Perennials are plants that return each year after a period of winter dormancy. Unlike annuals, they come back each growing season. It’s important to know your USDA growing zone before choosing perennials.

Those that aren’t hardy in your zone will die and grow only as annuals in summer. Fortunately, when it comes to perennial flowers, zone 6 gives you a lot of options.

USDA zone 6 is defined by its average annual extreme minimum winter temperatures, which range between -10 and 0 degrees Fahrenheit (-23.3 and -17.8 Celsius). Zone 6 perennials are hardy in these areas where the temperature can potentially get so low. They’ll go dormant for winter and return in spring to grow and bloom again.

Like other zones, 6 does not fit a neat area defined by state boundaries. It includes:

• Areas of southern New England
• Large areas of northern Pennsylvania and West Virginia
• Most of southern Michigan, central Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, and Kansas
• Patchy areas of Nebraska, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Idaho, the Pacific Northwest, and southern Alaska

Zone 6 is known for its distinct four seasons, cold winters, and hot summers. The frost-free period is usually between mid-May and mid-October. The changing seasons and transition from cool spring to hot summer and cool fall allow gardeners to grow a variety of plants.

Zone 6 Perennials

Perennial plants for zone 6 are varied and abundant. If you garden in this zone, consider yourself lucky. You have a lot of options, and the best of both worlds with a growing season that encompasses both cool and hot weather.

1. Hosta

This perennial favorite perennial (ha!) is known for its foliage, although it also blooms in summer with stalks of small, hanging flowers in white, light purple, or pink. Hosta is popular for its leaves, which can range from deep green-blue to light yellow-green, and variegated, depending on the variety, but also for its ability to grow in even deep shade. The darker the foliage color, the more shade it can tolerate.

Grow hosta plants in full or partial shade, in soil that is slightly acidic, remains moist, and drains well. Use hostas as borders, large specimens in beds, or for the smaller varieties, as ground cover. 'Blue Mouse Ear' hostas are cute and small and can be purchased from Wayside Gardens.

2. Bee Balm

Bee balm, or wild bergamot, is a native perennial with summer and fall flowers that attract pollinators. Dwarf varieties are as small as ten inches (25 cm), while standard varieties can be up to four feet (1.2 m) tall. The pretty flowers come in shades of red, purple, pink, and white.

Bee balm is low-maintenance. Give it a spot with full sun for the most flowers and soil that drains well. Water only when the soil dries out. Bee balm is a great companion for vegetable gardens. Find a great selection of bee balm plants from the Home Depot.

3. Coneflower

Another native perennial ideal for zone 6 is coneflower. Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) is the most common, but you can find many varieties and hybrids of Echinacea in colors ranging from yellow to red to white and even green. Coneflowers attract pollinators and feed birds if you leave the seedheads in place.

Coneflowers grow up to five feet (1.6 m) tall and bloom best in full sun. They make excellent specimens in beds or as part of a native wildflower garden. The soil should drain well and be slightly acidic. While they benefit from regular watering, coneflowers can tolerate some drought conditions. Find an established purple coneflower plant from Nature Hills Nursery.

4. Sedum

Also known as stonecrop, sedum is a big genus of plants with a lot of options for flowering perennials that are hardy in zone 6. They are succulents with fleshy leaves that tolerate drought and bloom in late summer and fall with flat-topped clusters of tiny flowers in pink, lavender, red, and white. One unique and popular variety, ‘Autumn Joy,’ blooms pink and turns rust red in fall.

You can find sedums that grow up to two feet (0.6 m) tall and short varieties that only reach six inches (15 cm). Provide sedum plants with full sun or a little shade, loose, well-drained soil, and minimal watering once established. Find sedum 'Autumn Joy' from Garden Goods Direct.

5. Daylilies

The daylily is popular throughout its hardiness zones for good reasons. It produces an abundance of bright flowers among striking and dense foliage, and it is easy to care for. Each flower only lasts for a day, but the plants keep blooming in shades of yellow, orange, red, purple, or pink for weeks or months, depending on the variety.

Grow daylilies in full sun and in loamy, fertile soil. They will tolerate some shade and poor soil, but these aren’t the most ideal growing conditions. Once established, you shouldn’t have to water daylilies unless you are going through a dry spell. 'Fragrant Returns', available from Wayside Gardens, is a gorgeous lemon yellow hybrid variety.

6. Asters

If you like daisies, consider growing one of the many varieties of aster that do well in zone 6. Asters are native and bloom in late summer and fall. They are often displayed in stores in the fall, but these are long-lived perennials you can put in the ground and enjoy year after year. Depending on the type, you can find asters in blue, pink, white, or purple and in heights ranging from one to 6 feet (0.3 to 1.8 m).

Full sun is best for asters, as shade can make them lanky and floppy. The soil should be slightly acidic and loamy. Water as needed to keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy. Find New England aster seeds from Eden Brothers Nursery on Amazon.

7. Coreopsis

Also known as tickseed, one of the benefits of coreopsis is its long bloom time. You can enjoy cheerful, daisy-like flowers from late summer right up to the first frost in zone 6. With more than 80 varieties, you have options in terms of size, flower color, and even foliage texture.

With the right conditions, coreopsis plants are very low-maintenance. They do best in full sun and loamy or sandy soil that drains very well. Water coreopsis plants until they are established. After that, they will tolerate droughts fairly well. To keep it blooming, deadhead your coreopsis as the flowers fade. Find a 5-pack of cheery coreopsis at Lowe's.

8. Ferns

Not all zone 6 perennials are noted for their flowers. Ferns are non-flowering perennials grown for their unique, feathery foliage. Another good reason to choose ferns is that they grow well in shade. Some types will even thrive in deep shade.

You can find a huge variety of ferns, from tiny ground covers to majestic specimens. Some good choices for zone 6 include ostrich fern, lady fern, maidenhair fern, and Japanese painted fern. Plant ferns in shady spots with soil that won’t dry out. Find ostrich ferns from Native Wildflowers Nursery.

9. American Wisteria

For a flowering vine in zone 6, consider American wisteria (Wisteria frutescens). Often overlooked for the Japanese or Chinese types, American wisteria is native and much less aggressive than its non-native counterparts. This vine, which blooms with gorgeous clusters of blue or purple flowers in early summer, can grow up to 40 feet (12 m) tall.

Choose a spot with partial shade for an American wisteria vine. The soil should be moist but also drain well. Be sure you have something sturdy for it to climb. The benefits of American wisteria as compared to the other types are that it is native, smaller, and doesn’t require as much pruning. Find 'Amethyst Falls' American wisteria from Fast Growing Trees.

