 63 to 65 degrees F. (17-18 C.). 

Tip for growing rosemary in cold climates: Take cuttings from your rosemary plant in spring, or after the flower has finished blooming in late summer. That way, you’ll replace plants that may be lost during the winter.

The iris is a mainstay of many gardens. It's beautiful, unmistakable flowers appear in the spring, just as the first spring bulbs are beginning to fade. It’s also an extremely diverse genus of plants, which means you ought to be able to find plenty of irises for your garden, no matter your growing conditions and tastes. Since irises are so diverse, there are plenty of cold hardy iris varieties available. Keep reading to learn more about growing iris plants in cold climates, specifically how to pick the best irises for zone 5.

Growing Irises in Zone 5

There are plenty of cold hardy iris varieties available. In fact, many irises like the cold and prefer having a drop in temperature during which they become dormant. This isn’t the case for all irises, but it is for many. You won’t be able to grow all irises in zone 5, but you are certainly not without options. When growing iris plants in cold climates, their care isn’t much different than anywhere else. While you can lift the rhizomes for storage over winter, hardy irises generally do fine left in the ground, given a good layer of mulch protection until spring.

Best Zone 5 Iris Varieties

Here are a few of the most popular irises for zone 5 gardening: Japanese Iris – Hardy down to zone 5, Japanese iris has very large flowers at 4 to 8 inches (10-20 cm.) across. It prefers moist soil and likes quite a bit of acidity. Yellow Flag – Hardy down to zone 5, yellow flag iris likes very wet soil and produces striking yellow flowers but can become invasive. Dutch Iris – Hardy down to zone 5, Dutch iris prefers well drained soil and is a good choice for rock gardens. Siberian Iris – As the name suggests, Siberian iris is very cold hardy, performing well all the way down to zone 2. Its flowers come in a wide variety of colors.

Crepe myrtles (Lagerstroemia indica, Lagerstroemia indica x faurei) are among the most popular landscape trees in the southeastern United States. With showy flowers and smooth bark that peels back as it ages, these trees offer many incentives to willing gardeners. But if you live in a cooler clime, you may despair of finding cold hardy crepe myrtle trees. However, growing crepe myrtles in zone 5 regions is possible. Read on for information on zone 5 crepe myrtle trees.

Cold Hardy Crepe Myrtle

Crepe myrtle in full bloom may offer more flowers than any other garden tree. But most are labeled for planting in zone 7 or above. The canopies survive down to 5 degrees F. (-15 C.) if fall leads into winter with a gradual cool down. If winter comes abruptly, the trees can suffer severe damage in the 20’s.

But still, you’ll find these beautiful trees flowering in zones 6 and even 5. So can crepe myrtle grow in zone 5? If you select a cultivar carefully and plant it in a protected area, then yes, it may be possible.

You’ll need to do your homework before planting and growing crepe myrtle in zone 5. Select one of the cold hardy crepe myrtle cultivars. If the plants are labeled zone 5 crepe myrtle trees, they will likely survive the cold.

A good place to start is with the 'Filligree' cultivars. These trees offer stunning blossoms in the middle of the summer in colors that include red, coral and violet. Yet, they are labeled for zones 4 through 9. These were developed in a breeding program by the Fleming brothers. They offer a brilliant burst of color after the first flush of spring.

Growing Crepe Myrtle in Zone 5

If you start growing crepe myrtle in zone 5 using ‘Filligree’ or other cold hardy crepe myrtle cultivars, you’ll also want to take precautions to follow these planting tips. They can make the difference in your plant’s survival.

Plant the trees in full sun. Even cold hardy crepe myrtle do better in a hot location. It also helps to do the planting in mid-summer so that the roots dig into warm soil and establish fast. Don’t plant this tree in autumn, since the roots will have a harder time.

Cut back your zone 5 crepe myrtle trees after the first hard freezes in autumn. Clip off all stems a few inches (7.5 cm.). Cover the plant with protective fabric, then pile mulch on top. Act before the soil freezes to better protect the root crown. Remove fabric and mulch as spring arrives.

When you are growing crepe myrtle in zone 5, you’ll want to fertilize the plants once a year only in spring. Irrigation during dry periods is essential.

So you live in a cooler region of the United States but want to grow more of your own food. What can you grow? Look to growing berries in USDA zone 5. There are many edible berries suitable for zone 5, some commonplace and some less sampled, but with such an array of choices, you’re sure to find one or more to your liking.

Choosing Cold Hardy Berry Plants

Berries are getting a lot of attention for their nutrient rich compounds, which are said to combat everything from heart disease to constipation. If you’ve bought berries recently though, then you know that this natural health food comes with a hefty price tag. The good news is you can grow your own berries almost anywhere, even in the cooler regions. A little research is in order before purchasing your cold hardy berry plants. It’s wise to ask yourself some questions first such as:

• Why am I planting berries?
• How am I going to use them?
• Are they strictly for use in the home or are they for wholesale?
• Do I want a summer or fall crop?

If possible, buy disease resistant plants. Fungal diseases can often be controlled through cultural practices, density of planting, air circulation, proper trellising, pruning, etc., but not viral diseases. Now that you’ve done some soul searching regarding what type of berry you want, it’s time to talk zone 5 berries.

Zone 5 Berries

There are many choices when growing berries in zone 5. Of course, you have the basics like raspberries, strawberries, and blueberries, but then you can get a little off the beaten path and opt for Sea Buckthorn or Aronia. Raspberries are either of the summer bearing floricane variety or the fall bearing primocane variety. Edible red floricane berries for zone 5 include:

• Nova
• Encore
• Prelude
• Killarney
• Latham

Of the black varieties, cold hardy floricanes include MacBlack, Jewel, and Bristol. Purple raspberries suited to zone 5 are Royalty and Brandywine. The canes of these cultivars grow in one season, overwinter, and produces a crop in the second season and are then pruned back. Fall bearing raspberries also come in red as well as gold and are cut down to the ground in late winter or early in the spring, which then forces the plant to grow new canes and produce a crop in the fall. Red primocanes suited for zone 5 include:

• Autumn Britten
• Caroline
• Joan J
• Jaclyn
• Heritage
• Autumn Bliss

‘Anne’ is a gold variety suited to zone 5. Strawberry varieties for zone 5 run the gamut. Your choice depends on whether you want June bearers, which only produce once in June or July, ever bearers, or day neutrals. While ever bearers and day neutrals are smaller than June bearers, they have the advantage of a longer season, with day neutrals having the better fruit quality and longer fruiting season. Blueberries are also edible berries suited for zone 5 conditions and there are many cultivars that are suited to this region. Grapes, yes, they are berries, of the American varieties do quite well in USDA zone 5. Again, consider what you wish to grow them for – juice, preserves, wine making? Other edible berries for zone 5 include:

• Elderberry – A heavy producer that ripens late in the season is Adams elderberry. York elderberry is self-fertile. Both pollinate with other native elderberries.
• Sea buckthorn – Sea buckthorn is packed with vitamin C. Berries ripen in late August and make excellent juice and jelly. You need to plant one male for every five to eight female plants. Some available varieties include Askola, Botanica, and Hergo.
• Lingonberry – Lingonberries are self-pollinating but planting another lingonberry nearby to cross pollinate with will result in larger fruit. Ida and Balsgard are examples of cold hardy lingonberries.
• Aronia – Dwarf aronia only grows to about 3 feet (1 m.) tall and thrives in most soil. ‘Viking’ is a vigorous cultivar that thrives in zone 5.
• Currant – Due to its hardiness (zones 3-5), the currant bush is a great choice for cold climate gardeners. The berries, which may be red, pink, black, or white, are packed with nutrition.
• Gooseberry – Bearing tart berries on woody shrubs, gooseberries are especially cold hardy and well suited for zone 5 gardens.
• Goji berry – Goji berries, also known as ‘wolfberries,’ are very cold hardy plants that are self-fertile and bear cranberry sized berries that are higher in antioxidants than blueberries.