No matter where you live in the country, there will be good times for planting and bad times for planting. This is particularly true in cooler zones, like zone 6, where there is a significant difference between summer and winter temperatures. A planting calendar can help you keep organized about what to plant when in your region.

If you live in USDA zone 6, you’ll be starting seeds in Zone 6. That means that a zone 6 planting schedule will come in handy. This type of calendar presents a list of the seeds you can start indoors and those you can start outdoors in every month of the year.

If you are ready to get ready, we’ve got you covered.

Welcome to Zone 6

Before we leap into a USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6 planting schedule, let’s get an overview of the weather in this zone. Zone 6 includes those sections of the country where the average annual low temperature falls between -10 degrees F to 0 degrees F (-23.3 degrees C to -17.8 degrees C).

It would be neater if each hardiness zone applied to one or more full states. This, however, is not the case in any zone, and is certainly not true for Zone 6. Zone 6 includes parts of 36 different states in this country, running from the Appalachian Mountains to the Great Plains, then snaking up into the Northeast and into the West.

While Zone 6 temperatures can dip into cold territory in winter, this is not extreme cold. The zone has a moderate growing season of between 150 and 170 days. While winters can be cold and snowy, summers are warm or hot with occasional humidity.

Remember that USDA hardiness zones are determined by the average low temperature in the area. In Zone 6, the average minimum winter temperature ranges down to -10 degrees F, meaning that some days will be even colder than these averages. Summer high temperatures are not factored into the hardiness zone determination.

Given that the other 35 states range from Maine to California, it’s easy to see that the summer temperatures in the Zone 6 states will vary enormously. Keep this in mind when you decide what to plant in your own garden. Not every one of the plants listed in this Zone 6 planting guide can be grown in every one of the 36 states in the Zone 6 belt.

Planting Calendar Zone 6

Follow along each month to see what plants you should be planting.

January

In January, Zone 6 is deep into winter and you can’t plant anything in the garden. How about indoors? Nothing indoors either until eight weeks before the last spring frost date, May 1. This is a cold month with some snow.

February

February is still too cold for outdoor or indoor planting, but you can see occasional warming trends. The snow and rain add moisture and nutrients to the soil.

March

March is between 8 and 10 weeks before the last spring frost date and a warming trend begins. Many seeds can be started indoors in March, including herbs and flowers. There are a few products that can help you grow seedlings that will be strong and healthy for transplanting later. Our editors like the AC Infinity humidity dome, Vivosun heat mat, and Barrina grow lights which are available from Amazon.

April

April showers are a thing in Zone 6. The days are considerably warmer but there is still a chance of frost.

May

The last frost date is over as of the first date of the month. Warm weather arrives, with more rain.

June

June is summer, in Zone 6, and hotter weather arrives. You can still get some rain, but be on the watch for possible drought, which means you’ll need to irrigate.

July

July is the heart of summer and the hottest month in Zone 6. Plant those warm season crops and keep the watering-can handy - although thunderstorms may arrive.

August

August is another hot month and may be drier than July. You may see real heat waves and less rainfall.

September

Ah, September, and cooler weather is welcome. This month sees more rain and less heat, plus the fiery show of leaves turning. It’s time to plant the cool weather crops and spend happy days in the garden.

October

First frost is just around the corner, so spend some time in October cleaning up the beds and preparing the garden for winter. The first frost may come this month, although November 1 is the official date.

November

Cold and frost. Rain and snow. November won’t see much action in the garden other than continuing to clean up and mulching perennials.

December

Happy holidays. In these cold days and long nights, it’s a great time to start planning your garden for the coming year.

Home-grown melons are one of summer’s sweetest treats. But melon favorites like cantaloupes, watermelons and honeydews prefer toasty temperatures and a long growing season. Can you grow melons in zone 6? You can’t just grow any melons in cooler climates, but there are melons for zone 6 available. Read on for information on growing zone 6 melons as well as zone 6 varieties.

About Zone 6 Melons

Can you grow melons in zone 6? Generally, you’ll have better luck with watermelons and other melon types if you garden in a warmer area with a lengthy growing season. These fruits need lots of sun. But there are zone 6 melons that may work in some areas. If you aren’t sure of your hardiness zone, you should probably find out before starting your garden. U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones are determined by the lowest winter temperatures. Zone 6 is a region where temperatures can dip to negative 9 degrees Fahrenheit (-22 degrees C.). Included in this zone are regions across the country, including the area near Jersey City, NJ, Saint Louis, MO and Spokane WA.

Growing Zone 6 Melon Varieties

If you want to grow melons for zone 6, you will do much better if you start the seeds indoors. You cannot place the seeds or seedlings in the garden until all chance of frost is passed, including the occasional night frost. That may happen as late as mid-May in some zone 6 areas. Plant the seeds at a depth of three times their diameter. Place the pots on a sunny window sill to germinate. After that, you can continue to keep them on the window sill waiting for warmer weather or, on sunny days, you can set them outside in a sunny location if you are sure to bring them in after the heat of the day. Once all chance of frost is past, you can transplant the seedlings carefully into well-draining, organically rich soil. To raise the soil temperature, you can spread biodegradable plastic "mulch" around the young seedlings. You’ll have to search your garden store for zone 6 melon varieties. A few that are reputed to do well in zone 6 include ‘Black Diamond’ and ‘Sugarbaby’ watermelon cultivars.

Growing wildflowers is a great way to add color and variety to a garden. Wildflowers may be native or not, but they definitely add a more natural and less formal look to yards and gardens. For zone 6, there are a number of great choices for wildflower varieties.

Growing Wildflowers in Zone 6

There are wildflowers for every region of the USDA map. If your garden is in zone 6, you’ll have a lot of options. This zone stretches across the U.S., including regions in Massachusetts and Connecticut, most of Ohio, and parts of Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, and stretching up to the interior areas of the Pacific Northwest. If you choose the right wildflowers for zone 6, enjoying them in your garden will be easy. Simply grow from seed after the last frost and water until your flowers are about 4 to 6 inches (10-15 cm.) tall. After that, they should do well with normal rains and local conditions.

Wildflower Zone 6 Varieties

Whether you are adding wildflowers to one bed or creating an entire wildflower meadow, it is important to choose varieties that will grow well in your climate. Luckily, zone 6 wildflowers are abundant. Choose several varieties and make a mix that will include a good range of colors and heights. Zinnia - Zinnia is a pretty, quick-growing flower that produces orange, red, and shades of pink. Native to Mexico, these are easy to grow in most zones. Cosmos - Cosmos are also easy to grow and produce similar colors to zinnias, as well as white, although the blooms and stems are more delicate. They can grow up to 6 feet (2 m.) tall. Black-eyed Susan - This is a classic wildflower that everyone recognizes. Black-eyed Susan is a cheerful yellow-orange bloom with a black center that grows up to 2 feet (61 cm.) tall. Cornflower - Also known as bachelor’s button, this flower will add a pretty bluish purple color to your beds or meadow. This is also a shorter wildflower, staying under 2 feet (61 cm.). Wild sunflower - There are many types of sunflower, and wild sunflower is native to the plains of the U.S. It grows to about 3 feet (1 m.). It is one of the easiest flowers to grow from seed. Prairie phlox - Native to several Midwestern states, the prairie phlox flower produces full, pink clumps that are great for filling in spaces. Johnny jump-up - This is another good short variety of zone 6 wildflowers. Johnny jump-ups stay less than one foot (31 cm.) in height and produce bright flowers that are purple, yellow, and white. Foxglove - Foxglove flowers are delicate bells clustered on tall spikes, growing up to 6 feet (2 m.) tall. They add good vertical color and texture to a meadow or bed. Be aware if you have kids or pets that these are toxic. There are many more varieties of wildflowers for zone 6, but these are among the easiest to grow and will give you a good range of height, color, and texture.

Due to their low maintenance and versatility in various conditions, ornamental grasses have become increasingly popular in landscapes. In U.S. hardiness zone 6, hardy ornamental grasses can add winter interest to the garden from their blades and seed heads sticking up through mounds of snow. Continue reading to learn more about choosing ornamental grasses for zone 6.

Ornamental Grasses Hardy to Zone 6

There are hardy ornamental grasses that are suitable for almost every condition in zone 6 landscapes. Two of the most common types of hardy ornamental grass are feather reed grass (Calamagrotis spp.) and maiden grass (Miscanthus spp.).

Commonly grown varieties of feather reed grass in zone 6 are:

• Karl Foerster
• Overdam
• Avalanche
• Eldorado
• Korean Feather Grass

Common Miscanthus varieties include:

• Japanese Silvergrass
• Zebra Grass
• Adagio
• Morning Light
• Gracillimus

Choosing ornamental grasses for zone 6 also includes types that are drought tolerant and excellent for xeriscaping. These include:

• Blue Oat Grass
• Pampas Grass
• Blue Fescue

Rushes and cordgrass grow well in areas with standing water, like alongside ponds. The bright red or yellow blades of Japanese Forest Grass can brighten up a shady location. Other shade tolerant grasses are:

• Lilyturf
• Tufted Hairgrass
• Northern Sea Oats

Additional choices for zone 6 landscapes include:

• Japanese Blood Grass
• Little Bluestem
• Switchgrass
• Prairie Dropseed
• Ravenna Grass
• Fountain Grass

Hedges serve many purposes in the landscape. They can be used for privacy, security, as a windbreak, or simply because they look quaint. In U.S. hardiness zone 6, where winters can still be pretty bitter but summer provides an adequate growing season, there are many shrubs that can be used as cold hardy hedges. Continue reading for tips on choosing hedges for zone 6.

Choosing Hedges for Zone 6 Gardens

A hedge is a densely planted row or wall made of living plants. The plants in these living walls can be evergreen or deciduous, depending on your specific needs or preferences. Tall plants and evergreens are oftentimes used as windbreaks, noise barriers, and privacy hedges. 

Cold winter winds are usually what our yards or homes need protection from, so evergreens work best for this purpose too. Shrubs with thorns or sharp, spiky foliage make excellent hedges where home security is a concern. Other times hedges are planted simply for their appearance or to separate different areas of the landscape.

 Hedges can be perfectly shaped, squared, or rounded with hedge trimmers or garden shears. They can also be left alone to grow in their own natural habit. This, too, is based on your own preference and landscape style. Hedges made from native, fruit producing shrubs can also double as a safe haven for birds to browse or nest in.

Zone 6 Hedge Plants

Whatever purpose you have in mind for a hedge, there are plenty of shrubs to choose from. Below are some of the most common zone 6 hedge plants and the types of hedges they can be used for.

• Abelia – Semi-evergreen hedges that are easy to trim, but when left untrimmed abelia have a beautiful arching habit. The trumpet flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies.
• Arborvitae – Evergreen hedges, arborvitae is usually used for privacy or wind and sound barriers.
• Barberry – Semi-evergreen to deciduous depending on variety. Available in an array of colors. Easy to trim. Due to their thorns, they make excellent security hedges. Barberry can be invasive in certain locations.
• Boxwood – Evergreen hedges that are very easy to formally shape, but still grow tight, full, and shapely without trimming. Boxwood can be used for privacy or just their nice clean appearance.
• Burning Bush – Large deciduous shrubs that are mainly grown for their bright red fall color. Burning bush are easy to trim and excellent for privacy.
• Chamaecyparis (False Cypress) – Evergreen hedge available in tall or dwarf varieties. The gold varieties make an especially unique hedge. False cypress has a natural shaggy appearance and requires very little trimming or pruning.
• Forsythia – Tall or dwarf deciduous varieties available for hedges. The yellow blooms of forsythia are one of the first flowers of spring and provide food for early pollinators.
• Holly – Evergreen shrub with sharp, spiked foliage; excellent for privacy or security. Holly produces red berries in fall and winter, but both male and female varieties are necessary to produce berries.
• Juniper – Evergreen shrubs that range from low growing groundcovers to tall upright varieties. Tall varieties of juniper can make excellent privacy screens or sound and wind breaks.
• Lilac – These deciduous shrubs come in dwarf varieties or the tall old-fashioned forms. Heavenly scented flowers attract butterflies and other pollinators. Some dwarf varieties of lilac will rebloom.
• Privet – Privet is a deciduous shrub that can be easy trimmed or left to grow tall for privacy.
• Quince – Another excellent deciduous shrub choice for security because of its sharp thorns. Quince has beautiful spring flowers in pink, red, orange, or white.
• Rose of Sharon – Tall deciduous shrubs with spectacular flower displays in summer. Rose of Sharon are great for a natural looking privacy hedge.
• Viburnum – Deciduous shrubs often used for privacy as most varieties get very large. Pollinators are attracted to the blooms, while birds are attracted to the fruit. Some varieties of viburnum have amazing fall foliage.
• Yew – Evergreen hedge for privacy or just aesthetic value. Yew is easy to trim and shape with hedge trimmers or shears.