Lilies are one of the most spectacular blooming plants. There are many varieties from which to choose, with hybrids a common part of the market. The most cold hardy lilies are the Asiatic species, which easily survive down into USDA zone 3. You are not reduced to using only Asiatic lilies in cold regions. Often, growing lilies in zone 5 will require early starting indoors and lifting to store for winter, but don't let that stop you from enjoying a full array of the bulbs.

Best Zone 5 Lily Plants

Lilies are classed as belonging to Lillium, a large genus of herbaceous flowering plants which arise from bulbs. There are nine main divisions of lily hybrids, dividing them by form but mostly by their parent plants. Not all of these are suitable for zone 5 climate conditions, which may range between -10 and -20 degrees F. (-23 to -29 C.). Lilies need a period of cool dormant conditions to promote flowering, but a word of caution to northern gardeners – bulbs may be prone to freezing in cold climates, which can ruin the plant and cause bulbs to rot. Choosing the best lilies for zone 5 will contribute to your growing success. Also, growing lilies in zone 5 that are marginally hardy can be achieved by locating them in a warmer "microclimate" in your garden and mulching the bulbs heavily for winter to protect them from cold. One of the best lilies for zone 5 is the Asiatic lily. These are extremely hardy, need little care, and thrive in areas where the tender Oriental lilies cannot. They are also available in many colors such as white, pink, orange, yellow, and red. They are the earliest lilies to bloom, generally in early to midsummer. A popular hybrid, LA Hybrids, bloom longer into the season and with a mild, delicious scent. Other hybrids to try might be Red Alert, Nashville, and Eyeliner. Neither the true Asiatic nor their hybrids require staking and have long-lasting upturned faces with gently curved petals. The University of Minnesota states that a few of the Oriental lilies are suitable for that zone 5a and 5b climate. Oriental hybrids are hardier than pure Oriental lilies. These bloom later than the Asiatic and bear a heady fragrance. These cold hardy lilies will still benefit from mulch over the site in winter and well-prepared soil that drains readily. The Oriental hybrids range from 3 to 6 feet (1-2 m.) in height with large, often frilled blooms and heavy scents. Some of the hardier Oriental hybrids are:

• Casa Blanca
• Black Beauty
• Stargazer
• Journey's End
• Yellow Ribbons

Additional Hardy Lily Options

If you want to try something different than the Asiatic or Oriental varieties, there are a few other types of lilies that will be hardy to USDA zone 5. Turk’s Cap lilies grow 3 to 4 feet (1 m.) tall and are also known as Martagons. The blooms are small and dainty, with recurved petals. These are very hardy little plants and may produce up to 20 flowers per stem. Trumpet lily is another class of Lillium. Most commonly known are the Easter lilies, but there are also Aurelian hybrids. Tiger lilies are probably familiar to most gardeners. Their freckled flowers increase over the years and colors range from gold to orange and some hues of reds. Rubrum lilies are marginally hardy in zone 5. Growing lilies in zone 5 from this group may require extra mulch or even lifting if in the colder parts of the region. Colors in this group are among the pinks and whites. Zone 5 lily plants are not only possible but there are many hardy plants from which to choose.

Yarrow is a beautiful wildflower that’s popular for its attractive spread of small, delicate flowers. On top of its striking flowers and feathery foliage, yarrow is prized for its hardiness. It is resistant to pests like deer and rabbits, it grows in most types of soil, and it is very cold hardy. Keep reading to learn more about hardy yarrow plants, particularly yarrow varieties for zone 5.

Hardy Yarrow Plants

Can yarrow grow in zone 5? Absolutely. Most varieties of yarrow thrive in the range of zone 3 to 7. They will usually last up to zone 9 or 10, but in warmer climates they will start to get leggy and need staking. In other words, yarrow prefers cool weather. Most yarrow plants should be just fine growing in zone 5, and since the plants come in a wide variety of colors and tolerance of soil conditions, you’ll have no trouble finding zone 5 yarrow plants that suit your needs.

Yarrow Varieties for Zone 5 Gardens

Here are some of the most popular and reliable yarrow varieties for zone 5 gardening: Common Yarrow – Hardy down to zone 3, this basic species of yarrow has flowers that range from white to red. Fern Leaf Yarrow – Hardy to zone 3, it has bright yellow flowers and especially fern-like foliage, earning it its name. Sneezewort – Hardy all the way down to zone 2, this yarrow variety has foliage that is longer than that of its cousins. It thrives in moist or even wet soil. Most of the cultivars sold today have double flowers. White Yarrow – One of the hotter varieties, it is only hardy to zone 5. It has white flowers and gray-green foliage. Wooly Yarrow – Hardy to zone 3, it has bright yellow flowers and delicate silver foliage covered in fine hairs. The foliage is extremely fragrant when brushed.

For several years now, ponds and other water features have been popular additions to the garden. These features can help solve water problems in the landscape. Areas that tend to flood can be turned into rain gardens or ponds, or that problematic water can be forced to run off wherever you prefer it to go by way of a dry creek bed. Of course, the essential part of making these water features look natural is the addition of water loving plants. While many of these are tropical, warm climate plants, those of us in cooler climates can still have beautiful, natural looking water features with the proper selection of hardy water plants. Continue reading to learn more about zone 5 water garden plants.

Growing Water Loving Plants in Zone 5

Here in Southern Wisconsin, on the cusp of zone 4b and 5a, I live close to a small botanical garden called Rotary Botanical Gardens. This whole botanical garden is built around a man-made pond with streams, smaller ponds and waterfalls. Every year when I visit Rotary Gardens, I find that I am most drawn to a shady, boggy, lowland area and the deep green horsetails that flank both sides of a rocky path through it. Over the course of the last 20+ years, I have watched the steady progress and development of this garden, so I know it was all created by the hard work of landscapers, horticulturists, and volunteers. Yet, when I walk through this area, it seems that it could only have been created by Mother Nature herself. A properly done water feature, should have this same natural feel. When selecting plants for water features, it’s important to choose the right plants for the right kind of water feature. Rain gardens and dry creek beds are water features that can be very wet at certain times of the year, like spring, but then be dry at other times of the year. Plants for these types of water features need to be able to tolerate both extremes. Ponds, on the other hand, have water all year. Plant selections for ponds need to be those that tolerate water all the time. It’s also important to know that some water loving plants in zone 5, like cattails, horsetails, rushes, and sedges, can out compete other plants if not kept in check. For this reason, you should always check with your local extension office to make sure it’s ok to grow them in your area, or at least how to maintain them.

Zone 5 Water Plants

Below is a list of hardy water plants for zone 5 that will naturalize over time.

• Horsetail (Equisetum hyemale)
• Variegated Sweet Flag (Acorus calamus ‘Variegatus’)
• Pickerel (Pontederia cordata)
• Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
• Variegated Water Celery (Oenanthe javanica)
• Zebra Rush (Scirpus tabernae-montani ‘Zebrinus’)
• Dwarf Cattail (Typha minima)
• Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
• Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
• Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
• Joe Pye Weed (Eupatorium purpureum)
• Turtlehead (Chelone sp.)
• Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris)
• Tussock Sedge (Carex stricta)
• Bottle Gentian (Gentiana clausa)
• Spotted Cranesbill (Geranium maculatum)
• Blue Flag Iris (Iris versicolor)
• Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)
• Cut leaf Coneflower (Rudbeckia lacinata)
• Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata)
• Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)
• Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)

Bamboo is a great addition to the garden, as long as it’s kept in line. Running varieties can take over an entire yard, but clumping varieties and carefully maintained running ones make great screens and specimens. Finding cold hardy bamboo plants can be a little tricky, however, especially in zone 5. Keep reading to learn more about some of the best bamboo plants for zone 5 landscapes.

Bamboo Plants for Zone 5 Gardens

Here are some cold hardy bamboo plant varieties that will thrive in zone 5. 

Bissetii – One of the toughest bamboos around, it is hardy down to zone 4. It tends to grow to 12 feet (4 m.) in zone 5 and performs well in most soil conditions. 

Giant Leaf – This bamboo has the largest leaves of any bamboo grown in the U.S., with leaves reaching 2 feet (61 cm.) long and half a foot (15 cm.) wide. The shoots themselves are short, reaching 8 to 10 feet (2-3 m.) in height, and are hardy down to zone 5. 

Nuda – Cold hardy to zone 4, this bamboo has very small but lush leaves. It grows to 10 feet (3 m.) in height. 

Red Margin – Hardy down to zone 5, it grows very fast and makes for an excellent natural screen. It tends to reach 18 feet (5.5 m.) in height in zone 5 but will grow taller in warmer climates.

Ruscus – An interesting bamboo with dense, short leaves that give it the appearance of a shrub or hedge. Hardy to zone 5, it reaches 8 to 10 feet (2-3 m.) in height.

Solid Stem – Hardy to zone 4, this bamboo thrives in wet conditions.

Spectabilis – Hardy down to zone 5, it grows to 14 feet (4 m.) in height. Its canes have a very attractive yellow and green striping, and it will stay evergreen even in zone 5.

Yellow Groove – Similar in color to the Spectabilis, it has a yellow and green striping coloration. A certain number of the canes have a natural zig-zag shape. It tends to grow to 14 feet (4 m.) in a very dense pattern that makes for a perfect natural screen.

Although many herbs are Mediterranean natives that won’t survive cold winters, you may be surprised at the number of beautiful, aromatic herbs that grow in zone 5 climates. In fact, some cold hardy herbs, including hyssop and catnip, withstand punishing cold winters as far north as USDA plant hardiness zone 4. Read on for a list of hardy zone 5 herb plants.

Cold Hardy Herbs

Below is a list of hardy herbs for zone 5 gardens.

• Agrimony
• Angelica
• Anise hyssop
• Hyssop
• Catnip
• Caraway
• Chives
• Clary sage
• Comfrey
• Costmary
• Echinacea
• Chamomile (depending on variety)
• Lavender (depending on variety)
• Feverfew
• Sorrel
• French tarragon
• Garlic chives
• Horseradish
• Lemon balm
• Lovage
• Marjoram
• Mint hybrids (chocolate mint, apple mint, orange mint, etc.)
• Parsley (depending on variety)
• Peppermint
• Rue
• Salad burnet
• Spearmint
• Sweet Cicely
• Oregano (depending on variety)
• Thyme (depending on variety)
• Savory - winter

Although the following herbs aren’t perennial, they reseed themselves from year to year (sometimes too generously):

• Borage
• Calendula (pot marigold)
• Chervil
• Cilantro/Coriander
• Dill

Planting Herbs in Zone 5

Most hardy herb seeds can be planted directly in the garden about a month before the last expected frost in spring. Unlike warm season herbs that thrive in dry, less fertile soil, these herbs tend to perform best in well-drained, compost-rich soil. You can also purchase herbs for zone 5 at a local garden center or nursery during spring planting time. Plant these young herbs after all danger of frost has passed. Harvest the herbs in late spring. Many zone 5 herb plants bolt when temperatures rise in early summer, but some will reward you with a second harvest in late summer or early autumn.

Winterizing Zone 5 Herb Plants

Even cold hardy herbs benefit from 2 to 3 inches (5-8 cm.) of mulch, which protects the roots from frequent freezing and thawing. If you have evergreen boughs left over from Christmas, lay them over herbs in exposed locations to provide protection from harsh winds. Be sure not to fertilize herbs after early August. Don’t encourage new growth when plants should be busy acclimating for winter. Avoid extensive pruning in late fall, as the cut stems place the plants at higher risk for winter damage. Keep in mind that some cold hardy herbs may look dead in early spring. Give them time; they will likely emerge good as new when the ground warms up.

Gardenias are beloved for their heady fragrance and waxy white blossoms that present a striking contrast to the deep green foliage. They are heat-loving evergreens, native to tropical Africa, and are best grown in USDA plant hardiness zones 10 and 11. Cold hardy gardenias are available in commerce, but that doesn’t guarantee zone 5 gardenia shrubs. Read on for more information if you are thinking of growing gardenias in zone 5.

Cold Hardy Gardenias

The term “cold hardy” when applied to gardenias does not mean zone 5 gardenia shrubs. It simply means shrubs that can tolerate cooler zones than the toasty areas in which they typically thrive. Some hardy gardenias grow in zone 8, and a few new ones survive in zone 7. For example, the cultivar ‘Frost Proof’ offers cold hardy gardenias. However, the plants thrive only to zone 7. Likewise, ‘Jubilation,” reputedly one of the hardiest gardenias, grows in zones 7 through 10. There simply are no gardenias for zone 5 backyards on the market. These plants have not been bred to survive severe cold. This is not helpful to those planning on growing gardenias in zone 5 yards. In this low hardiness zone, winter temperatures regularly dip well below zero. Cold-fearing plants like gardenias simply won’t survive in your garden.

Growing Gardenias in Zone 5

You accept the fact that you won’t find cultivars for gardenias for zone 5. Yet, you are still interested in growing gardenias in zone 5. You have a few options. If you want gardenias for zone 5, you’ll do best thinking container plants. You can grow gardenias as hothouse plants; you can raise them as houseplants, or you can grow them as indoor plants taken outdoors in the summer. It isn’t easy to help a gardenia to thrive indoors. If you want to try, remember that indoor zone 5 gardenia shrubs require bright light. Don’t mistakenly place the container in direct sun, which the plant will not tolerate. Keep the temperature about 60 degrees F. (15 C.), avoid cold drafts, and keep the soil moist. If you live in a particularly warm microclimate in zone 5 regions, you might try planting one of the cold hardy gardenias in your garden and see what happens. Remember though that even one hard freeze may kill a gardenia, so you will definitely need to protect your plant during winter.