Live in USDA zone 6? Then you have a wealth of zone 6 vegetable planting options. This is because although the region is characterized as having a medium length growing season, it is suited to both warm and cold weather plants, rendering this zone accommodating to all but the most tender or those that rely exclusively on hot, dry weather to thrive. 

One of the most important factors when growing vegetables in zone 6 is knowing the correct planting times for zone 6. Read on to find out when to plant vegetables in zone 6.

About Growing Vegetables in Zone 6

Planting times for zone 6 will depend on whose zone map you are consulting. There is a zonal map put out by the United States Department of Agriculture and one put out by Sunset. These vary greatly for zone 6. 

The USDA map is broad of stroke and encompasses Massachusetts and Rhode Island, extends southwest through parts of New York and New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. USDA zone 6 doesn’t stop there but branches out into northwestern Oklahoma, northern New Mexico, Arizona, and on into northern California. 

A very large area indeed! Conversely, the Sunset map for zone 6 is very small containing Oregon’s Willamette Valley. This is because Sunset takes other things besides the coldest winter temperature average into account. Sunset bases their map on factors such as elevation, latitude, humidity, rainfall, wind, soil conditions and other microclimate factors.

When to Plant Vegetables in Zone 6

If relying on the coldest average winter temperature, the last frost date is May 1st and the first frost date is November 1st. This will, of course, vary due to our constantly changing weather patterns and is intended as a general guideline. 

According to Sunset, zone 6 vegetable planting runs from mid-March after the last frost through mid-November. In both cases, it’s important to remember that these are guidelines and winter, or summer, can come earlier or last longer than is typical. Some plants can be started inside (typically around April) for later transplant. These include:

• Brussels sprouts
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Tomato
• Eggplant
• Peppers
• Cucumber

The earliest seeds to sow outdoors are cabbages in February followed by the following crops in March:

• Kale
• Onions
• Celery
• Spinach
• Broccoli
• Radish
• Peas

Carrots, lettuce and beets can go out in April while you can direct sow sweet potatoes, potatoes, and squash in May. This, of course, is not all you can grow. For more information on vegetables well suited for your area, contact your local extension office for advice.

The dead of winter is a great time to plan the garden. First, you need to know which USDA zone you live in and the last possible frost date for your area. For example, folks who live in USDA zone 6 have a frost-free date range of March 30th to April 30th. This means that depending upon the crop, some seeds may be jump-started indoors while others may be suited to direct sowing outside. In the following article, we discuss zone 6 seed starting outdoors as well as starting seeds indoors in zone 6.

When to Start Seeds in Zone 6

As mentioned, zone 6 has a frost-free date range of March 30th to April 30th with a more definitive first freeze-free date of May 15th and a last freeze-free date of October 15th. These dates are intended to be a guideline. Different areas of zone 6 may vary by as much as two weeks depending upon the microclimate, but the above dates will give you a gist of when to start seeds in zone 6.

Starting Seeds for Zone 6

Now that you know the frost-free range for your zone, it’s time to sort seed packs to decide whether they should be started indoors or out. The direct sow pile will likely include most vegetables such as:

• Beans
• Beets
• Carrots
• Corn
• Cucumbers
• Lettuce
• Melons
• Peas
• Squash

Most annual flowers will also go in the direct sow pile. Those that should be started indoors will include most perennial flowers and any vegetable you want a jump start on such as tomatoes or peppers. 

Once you have the two piles, one for indoor sowing and one for outside, begin to read the information on the back of the seed packets. Sometimes the information is scanty, but at the very least it should give you a gist of when to plant, such as “start six to eight weeks before the last frost date”. 

Using the last frost-free date of May 15th, count back in one-week increments. Label the seed packets accordingly with the corresponding sowing date. If there is no information on the seed pack, a safe bet is to start the seeds inside six weeks prior to planting them outdoors. 

You can then either bind like sowing dates together with rubber bands or if you are feeling particularly orderly, create a sowing schedule either on the computer or on paper.

Starting Seeds Indoors in Zone 6

Even though you have a sowing schedule, there are a couple of things to consider that might change things a bit. For instance, it depends on where you are going to start the seeds indoors. If the only place you have to start seeds is in a cool, under 70 degrees F. (21 C.) room, you will want to adjust accordingly and shift to plant a week or two earlier. 

Also, if you plan on starting seeds in a greenhouse or a very warm room of the house, cut a week or so out of the starting schedule; otherwise, you may find yourself with humongous plants ready to be transplanted before warmer temps arrive. 

Examples of seeds to start indoors 10 to 12 weeks prior to transplanting include leafy greens, hardier varieties of herbs, cool-season veggies, and plants in the onion family. 

Crops that can be started eight to ten weeks prior to transplanting include many annual or perennial flowers, herbs, and half-hardy vegetables. Those that can be sowed in March or April for later transplant include tender, heat-loving vegetables, and herbs.

Zone 6 Seed Starting Outdoors

As with starting seeds indoors, some concessions may apply when planting seeds outdoors. For instance, if you are going to start the seeds in a cold frame or greenhouse or use row covers, seeds can be sown several weeks prior to the last frost date. 

Consult the information on the back of the seed packet regarding when to plant. Count back from the last frost-free date and sow the seeds accordingly. You should also check with your local extension office for further information.

Kiwis are noted fruits of New Zealand, although they are actually native to China. Most cultivars of the classic, fuzzy, cultivated kiwi are not hardy below 10 degrees Fahrenheit (-12 C.); however, some hybrids exist that can be grown in most zones across North America. These so called "hardy" kiwis are much smaller than commercial varieties, but their flavor is outstanding and you can eat them skin and all. You must plan on hardy varieties if you wish to grow zone 6 kiwi plants.

Growing Kiwi in Zone 6

Kiwi are outstanding vines for the landscape. They produce beautiful leaves on reddish-brown stems that add ornamental appeal to an old fence, wall, or trellis. Most hardy kiwis require a male and female vine to produce fruit, but there are is one cultivar that is self-fruiting. Zone 6 kiwi plants take up to 3 years to begin producing fruit, but during this time you can train them and enjoy their elegant, yet vigorous vines. The size of the plant, hardiness, and fruit type are all considerations when selecting kiwi fruit for zone 6. Hardy kiwi vines require full sun, although a few shade tolerant varieties exist, and even moisture to thrive and produce fruit. Too much moisture as well as long exposure to drought will affect production and vine health. Soil should be fertile and well draining. A site with at least half a day of sun is necessary for growing kiwi in zone 6. Choose a site with plenty of sun and where frost pockets do not form in winter. Plant young vines 10 feet (3 m.) apart in mid-May or after all danger of frost has passed. Kiwis in their native habitat will naturally climb trees to support the heavy vines. In the home landscape, a sturdy trellis or another stable structure is necessary to support the plants and keep vines ventilated while elevating fruit to maximum sunlight for proper development. Keep in mind vines can get up to 40 feet (12 m.) in length. Pruning and training the first year is essential to create a strong, horizontal frame. Train the strongest two leaders to the support structure. Vines can get large so supports should ideally have a T-shape form where the two leaders are trained horizontally from each other. Prune 2 to 3 times during the growing season to remove non-flowering lateral stems. During the dormant period, prune out canes that fruited and any dead or diseased stems as well as those that interfere with air circulation. Fertilize in the second spring with 2 ounces (56.5 g.) 10-10-10 and increase annually by 2 ounces (56.5 g.) until 8 ounces (227 g.) are applied. During the third to fifth year, fruits should begin to arrive. If you are growing a late fruiting variety that may be exposed to freeze, harvest fruit early and allow it to ripen in the refrigerator.

Varieties of Kiwi Fruit for Zone 6

The hardy kiwis come from the Actinidia aruguta or Actinidia kolomikta cultivars rather than the rather tender Actinidia chinensis. A. aruguta cultivars can survive temperatures that dip to -25 degrees F. (-32 C.), while A. kolomikta can survive to -45 degrees Fahrenheit (-43 C.), especially if they are in a protected area of the garden. Kiwis, with the exception of Actinidia arguta 'Issai,' require both male and female plants. If you wish to try several cultivars, you only need 1 male for every 9 female plants. A particularly cold hardy plant that is also shade tolerant is 'Arctic Beauty.' 'Ken's Red' is also shade tolerant and produces small, sweet reddish fruit. 'Meader,' 'MSU,' and the '74' series perform well in cold regions. Other types of kiwi fruit for zone 6 are:

• Geneva 2 - Early producer
• 119-40-B - Self-pollinating
• 142-38 - Female with variegated leaves
• Krupnopladnaya - Sweet fruit, not very vigorous
• Cornell - Male clone
• Geneva 2 - Late-maturing
• Ananasnaya - Grape-sized fruits
• Dumbarton Oaks - Early fruit
• Fortyniner - Female with rounded fruit
• Meyer's Cordifolia - Sweet, chubby fruits

When you think of jasmine plants, you probably think of a tropical setting filled with the fragrance of common jasmine’s white blooms. You don't have to live in the tropics to enjoy jasmine though. With a little extra care in winter, even common jasmine can be grown in zone 6. However, winter jasmine is the more often grown jasmine variety for zone 6. Continue reading to learn more about growing jasmine in zone 6.

Hardy Jasmine Vines

Unfortunately, in zone 6, there are not too many choices of jasmine you can grow outdoors year-round. Therefore, many of us in cooler climates often grow tropical jasmines in containers that can be moved inside in cold weather or outside on warm sunny days. As annuals or houseplants, you can grow any variety of jasmine vines in zone 6. If you are looking for a zone 6 jasmine plant to grow outside year-round, winter jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum) is your best bet.

Growing Jasmine Plants for Zone 6

Hardy in zones 6 to 9, winter jasmine has yellow flowers that are not as fragrant as other jasmine. However, these flowers bloom in January, February, and March. While they may get nipped by frost, the plant just sends out its next set of blooms. When grown up a trellis, this hardy jasmine vine can quickly reach a 15 feet (5 m.) height. Oftentimes, winter jasmine is grown as a sprawling shrub or groundcover. Not too particular about soil conditions, winter jasmine is an excellent choice as a full sun to part shade groundcover for slopes or areas where it can trail over stone walls. A zone 6 gardener who enjoys a challenge or trying new things, can also try growing common jasmine, Jasminum officinale, in their garden year-round. Reportedly hardy in zones 7 to 10, the internet is full of garden forums where zone 6 gardeners share advice on how they have successfully grown common jasmine year-round in zone 6 gardens. Most of these tips indicate that if grown in a sheltered location and given a nice heap of mulch over the root zone through winter, common jasmine usually survives zone 6 winters. Common jasmine has extremely fragrant, white to light pink flowers. It prefers full sun to part shade and is also not too particular about soil conditions. As a hardy jasmine vine, it will quickly reach a height of 7 to 10 feet (2-3 m.). If you do try to grow common jasmine in zone 6, select a location where it will not be exposed to cold winter winds. Also, apply a heap of at least 4 inches (10 cm.) of mulch around the root zone in late fall.

Japanese maples are outstanding specimen trees. They tend to stay relatively small, and their summer color is something usually only seen in the fall. Then when the fall does come, their leaves become even more vibrant. They’re also relatively cold hardy and most varieties will thrive in cold weather. Keep reading to learn more about cold-hardy Japanese maples and the best Japanese maple varieties for zone 6.

Cold Hardy Japanese Maples

Here are some of the best zone 6 Japanese maples:

Waterfall - A short tree at 6 to 8 feet (2 to 2.5 m.), this Japanese maple gets its name from the domed, cascading shape of its branches. Its delicate leaves are green through spring and summer but turn stunning shades of red and yellow in the fall.

Mikawa Yatsubusa - A dwarf tree that reaches only 3 to 4 feet (1 m.) in height. Its large, layered leaves stay green through spring and summer then change to purple and red in the fall.

Inaba-shidare - Reaching 6 to 8 feet (2 to 2.5 m.) tall and usually a little wider, this tree’s delicate leaves are deep red in the summer and shocking red in the fall.

Aka Shigitatsu Sawa - 7 to 9 feet (2 to 2.5 m.) tall, this tree’s leaves are a medley of red and green in the summer and bright red in the fall.

Shindeshojo - 10 to 12 feet (3 to 3.5 m.), this tree’s small leaves go from pink in the spring to green/pink in the summer to bright red in the fall.

Coonara Pygmy - 8 feet (2.5 m.) tall, this tree’s leaves emerge pink in spring, fade to green, then burst into orange in the fall.

Hogyoku - 15 feet (4.5 m.) tall, its green leaves turn bright orange in the fall. It tolerates heat very well.

Aureum - 20 feet (6 m.) tall, this large tree has yellow leaves all through the summer that become edged with red in the fall.

Seiryu - 10 to 12 feet (3 to 3.5 m.) high, this tree follows a spreading growth habit closer to an American maple. Its leaves are green in the summer and dazzling red in the fall.

Koto-no-ito - 6 to 9 feet (2 to 2.5 m.), its leaves form three long, thin lobes that emerge slightly red in spring, turn green in summer, then turn bright yellow in the fall.