If you live in USDA zone 5 and want to grow cherry trees, you’re in luck. Whether you’re growing the trees for the sweet or sour fruit or just want an ornamental, almost all cherry trees are suited for zone 5. Read on to find out about growing cherry trees in zone 5 and recommended varieties of cherry trees for zone 5.

About Growing Cherry Trees in Zone 5

Sweet cherries, the ones most commonly found in the supermarket, are meaty and sweet. Sour cherries are generally used to make preserves and sauces and are smaller than their sweet relations. Both sweet and sour are fairly hardy cherry trees. Sweet varieties are suited to USDA zones 5 to 7 while sour cultivars are suited to zones 4 to 6. Thus, there is no need to search for cold-hardy cherry trees, as either type will thrive in USDA zone 5. Sweet cherries are self-sterile, so they need another cherry to aid in pollination. Sour cherries are self-fertile and with their smaller size might be a better choice for those with limited garden space. There are also several flowering cherry trees to add to the landscape that are suited to USDA zones 5 to 8. Both Yoshino and Pink Star flowering cherry trees are examples of hardy cherry trees in these zones.

• Yoshino is one of the fastest-growing flowering cherries; it grows about 3 feet (1 m.) per year. This cherry has a lovely, umbrella-shaped habitat that can reach heights of up to 35 feet (11 m.). It blooms with aromatic pink blossoms in the winter or spring.
• Pink Star flowering cherry is slightly smaller and only grows to about 25 feet (8 m.) in height and blooms in the spring.

Zone 5 Cherry Trees

As mentioned, if you have a smaller garden, a sour or tart cherry tree might work best for your landscape. A popular variety is ‘Montmorency.’ This tart cherry produces large, red cherries in mid to late-June and is available on standard size rootstock or on a semi-dwarfing rootstock, which will produce a tree that is 2/3 the standard size. Other dwarf varieties are available from ‘Montmorency’ rootstock as well as from ‘Meteor’ (semi-dwarf) and ‘North Star,’ a full dwarf. Of the sweet varieties, Bing is probably the most recognizable. Bing cherries are not the best choice for zone 5 gardeners, however. They are far too susceptible to fruit cracking and brown rot. Instead, try growing:

• ‘Starcrimson,’ a self-fertile dwarf
• ‘Compact Stella,’ also self-fertile
• ‘Glacier,’ produces very large, mahogany-red fruit midseason

For these smaller cherries, look for rootstock labeled ‘Mazzaard,’ ‘Mahaleb,’ or ‘Gisele.’ These provide disease resistance and tolerance to poor soils. Other sweet, zone 5 cherry trees include Lapins, Royal Rainier, and Utah Giant.

• ‘Lapins’ is one of the few sweet cherries that can self-pollinate.
• ‘Royal Rainier’ is a yellow cherry with a red blush that is a prolific producer, but it does need a pollinizer.
• ‘Utah Giant’ is a big, black, meaty cherry that also needs a pollinizer.

Choose varieties that are adapted to your area and are resistant to disease if possible. Think about whether you want a self-sterile or self-fertile variety, how large a tree your landscape can accommodate, and whether you want the tree simply as an ornamental or for fruit production. Standard sized fruiting cherries produce 30 to 50 quarts (28-47 L.) of fruit per year while dwarf varieties about 10 to 15 quarts (9-14 L.).

Did you know Yucca is closely related to asparagus? This spiky plant is native to the hot, dry regions of the Americas and is closely identified with desert regions. Are there cold hardy Yucca varieties? There are over 40 species of these rosette forming plants, with hardiness ranges across the map. If you do your homework, you can find a Yucca variety that will survive and thrive in even the coolest zones.

Growing Yuccas in Zone 5

The slightly dangerous looking Yucca is a large group of sun-loving plants. There are tall specimens, such as Joshua tree, and ground hugging little plants, like Adam's Needle. Most are found in regions with little rain, plenty of sunshine, and hot days. However, even desert temperatures can dip into freezing at night and these plants have developed remarkable adaptability to temperatures below zero. Yuccas are stately, although spiky, plants that add desert elegance to any landscape or container. Yuccas for zone 5 must be able to withstand temperatures of -10 to -20 degrees F. (-23 to -29 C.) in winter. These are harsh temperatures for plants that hail from primarily sunny locations. Surprisingly, many species in the family are hardy to these temperatures and even lower. Zone 5 Yucca plants must not only contend with cold temperatures but often thick snow and potentially damaging ice. Yucca leaves have a waxy coating that helps them conserve moisture in dry zones but also protects them from ice. That makes the foliage quite tolerant of winter cold and its attendant weather. Some die back may be experienced, but if the crown is kept alive, new leaves emerge in spring.

Varieties of Yuccas for Zone 5

Cold hardy Yucca varieties exist, but what are they? One of the most cold hardy is Soapweed. The plant is also known as Great Plains Yucca or Beargrass and is so hardy it has been found growing in the snowy regions of the Rocky Mountains. It is considered adaptable to zone 3. Banana Yucca is a medium sized plant with white flowers and broad leaves. It is variously reported as being hardy to zones 5 to 6. It should be planted where some protection is received in zone 5. Beaked Yucca is native to Texas and one of the ornamental zone 5 Yucca plants. Big Bend was developed as an ornamental and bred for its deeply blue foliage. Adam's Needle is another of the hardier Yucca plants. Some forms of this plant are even variegated. Spanish Dagger and Dwarf Yucca round out the list of species to try in zone 5.

Caring for Zone 5 Yucca

If a Yucca is considered marginally hardy, such as Banana Yucca, there are things you can do to enhance the plant's survival during winter. Using mulch around the root zone keeps the soil slightly warmer. Installing the plant in a microclimate in your garden, such as inside a wall or in an area where there are rocks to collect and conserve heat, can be a method of tricking semi-hardy plants into thriving in cooler regions. In extreme situations, covering the plant over night with a frost blanket or just some burlap is enough to keep out the most damaging cold and prevent ice crystals from harming the leaves. Another way to protect Yucca is to container grow them and move the whole pot indoors for winter. That way you don't have to worry that temperatures will reach a damaging level and harm your beautiful plant.

Ferns are fantastic plants to grow because of their wide adaptability. They’re thought to be one of the oldest living plants, which means they know a thing or two about how to survive. Quite a few fern species are particularly good at thriving in cold climates. Keep reading to learn more about selecting hardy ferns for zone 5.