As you can see, there is no shortage of suitable Japanese maple varieties for zone 6 regions. When it comes to growing Japanese maples in zone 6 gardens, their care is much the same as other areas, and being deciduous, they go dormant over winter so no extra care is needed.

A sea of perfect green grass is often a homeowner's dream; however, success depends upon the type of grass you choose for your landscape. Not every grass seed is adapted to the soil, lighting, drainage, and fertility of individual sites. Your USDA zone also plays a role in choosing which grass will perform best. In zone 6, temperatures are mild to warm, but in winter some freezing can occur. Zone 6 grass seed has to be a variety that tolerates all this as well as your individual conditions.

Selecting Zone 6 Grass Seed

Seeding grass is a bit more work than simply purchasing sod rolls, but it is economical and almost anyone can accomplish the task. The tricks are preparing the seed bed correctly and choosing a grass variety that will thrive in your zone. The best grass seed for zone 6 will depend upon your needs. There are some better suited for shady areas, while others need full sun. The timing of sowing is another important consideration for planting grass seed in zone 6. Zone 6 is considered a cool-season grass zone even though it can have very hot summers. That means the best choice for grass will be in the cool-season group which indicates the preferred climate conditions of the plant. Cool-season grasses like cold, rainy weather and are not offended by occasional freezes. They go dormant in winter and come back quickly in spring. Cold hardy grass seed in zone 6 might include:

• Ryegrass
• Buffalo Grass
• Creeping Red Fescue
• Tall Fescue
• Bluegrass
• Bentgrass

Ryegrass may either be annual or perennial. The others are all perennial and tolerant of zone 6 weather conditions. Some are even native, such as Buffalograss, which gives them years of adaptability to their native regions and makes them low maintenance and easy to establish. Just because you know a grass is suitable for your zone doesn't mean it will perform the way in which you want. Some gardeners want drought-tolerant grass, as they are stingy on watering, while others want a grass that can stand up to the rough and tumble of children and animals. Other stresses may be put upon the lawn such as excess heat or even salt exposure in coastal regions. It is important to evaluate your needs and your site restrictions before selecting a cold hardy grass seed. Color, texture, density, and maintenance levels are also considerations that should be vetted before opting for a certain grass seed. Other considerations are pest and disease issues. Selecting a grass seed that's resistant to certain prevalent pests or diseases in your area can minimize the amount of effort expended to keep the grass healthy. Often, the best option is a mixed seed product. For instance, Kentucky bluegrass may take some time in spring to green up but if mixed with ryegrass, the lawn turns green faster. It also germinates quickly and wears well. Mixing grass seed can also increase a lawn's tolerance to shade, enhance texture, and minimize pest and weed issues. Hybrids are another way to harness different species' attributes. A blend of Texas bluegrass with Kentucky bluegrass increases heat tolerance in summer while still retaining the lovely blue-green color. A very common cool season grass mixture is Kentucky blue, perennial ryegrass, and fine fescue. The combination develops into a perfect lawn with tolerances to many stresses and lighting conditions.

There is something so charming about a home covered in vines. However, those of us in cooler climates sometimes have to deal with a house covered in dead-looking vines throughout the winter months if we do not select evergreen types. While most evergreen vines prefer warm, southern climates, there are some semi-evergreen and evergreen vines for zone 6. Continue reading to learn more about growing evergreen vines in zone 6.

Choosing Evergreen Vines for Zone 6

Semi-evergreen or semi-deciduous, by definition, is a plant that loses its leaves for only a short time as new leaves form. Evergreen naturally means a plant that retains its foliage throughout the year. 

Generally, these are two different categories of plants. However, some vines and other plants can be evergreen in warmer climates but semi-evergreen in cooler climates. When vines are used as ground covers and spend some months beneath mounds of snow, it may be irrelevant whether it is semi-evergreen or a true evergreen. 

With vines that climb walls, fences or create privacy shields, you may want to make certain they are true evergreens.

Hardy Evergreen Vines

Below is a list of zone 6 evergreen vines and their characteristics: 

Purple Wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei var. Coloratus) - Hardy in zones 4-8, full-part sun, evergreen. 

Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempirvirens) - Hardy in zones 6-9, full sun, may be semi-evergreen in zone 6. 

Winter Jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum) - Hardy in zones 6-10, full-part sun, may be semi-evergreen in zone 6. 

English Ivy (Hedera helix) - Hardy in zones 4-9, full sun-shade, evergreen. 

Carolina Jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens) - Hardy in zones 6-9, part shade-shade, evergreen. 

Tangerine Beauty Crossvine (Bignonia capreolata) - Hardy in zones 6-9, full sun, may be semi-evergreen in zone 6. 

Five-leaf Akebia (Akebia quinata) - Hardy in zones 5-9, full-part sun, may be semi-evergreen in zones 5 and 6.

Zone 6 regions are not among the coldest in the nation, but they are chilly for heat-loving palm trees. Can you find palm trees that grow in zone 6? Do hardy palm trees exist that can take below-zero temperatures? Read on for information about palm trees for zone 6.

Hardy Palm Trees

If you live in zone 6, your winter temperatures dip down to zero and sometimes even to -10 degrees Fahrenheit (-23 C.). This is not generally considered palm tree territory, but zone 6 palm trees can happen. You’ll find hardy palm trees in commerce. Some of the hardiest available include:

• Date palms (Phoenix dactylifera)
• Canary Island date palms (Phoenix canariensis)
• Mediterranean fan palms (Chamaerops humilis)
• Windmill palms (Trachycarpus fortunei)

However, none of these palms carries a zone 6 hardiness label. Windmill palms are the best at cold weather, thriving to 5 degrees F. (-15 C.). Does this mean that it is impossible to find palm trees that grow in zone 6? Not necessarily.

Care of Palm Trees for Zone 6

If you want to find palm trees for zone 6 gardens, you may have to plant what you can find, cross your fingers and take your chances. You’ll find some online tree sellers that list windmill palms as hardy to zone 6 as well as needle palms (Rhapidophyllum hystrix). Some gardeners do plant these types of palms in zone 6 and find that, although the leaves fall off every winter, the plants survive. On the other hand, many hardy palm trees only survive as zone 6 palm trees if you offer them winter protection. What type of winter protection might help zone 6 palm trees make it through the cold season? Here are a few ideas for how to protect cold hardy palm trees in freezing temperatures. You can assist your cold hardy palm trees to survive by planting the trees in the warmest, sunniest spot in your yard. Try to find a planting location that is protected from winter winds. Winds from the north and the west are most damaging. If you anticipate cold snaps and take action, your palm tree has more of a chance of surviving. Just before a freeze, wrap the trunk of your cold hardy palms. Use canvas, blankets or specialty wrap from garden stores. For smaller palms, you can place a cardboard box on top of the plant to protect it. Weight the box down with rocks to prevent it from blowing away in the wind. Alternatively, bury the tree in a mound of mulch. Protections must be removed after four or five days. While this vigilance and plant protection makes palm trees for zone 6 high maintenance, it’s still worth the effort to enjoy a nice tropical flair in the garden. Of course, many palm trees grow just as well in containers which can be brought indoors with the onset of cold weather.

Shade is tricky. Not all plants grow well in it, but most gardens and yards have it. Finding cold hardy plants that thrive in shade can be even trickier. It’s not that tricky, though-- while options are slightly limited, there are more than enough zone 6 shade loving plants out there. Keep reading to learn more about growing shade plants in zone 6.

Shade Plants for Zone 6 Gardens

Here are some of the best shade plants for zone 6: Bigroot Geranium - Hardy in zones 4 through 6, this 2 foot (61 cm.) tall geranium produces pink flowers in the spring and the foliage of some varieties' changes color in the fall. Ajuga - Hardy in zones 3 through 9, ajuga is a groundcover that reaches only 6 inches (15 cm.) in height. Its leaves are beautiful, purple, and variegated in many varieties. It produces spikes of blue, pink, or white flowers. Bleeding Heart - Hardy in zones 3 through 9, bleeding heart reaches 4 feet (1 m.) in height and produces unmistakable heart-shaped flowers along wide spreading stems. Hosta - Hardy in zones 3 through 8, hostas are some of the most popular shade plants out there. Their foliage comes in a huge variety of colors and variegation, and several produce extremely fragrant flowers. Corydalis - Hardy in zones 5 through 8, the corydalis plant has attractive foliage and stunning yellow (or blue) clusters of flowers that last all the way from late spring to frost. Lamium – Also known as deadnettle and hardy in zones 4 through 8, this 8 inch (20 cm.) tall plant has attractive, silver foliage and delicate clusters of pink and white flowers that bloom on and off all summer. Lungwort - Hardy in zones 4 through 8 and reaching 1 foot (31 cm.) in height, lungwort has striking variegated evergreen foliage and clusters of pink, white, or blue flowers in the spring.

Growing succulents in zone 6? Is that possible? We tend to think of succulents as plants for arid, desert climates, but there are a number of hardy succulents that tolerate chilly winters in zone 6, where temperatures can drop as low as -5 degrees F. (-21 C.). In fact, a few can survive punishing winter climates as far north as zone 3 or 4. Read on to learn about selecting and growing succulents in zone 6.

Succulent Plants for Zone 6

Northern gardeners have no shortage of beautiful succulent plants for zone 6. Here are a few examples of zone 6 hardy succulents: Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ – Autumn joy sedum has grayish green leaves and large, pink flowers that turn bronze in fall. Sedum acre – A groundcover sedum plant with bright yellow-green blooms. Delosperma cooperi ‘Trailing Ice Plant’ – A spreading groundcover with reddish purple flowers. Sedum reflexum ‘Angelina’ (Angelina stonecrop) – Angelina stonecrop is a groundcover with lime green foliage. Sedum ‘Touchdown Flame’ – Touchdown flame has lime green and burgundy red foliage with creamy yellow flowers. Delosperma Mesa Verde (Ice Plant) – Ice plant has grayish green foliage and pinkish salmon blooms. Sedum ‘Vera Jameson’ – Vera Jameson has reddish purple leaves and pinkish blooms. Sempervivum spp. (Hens-and-Chicks) – Hens and Chicks are available in a huge variety of colors and textures. Sedum spectabile ‘Meteor’ – Sedum 'meteor' has bluish green foliage and large pink blooms. Sedum ‘Purple Emperor’ – Sedum 'purple emperor' has deep purple foliage and long-lasting, purple-pink flowers. Opuntia ‘Compressa’ (Eastern Prickly Pear) – Prickly pear have large, succulent, paddle-like pads with showy, bright yellow blooms. Sedum ‘Frosty Morn’ (Stonecrop -Variegated Autumn) – Stonecrop, this variety has silvery gray leaves, and white to pale pink flowers.

Succulent Care in Zone 6

Plant succulents in sheltered areas if winters tend to be rainy. Stop watering and fertilizing succulents in autumn. Don’t remove snow; it provides insulation for the roots when temperatures drop. Otherwise, succulents generally require no protection. The key to success with zone 6 hardy succulents is to select plants suitable for your climate, then provide them with plenty of sunshine. Well-drained soil is absolutely critical. Although hardy succulents can tolerate cold temperatures, they won’t live long in wet, soggy soil.

If you have visited southern states of the U.S., you’ve probably noticed the beautiful camellias that grace most gardens. Camellias are especially the pride of Alabama, where they are the official state flower. In the past, camellias could only be grown in U.S. hardiness zones 7 or higher. However, in recent years, plant breeders Dr. William Ackerman and Dr. Clifford Parks have introduced hardy camellias for zone 6. Learn more about these hardy camellia plants below.

Hardy Camellia Plants

Camellias for zone 6 are usually categorized as spring blooming or fall blooming, although in warmer climates of the Deep South they may bloom all throughout the winter months. Cold winter temperatures in zone 6 will usually nip the flower buds, giving zone 6 camellia plants a shorter bloom time than warm climate camellias. In zone 6, the most popular hardy camellia plants are the Winter Series, created by Dr. Ackerman, and the April Series, created by Dr. Parks. Below are lists of spring blooming and fall blooming camellias for zone 6:

Spring Blooming Camellias

• April Tryst - red flowers
• April Snow - white flowers
• April Rose - red to pink flowers
• April Remembered - cream to pink flowers
• April Dawn - pink to white flowers
• April Blush - pink flowers
• Betty Sette - pink flowers
• Fire ‘n Ice - red flowers
• Ice Follies - pink flowers
• Spring Icicle - pink flowers
• Pink Icicle - pink flowers
• Korean Fire - pink flowers

Fall Blooming Camellias

• Winter’s Waterlily - white flowers
• Winter’s Star - red to purple flowers
• Winter's Rose - pink flowers
• Winter’s Peony - pink flowers
• Winter's Interlude - pink to purple flowers
• Winter's Hope - white flowers
• Winter's Fire - red to pink flowers
• Winter's Dream - pink flowers
• Winter's Charm - lavender to pink flowers
• Winter's Beauty - pink flowers
• Polar Ice - white flowers
• Snow Flurry - white flowers
• Survivor - white flowers
• Mason Farm - white flowers

Growing Camellias in Zone 6 Gardens

Most of the above listed camellias are labeled as hardy in zone 6b, which is the slightly warmer part of zone 6. This labeling has come from years of trials and testing of their winter survival rate. In zone 6a, the slightly cooler areas of zone 6, it is recommended that these camellias be given some extra winter protection. To protect tender camellias, grow them in an area where they are protected from cold winter winds and give their roots added insulation of a nice, deep heap of mulch around the root zone.