Cold Hardy Fern Plants

Growing ferns in zone 5 really doesn’t require any special treatment, provided the plants you ultimately choose for the garden are, in fact, zone 5 ferns. This means as long as they’re hardy to the area, the ferns should pretty much thrive on their own, other than the occasional watering in overly dry situations. Lady fern – Hardy to zone 4, lady fern can reach anywhere from 1 to 4 feet (31 cm. to 1 m.) in height. Extremely tough, it survives in a wide range of soils and levels of sun. The Lady in Red variety has striking red stems. Japanese Painted fern – Extremely hardy all the way down to zone 3, Japanese painted fern is especially ornamental. Green and gray deciduous fronds grow on red to purple stems. Hay-scented fern – Hardy to zone 5, hay-scented fern gets its name from the sweet smell it gives off when crushed or brushed against. Autumn fern – Hardy to zone 5, autumn fern emerges in the spring with a striking copper color, earning it its name. Its fronds turn to green in summer, then change to copper again in the fall. Dixie Wood fern – Hardy to zone 5, dixie wood fern reaches 4 to 5 feet (1-1.5 m.) in height with sturdy, bright green fronds. Evergreen Wood fern – Hardy to zone 4, evergreen wood fern has dark green to blue fronds that grow up and out of a single crown. Ostrich fern – Hardy to zone 4, ostrich fern has tall, 3 to 4 foot (1 m.) fronds that resemble the feathers of which earn the plant its name. It prefers very moist soil. Christmas fern – Hardy to zone 5, this dark green fern prefers moist, rocky soil and shade. Christmas fern's name derives from the fact that it tends to remain green year-round. Bladder fern – Hardy to zone 3, the bladder fern reaches 1 to 3 feet (31-91 cm.) in height and prefers rocky, moist soil. 

The Meriam-Webster Dictionary defines xeriscaping as “a landscaping method developed especially for arid or semi-arid climates that utilizes water conserving techniques, such as the use of drought tolerant plants, mulch, and efficient irrigation.” Even those of us who do not live in arid, desert-like climates should be concerned with water-wise gardening. While many parts of U.S. hardiness zone 5 get a good amount of precipitation at certain times of the year and rarely have water restrictions, we still should be conscience of how we use water. Read on to learn more about xeriscaping in zone 5.

Xeriscape Plants for Zone 5 Gardens

There are a few ways to conserve water in the garden besides just using drought tolerant plants. Hydro zoning is the grouping of plants based on their water needs. By grouping water-loving plants with other water-loving plants in one area and all drought tolerant plants in another area, water isn’t wasted on plants that do not need much. In zone 5, because we do have times of heavier precipitation and other times when conditions are dry, irrigation systems should be set according to seasonal needs. During a rainy spring or fall, the irrigation system does not need to run as long or as often as it should be run in mid to late summer. Also, keep in mind that all plants, even drought tolerant plants, will need extra water when they are newly planted and just establishing. It is well developed root structures that allow many plants to be drought tolerant or efficient xeriscape plants for zone 5. Remember, evergreens need extra water in fall to prevent winter burn in cold climates.

Cold Hardy Xeric Plants

Below is a list of common zone 5 xeriscape plants for the garden. These plants have low water needs once established. Trees

• Flowering Crabapples
• Hawthorns
• Japanese Lilac
• Amur Maple
• Norway Maple
• Autumn Blaze Maple
• Callery Pear
• Serviceberry
• Honey Locust
• Linden
• Red Oak
• Catalpa
• Smoke Tree
• Ginkgo

Evergreens

• Juniper
• Bristlecone Pine
• Limber Pine
• Ponderosa Pine
• Mugo Pine
• Colorado Blue Spruce
• Concolor Fir
• Yew

Shrubs

• Cotoneaster
• Spirea
• Barberry
• Burning Bush
• Shrub Rose
• Forsythia
• Lilac
• Privet
• Flowering Quince
• Daphne
• Mock Orange
• Viburnum

Vines

• Clematis
• Virginia Creeper
• Trumpet Vine
• Honeysuckle
• Boston Ivy
• Grape
• Wisteria
• Morning Glory

Perennials

• Yarrow
• Yucca
• Salvia
• Candytuft
• Dianthus
• Creeping Phlox
• Hens & Chicks
• Ice plant
• Rock Cress
• Sea Thrift
• Hosta
• Stonecrop
• Sedum
• Thyme
• Artemisia
• Black-Eyed Susan
• Coneflower
• Coreopsis
• Coral Bells
• Daylily
• Lavender
• Lamb’s Ear

Bulbs

• Iris
• Asiatic Lily
• Daffodil
• Allium
• Tulips
• Crocus
• Hyacinth
• Muscari

Ornamental Grasses

• Blue Oat Grass
• Feather Reed Grass
• Fountain Grass
• Blue Fescue
• Switchgrass
• Moor Grass
• Japanese Blood Grass
• Japanese Forest Grass

Annuals

• Cosmos
• Gazania
• Verbena
• Lantana
• Alyssum
• Petunia
• Moss Rose
• Zinnia
• Marigold
• Dusty Miller
• Nasturtium

If you’ve ever visited Hawaii, you probably couldn’t help but notice its beautiful and exotic tropical flowers like orchids, macaw flower, hibiscus, and bird of paradise. Even if you just walk down the suntan lotion aisle of your local supermarket, no doubt you will see hibiscus and other tropical flowers decorating bottles of Hawaiian Tropic or other lotions. These are not just random images; commercial artists are trained to select colors and images that invoke specific feelings in consumers. A shiny gold bottle with the image of a large, bright red hibiscus flower on it makes the consumer think of the shining sun and a tropical paradise. Hibiscus flowers are often used as a symbol of an exotic, tropical place even though plenty of hibiscus varieties are hardy in northern climates. No one ever looks at a suntan bottle with a large image of a hibiscus flower and thinks of Iowa, Illinois, or the like. However, even in in these climates, with proper selection of zone 5 hibiscus plants, you can have your own tropical paradise right in your northern backyard.

Hibiscus for Zone 5 Gardens

Hibiscus is a large group of flowering plants in the mallow family. They grow natively all over the world, in tropical areas, sub tropics, and even in northern climates. Though closely related to rose of Sharon shrubs, hardy hibiscus is a perennial in northern climates. They are often selected by gardeners or landscapers because of their large tropical-looking flowers that bloom midsummer to fall. These hardy hibiscus varieties come in a variety of flower colors like red, pink, lavender, purple, white, yellow, and even blue. Another plus to these beautiful flowers is that they attract butterflies and hummingbirds to the garden while being rather unappealing to rabbits and deer. Although many garden centers sell the tropical varieties as annuals intended for containers, there are also many perennial varieties of hardy zone 5 hibiscus plants. Below is a list of hibiscus varieties for zone 5:

• Kopper King, hardy to zones 4-10
• Plum Crazy, hardy to zones 4-10
• Fireball, hardy to zones 5-9
• Robert Fleming, hardy to zones 4-10
• Lord Baltimore, hardy to zones 4-10
• Lady Baltimore, hardy to zones 4-10
• Diana, hardy to zones 5-8
• Heartthrob, hardy to zones 4-9
• Bluebird, hardy to zones 4-9
• Midnight Marvel, hardy to zones 4-9
• Starry Starry Night, hardy to zones 5-9
• Cherry Cheesecake, hardy to zones 4-9
• Honeymoon Red, hardy to zones 5-9
• Honeymoon Light Rose, hardy to zones 5-9
• Lavender Chiffon, hardy to zones 5-9
• Summerific Berry Awesome, hardy to zones 4-9
• Vintage Wine, hardy to zones 4-9
• Mars Madness, hardy to zones 4-9
• Cranberry Crush, hardy to zones 4-9
• Luna Pink Swirl, hardy to zones 5-9
• Plum Fantasy, hardy to zones 4-9
• Ballet Slippers, hardy to zones 5-9
• Summer Storm, hardy to zones 4-9
• Old Yella, hardy to zones 4-9
• Fantasia, hardy to zones 4-9
• Giant Lazerus, hardy to zones 5-9

Zone 5 Hibiscus Care

Growing hardy hibiscus plants in zone 5 is no different than growing any other perennial. Closely related to hollyhock, hardy hibiscus can get pretty large, so select a spot that can accommodate its 6 foot (2 m.) height and 4 to 6 foot (1-2 m.) width. They work great for back borders or along a fence. Hibiscus plants tend to require a lot of water and grow best in full sun to light shade. Throughout the blooming period, deadhead spent flowers to encourage new blooms. In fall, cut the whole plant back to about 4 to 6 inches (10-15 cm.) above the soil line to promote new, fuller growth in spring. Hibiscus plants are usually late in showing any signs of life in the spring. Don’t panic, just be patient.

Deer can be the bane of a gardener’s existence. Often big and always hungry, they can ravage the garden if they’re allowed to. There are effective ways to deter deer and block them from your plants, but one particularly good method is to plant things they don’t want to begin with. Keep reading to learn more about perennials that are deer resistant, particularly those for zone 5.

Cold Hardy Perennials Deer Don’t Like

The following plants are generally deemed deer resistant perennials for zone 5 gardens: Bee balm – Also called bergamot and Oswego tea, bee balm produces vibrant, spiky flowers that attract bees and butterflies. It can also be steeped into a pleasant tea. Bluebell – Bluebell is a beautiful spring bloomer that that produces striking trumpet or bell-shaped blue flowers. Brunnera – Brunnera is a leafy shade plant that produces tiny, delicate, powder blue flowers. Catmint – A relative of catnip, catmint may attract the local cats to your garden. It does, however, bloom all through the summer and fall with spiky clusters of purple blue flowers. Golden Chamomile – Also called golden marguerite, this 3 foot (91 cm.) tall plant produces a spread of bright yellow daisy shaped flowers. Ferns – Ferns are great because so many varieties are cold hardy, and so many are also deer resistant. Jack-in-the-Pulpit – Though it looks carnivorous, the pitcher shaped Jack-in-the-Pulpit plant only has pollination in mind. It still makes for an exotic sight, and thrives in moist, shady spots. Lily of the Valley – A delicate sign of spring, lily of the valley gives off a one-of-a-kind fragrance and is actually teeming with toxins, which means the deer give it a wide berth. It’s extremely tough, hardy down to zone 2. Lungwort – Lungwort is a wide, low growing plant with speckled, bristly leaves and colorful flowers. Meadow Rue – Meadow rue shoots up clusters of spiky, delicate flowers high above its foliage for a unique look. Sea Holly – An extremely tough plant, sea holly thrives in hot, dry, poor soil. True to its name, it even likes salt. It produces masses of interesting, prickly flowers that look great in arrangements.

Hydrangeas are an old-fashioned favorite in the garden, all around the world. Their popularity started in England and Europe but quickly spread to North America in the early 1800’s. They have continued to be a garden favorite since.

With several species hardy all the way down to zone 3, finding the best hydrangea by zone doesn't have to be difficult. However, in zone 5 and above, gardeners have more hardy varieties of hydrangeas to choose from than zone 3 or 4 gardeners do. Continue reading to learn more about zone 5 hydrangea varieties.

Zone 5 Hydrangea Varieties

All the different varieties of hydrangeas, with their different bloom types, can seem a little confusing or overwhelming. Advice from other gardeners like, “Don’t prune that or you won't get any flowers,” may have you scared to do anything to any of your hydrangeas. While it’s true that if you cut back certain hydrangeas they won’t bloom the following year, other types of hydrangeas benefit from being cut back each year.

It is important to know what types of hydrangeas you have to properly care for it. Below are brief explanations of zone 5 hydrangea varieties and tips on caring for hardy hydrangeas based on what type they are.

Bigleaf Hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla) – Hardy to zone 5, bigleaf hydrangeas bloom on old wood. This means that you should not prune or cut them back in late fall to early spring or they will not bloom.

Bigleaf hydrangeas are all the rage these days because they can change colors. In acidic soil or with the use of acidic fertilizer, they can achieve beautiful true-blue blooms. In more alkaline soils, the flowers will bloom pink. They can consistently bloom from spring through fall, and in autumn, foliage will take on pink-purple colors. Bigleaf hydrangeas may need a little extra winter protection in zone 5.

Popular varieties of Bigleaf hydrangeas for zone 5 are:

• Cityline series
• Edgy series
• Let’s Dance series
• Endless Summer series

Panicle Hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata) – Hardy to zone 3, panicle hydrangeas, sometimes referred to as tree hydrangeas, bloom on new wood and benefit from being cut back each fall to early spring.

Panicle hydrangeas usually start blooming in midsummer and the blooms last until fall. Flowers form as large panicles or cones. Panicle hydrangea blooms usually go through natural color changes as they grow and fade out, starting out white or lime green, turning pink, then browning as they fade and dry out. No fertilizer is required for this color change, but no fertilizer will turn the blooms of a panicle hydrangea blue either. Panicle hydrangeas are the most cold hardy hydrangeas and also the most tolerant of sun and heat.

Popular varieties of panicle hydrangeas for zone 5 are:

• Bobo
• Firelight
• Quickfire
• Little Quickfire
• Limelight
• Little Lime
• Little Lamb
• Pinky Winky

Annabelle or Smooth Hydrangeas (Hydrangea arborescens) – Hardy to zone 3, Annabelle or smooth hydrangeas bloom on new wood and benefit from being cut back in late fall to early spring.

Annabelle hydrangeas produce large, round flower clusters from early summer to fall. Usually white, a few varieties will produce pink or blue flowers, but they cannot be changed by certain fertilizers. Annabelle hydrangeas prefer more shade.

Popular Annabelle hydrangeas in zone 5 are the Incrediball and Invincibelle Spirit series.

Climbing Hydrangea (Hydrangea petiolaris) – Hardy to zone 4, climbing hydrangea is a woody vine with white flowers. It is not necessary to prune climbing hydrangea, except to manage its growth. They produce white blooms and quickly climb to a height of 80 feet (24 m.) by way of sticky aerial roots.

Mountain or Tuff Stuff Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla v serrata) – Hardy to zone 5, mountain hydrangeas are tough little hydrangeas that are native to the moist, wooded valleys of mountains in China and Japan. They bloom on new wood and old wood, so you can prune and deadhead them as needed.

In my experience, it seems almost no care is needed, and these hydrangeas are really tough. They are tolerant of sun and shade, salt, clay to sandy soil, highly acidic to lightly alkaline soil, and are deer and rabbit resistant.

Shaping is usually not necessary, as they grow in low rounded mounds and bloom continuously in summer and fall, with blooms that get more purple blue in acidic soil or remain bright pink in neutral-alkaline soil. In fall, the foliage develops pink and purple hues. In zone 5, the Tuff Stuff series performs well.

Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) – Hardy to zone 5, oakleaf hydrangeas bloom on old wood and should not be cut back in the fall to early spring. As the name suggests, they have large attractive foliage, shaped like oak leaves, that also develops beautiful fall colors of reds and purples. The flowers are usually white, and cone shaped.

Oakleaf hydrangeas have become quite popular in zone 5 gardens, but they may need some extra winter protection. For zone 5 gardens, try the Gatsby series.

Hydrangeas can be used in a variety of ways in the landscape, from specimen plants to tough, durable borders to wall coverings or shade vines. Caring for hardy hydrangeas is much easier when you know the variety and its specific needs.

Most zone 5 hydrangeas bloom best when they get about four hours of sun each day and prefer moist, well-draining, somewhat acidic soil. Oakleaf and bigleaf hydrangeas in zone 5 should be given extra winter protection by heaping mulch or other organic material up around the plant crown.

Love watermelon but haven’t had any luck growing them in your northern region? Watermelons like hot, sunny sites with fertile, well-draining soil. When I say hot, they need two to three months of heat to produce. This makes growing watermelons in say USDA zone 5 quite a challenge, but not totally impossible. The following article contains tips about growing watermelons in zone 5.

Cold Hardy Watermelon Plants

Watermelons are heat seekers, usually the warmer the better. That said, when looking for zone 5 watermelons, you’re not focusing on finding cold hardy watermelon plants, but on days to harvest. Look for watermelon varieties that ripen in less than 90 days. Suitable watermelons for zone 5 include:

• Garden Baby
• Cole’s Early
• Sugar Baby
• Fordhook Hybrid
• Yellow Baby
• Yellow Doll

Another watermelon variety, Orangeglo, is one of the cold hardiest of all the watermelon varieties. This orange fleshed variety is super fruity and sweet and has been known to grow in zone 4 with protection!

Growing Watermelons in Zone 5

As mentioned, growing watermelons in zone 5 is a challenge but, with some garden tricks, is possible. Choose the cultivar with the shortest time from germination to harvest. You can either sow the seeds directly outside or inside for later transplant, which will add two to four weeks to the growing season. If you sow directly outdoors, the approximate date to sow for zone 5 is May 10th to 20th. If you are going to sow indoors, keep in mind that watermelons are terribly susceptible to root damage, so transplant them with care and be sure to harden off the plants to acclimate them to the outdoors. Watermelons are heavy feeders. Prior to planting, prepare the bed by amending it with seaweed, compost, or rotted manure. Then cover the soil with black plastic to warm it. Warmth is the key here. Some gardeners even plant their watermelons directly in their compost piles, a naturally warm arena chock full of nitrogen. Plastic mulch and floating row covers should be sufficient to trap warm air and keep it near the plants and are imperative for zone 5 watermelon growers. Plant the seeds ½ inch to 1 inch (1-2.5 cm.) deep in groups of two to three seeds set 18 to 24 inches (46-61 cm.) apart in the row, with rows spaced 5 to 6 feet (1.5-2 m.) apart. Thin out to the strongest plant. If sowing seeds indoors, sow them at the end of April or two to four weeks before the transplant date. Each seedling should have two or three mature leaves before transplanting. Plant the seeds in peat pots or other biodegradable pots that can be plopped right into the garden soil. This will help avoid root damage. Transplant the seedlings complete with their biodegradable pot through plastic mulch and into the garden soil. Cover the area with plastic tunnels or fabric covers to protect the seedlings from cool temps as well as insects. Remove the covers after all chance of frost has passed. Use drip irrigation or soaker hoses to provide the plant with a deep watering of 1 to 2 inches (2.5-5 cm.) per week. Mulch around the plants to conserve moisture and retard growth. With just a little planning and some extra TLC, growing watermelons for zone 5 melon lovers isn’t just a possibility; it can be a reality.

Hardiness is always an issue of concern in any ornamental plant for the landscape. Ornamental grasses for zone 5 must withstand temperatures that can dip down to -10 degrees F. (-23 C.) along with the ice and snow that are attendant to this region's winters. Many grasses are drought tolerant and thrive in warm to temperate regions, but there are also some, especially native species, that can survive such extreme temperatures. Finding hardy ornamental grass plants often starts with contacting your local extension office, which is uniquely equipped to pare down the offerings and advise you on hardy plants for your zone.

Choosing Native Hardy Ornamental Grass Plants

Ornamental grasses offer movement, dimension, foliage appeal, and interesting inflorescences to perk up the landscape. They are also usually easy to care for and have minimal maintenance once you find the right species. Ornamental grass varieties in zone 5 should be "cool season grasses," able to withstand some of the most extreme growing conditions in the Northern Hemisphere. Many are hardy down to USDA hardiness zones 3 to 4 with amazing tolerance of cold winters and unmatched beauty in short, hot summers. Most ornamental grasses prefer to grow in low nutrient, well-draining soil. There are both sun and shade tolerant varieties and a host of different sizes from which to choose. Native grasses form a base from which to start, as they are already adapted to the region's temperatures and unique climate.

• Wild plants such as switchgrass, big bluestem, and Indian grass require high rainfall areas.
• Drought tolerant and low rainfall native specimens that are smaller in height include western wheatgrass, little bluestem, needle grass, and June grass.
• Shorter still at just a few inches (8 cm.) are the native grasses blue grama and buffalo grass, which can form dense groundcovers and offer interesting alternatives to cool season turf grasses.

Any of these native species will provide excellent options as zone 5 ornamental grasses.

Non-Native Ornamental Grass for Zone 5

Introduced species known for their vigor and adaptability enhance the landscape and offer a variety unmatched by native grasses. Cool season grasses necessary for landscapes in zone 5 commence growth in spring when temperatures are no longer freezing. They tend to flower earlier than warm season grasses and have brighter spring foliage. Many of these are Asian transplants like hakone grass, Japanese silver grass, and Korean feather reed grass. Each offers a different foliage color, inflorescence, and medium sized specimen suitable for edges of paths, borders, and even containers. Many of the elegant fountain grasses are hardy zone 5 ornamental grasses. Their mounding form and attractive plumes enhance even partial shade locations of the garden. In addition to hardiness, ornamental grass varieties in zone 5 should fit the landscape and your plants. This means not only exposure conditions but the size of the plant at maturity. The big pampas grasses aren't reliably hardy to zone 5 but there is a hardy form, Ravenagrass, which can survive to zone 4. A good alternative are some of the Miscanthus varieties. A few of these can approach 8 feet (2 m.) in height with lovely feathery plumes that persist into winter, adding extra interest to the garden. Giant sacaton grows 5 to 7 feet (1.5-2 m.), is hardy to zone 4, and has arching foliage with an inflorescence that soars above the base leaves. Whether you go native or introduced, there is a cool season ornamental grass for any landscape need.

You may have a difficult time finding true tropical plants that grow outdoors in USDA zone 5, but you can definitely grow zone 5 tropical looking plants that give your garden a lush, tropical appearance. Keep in mind that most tropical plants that grow in zone 5 will need extra winter protection. If you’re looking for exotic “tropical” plants for zone 5, read on for a few great suggestions.

Tropical Plants for Cold Climates

The following somewhat cold hardy tropicals can offer lush foliage growth in the garden just where you need it: Japanese Umbrella pine (Sciadopitys veticillata) – This tropical looking, low-maintenance tree displays lush, thick needles and attractive, reddish brown bark. Japanese umbrella pine requires a location where it will be protected from cold, harsh winds. Brown Turkey fig (Ficus carica) – Brown turkey fig needs a thick layer of mulch in zone 5 to protect it from chilly temperatures. The cold hardy fig tree may freeze in winter, but it will regrow in spring and produce plenty of sweet fruit the following summer. Big Bend yucca (Yucca rostrata) – Big Bend yucca is one of several types of yuccas that tolerate zone 5 winters. Plant yucca in a sunny location with good drainage and be sure the crown of the plant is protected from excess moisture. Beaked yucca is another great choice. Cold hardy hibiscus (Hibiscus moscheutos) –Also known by names such as swamp mallow, cold hardy hibiscus tolerates climates as far north as zone 4, but a little winter protection is a good idea. Rose of Sharon, or Althea, are other varieties that will provide tropical appeal. Be patient, as the plant is slow to emerge when spring temperatures are chilly. Japanese toad lily (Tricyrtis hirta) – Toad lily produces a burst of spotted, star-shaped blooms in late summer and early autumn, when most flowers are wearing down for the season. These zone 5 tropical looking plants are great choice for shady areas. Jelena witch hazel (Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Jelena’) – This witch hazel is a hardy deciduous shrub that produces reddish orange foliage in autumn and spider-shaped, coppery blooms in late winter. Canna lily (Canna x generalis) – With its huge leaves and exotic flowers, canna is one of the few true cold hardy tropical plants for zone 5. Although canna survives winter without protection in most zones, zone 5 gardeners need to dig the bulbs in autumn and store them in moist peat moss until spring. Otherwise, cannas require very little attention.

Azaleas are usually associated with the south. Many southern states boast having the best azalea displays. However, with the right plant selection, people who live in northern climates can have beautiful blooming azaleas too. In fact, most azaleas are hardy in zones 5 to 9, and since they can suffer from excessive heat, northern climates can be perfect for growing azaleas. Continue reading to learn about hardy azalea varieties for zone 5.

Growing Azaleas in Zone 5

Azaleas are members of the Rhododendron family. They are so closely related to rhododendrons that it is sometimes hard to tell the difference. Rhododendrons are broadleaf evergreens in all climates. Certain azaleas can also be broadleaf evergreens in southern climates, but most zone 5 azalea shrubs are deciduous. They lose their leaves each fall, then in the spring, the flowers bloom before the foliage comes in, creating quite a display. Like rhododendrons, azaleas thrive in acidic soil and cannot tolerate alkaline soil. They also like moist soil but cannot tolerate wet feet. Well-draining soil with lots of organic material is a must. They can also benefit from an acidic fertilizer once a year. Zone 5 azaleas grow best in an area where they can receive a lot of sunlight but are slightly shaded by tall trees in the afternoon heat. When growing azaleas in zone 5, reduce watering in fall. Then, after the first hard frost, water the plants deeply and thoroughly. Many azaleas can suffer or die because of winter burn, a condition caused by the plant not taking up enough water in fall. Like lilacs and mock orange, azaleas are deadheaded or pruned right after flowering to avoid cutting off next year’s bloom sets. If heavy pruning is required, it should be done in winter or early spring while the plant is still dormant and no more than 1/3 of the plant should be cut back.

Azaleas for Zone 5 Gardens

There are many beautiful varieties of zone 5 azalea shrubs, with a wide variety of bloom colors like white, pink, red, yellow, and orange. Oftentimes, the blooms are bicolor. The most hardy azalea varieties are in the “Northern Lights” series, introduced by the University of Minnesota in the 1980's. These azaleas are hardy to zone 4. Members of the Northern Lights series include:

• Orchid Lights
• Rosy Lights
• Northern Lights
• Mandarin Lights
• Lemon Lights
• Spicy Lights
• White Lights
• Northern Hi-Lights
• Pink Lights
• Western Lights
• Candy Lights

Below is a list of other varieties of zone 5 hardy azalea shrubs:

• Yaku Princess
• Western Lollipop
• Girarad’s Crimson
• Girarad’s Fuchsia
• Girarad’s Pleasant White
• The Robe Evergreen
• Sweet Sixteen
• Irene Koster
• Karen
• Kimberly’s Double Pink
• Sunset Pink
• Rosebud
• Klondyke
• Red Sunset
• Roseshell
• Pinkshell
• Gibraltar
• Hino Crimson
• Hino Degiri Evergreen
• Stewart’s Red
• Arneson Ruby
• Bollywood
• Cannon’s Double
• Cheerful Giant
• Herbert
• Golden Flare
• Fragrant Star
• Dawn’s Chorus
• Compact Korean

If you’re a northern climate gardener, your choices for hardy zone 5 jasmine plants are very limited, as there are no true zone 5 jasmine plants. Cold hardy jasmine, such as winter jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum), may tolerate USDA plant hardiness zone 6 with plenty of winter protection. However, this is risky business because even the toughest cold hardy jasmine plants may not survive the rigorous winters of zone 5. Read on for more information about growing jasmine in zone 5.

Winterizing Cold Hardy Jasmine

As mentioned above, jasmine may not survive winters in zone 5, which can plummet to -20 degrees F. (-29 C.). If you decide to try growing jasmine in zone 5, the plants will require plenty of winter protection. Even winter jasmine, which tolerates temperatures as cold as 0 degrees F. (-18 C.), certainly won’t make it through a tough zone 5 winter without adequate cover to protect the roots. Jasmine for zone 5 need at least 6 inches (15 cm.) of protection in the form of straw, chopped leaves, or shredded hardwood mulch. You can also trim the plant to about 6 inches (15 cm.) and then wrap it in an insulating blanket or burlap. Keep in mind that a sheltered, southern-facing planting location provides a degree of winter protection.

Growing Jasmine in Zone 5

The only way to ensure that zone 5 jasmine plants survive the winter is to grow them in pots and bring them indoors before the temperatures drop. Here are a few tips: Acclimate container-grown jasmine by bringing them indoors for a few hours per day, beginning several weeks before the first expected frost. Place jasmine in a bright, south-facing window. If natural light in your home is limited during the winter months, supplement it with fluorescent lights or special grow lights. If possible, place the jasmine in a kitchen or bathroom where the air tends to be more humid. Otherwise, set the pot on a tray with a layer of damp pebbles to increase the humidity around the plant. Be sure the bottom of the pot isn’t sitting directly in the water. Move the plant outdoors when you’re sure all danger of frost has passed in spring, beginning with just a few hours per day until the plant grows accustomed to the cooler, fresh air.