Who doesn't love the snowflake-like fall of spring cherry petals or the cheery, blazing color of a tulip tree? Flowering trees liven up any space in the garden in a big way and many have the added benefit of producing edible fruit later on. Zone 6 trees flower abound, with many of the most popular blooming trees hardy in that region's possible -5 degrees F. (-21 C.). Let's take a look at some of the prettiest and hardiest flowering trees for zone 6.

What Flowering Trees Grow in Zone 6?

Choosing a tree for the landscape is a big decision, not only due to the size of a tree but because its architectural dimensions will often define that area of the garden. For this reason, picking the correct hardy flowering trees will ensure year after year of gorgeous flowers and a unique microclimate provided by the tree. As you look at your options, also bear in mind the site lighting, drainage, exposure, average moisture, and other cultural factors. Zone 6 is an interesting zone because it can easily get well below zero in winter, but the summers may be hot, long, and dry. Precipitation varies depending on what part of North America your region is located in, and other considerations need to be looked at when choosing flowering trees for zone 6. Also, determine what size of tree you want. There are plenty of dwarf fruit trees that can add color to the landscape without the nearly unmanageable height of some species of zone 6 trees that flower. Another thing to contemplate before purchase might be fruiting. Many trees do not produce edible fruits but simply yard debris. Ask yourself how much annual clean-up you are willing to do to keep things tidy.

Small Hardy Flowering Trees

There are many species of blooming trees perfect for a zone 6 landscape. Keeping the profile of a tree low helps with the maintenance and fruit harvest and prevents shading large areas of the garden. Dwarf fruit trees, like cherry and Prairie Fire crabapple, introduce seasonal color both with their flowers, fruits, and fall leaf change. A dwarf red buckeye will only get 20 feet (6 m.) tall on average and bring its carmine red flowers to decorate the yard from spring well into summer. The dwarf serviceberry-apple hybrid ‘Autumn Brilliance’ bears edible fruit and delicate white blooms at only 25 feet (8 m.) in height. A classic smaller tree, the Chinese dogwood has chubby, red, ornamental fruits and snowy flower-like bracts, while its cousin the Pagoda dogwood has architectural appeal with graceful, tiered branches. Additional trees to try might include:

• Fringe tree
• Ruby red horse chestnut
• PeeGee hydrangea
• Japanese tree lilac
• Cockspur hawthorn
• Star magnolia
• Showy mountain ash
• Witch hazel

Larger Zone 6 Flowering Trees

For maximum appeal when in bloom, taller species will be the focal point of the garden during their flowering. The larger varieties in the Cornus, or dogwood family, have elegant leaves and bracts in white to blush pink with fruits like Christmas tree ornaments. Tulip trees can become a 100 foot tall (30.5 m.) monster but are worth every inch with blooms of orange and greenish yellow in a form just like their bulb namesake. European mountain ash is more moderate in size at 40 feet (12 m.) and the flowers are not very significant, but the cheery, bright orange to red clusters of fruit persist well into winter and make it a standout for many seasons. Not much can compete with the regal saucer magnolia. The blowsy, old-fashioned, pinkish purple flowers are huge. You may also want to think about adding:

• Eastern redbud
• Acoma crepe myrtle (and many other crepe myrtle varieties)
• Amur chokecherry
• Aristocrat flowering pear
• Chaste tree
• Golden rain tree
• Ivory silk lilac tree
• Mimosa
• Northern catalpa
• White fringe tree

A fruit tree can be an indispensable addition to the garden. Producing beautiful, sometimes fragrant, flowers and tasty fruit year after year, a fruit tree might wind up being the best planting decision you ever make. Finding the right tree for your climate can be a little tricky, however. Keep reading to learn more about what fruit trees grow in zone 6.

Fruit Trees for Zone 6 Gardens

Here are some good fruit trees for zone 6 landscapes:

Apples – Perhaps the most popular garden fruit tree, apples come in a wide range of varieties that perform well in different climates. Some of the best matches for zone 6 are:

• Honeycrisp
• Gala
• Red Halareds
• McIntosh

Pears – The best European pears for zone 6 are:

• Bosc
• Bartlett
• Conference
• Rescue

Asian Pears – Not the same as European pears, Asian pear fruit trees have a few varieties that do well in zone 6. Some of the best are:

• Kosui
• Atago
• Shinseiki
• Yoinashi
• Seuri

Plums – Plums are a great choice for zone 6 gardens. Good European varieties for zone 6 include Damson and Stanley. Good Japanese varieties are Santa Rosa and Premier.

Cherries – Most varieties of cherry trees will perform well in zone 6. Sweet cherries, which are best for eating fresh from the tree, include:

• Benton
• Stella
• Sweetheart
• Richmond

You can also reliably grow many sour cherries for pie making, such as Montgomery, North Star, and Danube.

Peaches – Some peach trees perform well in zone 6, especially:

• Candor
• Elberta
• Halehaven
• Madison
• Redhaven
• Reliance

Apricots – Chinese Sweet Pit, Moongold, and Sungold apricot trees are all varieties that handle zone 6 conditions well.

With milder winters and a longer growing season, many plants grow well in zone 6. If you are planning a flowerbed in zone 6, you're in luck, as there are hundreds of hardy flowering plants for zone 6. While a properly designed flowerbed may consist of ornamental trees and shrubs as well, the main focus of this article is annuals and perennials for zone 6 gardens.

Growing Zone 6 Flowers

Proper care for zone 6 flowering plants depends on the plant itself. Always read plant tags or ask a garden center worker about a plant's specific needs. Shade loving plants can be stunted or badly burned in too much sun. Likewise, sun loving plants may be stunted or not bloom in too much shade. Whether full sun, part shade, or shade, there are choices of annuals and perennials that can be interplanted for continually blooming flowerbeds. Annuals and perennials alike will benefit from a monthly feeding with a balanced fertilizer, like 10-10-10, once a month during the growing season. There are certainly too many flowering annuals and perennials for zone 6 to list them all in this article, but below you will find some of the most common zone 6 flowers.

Perennial Flowers for Zone 6

• Amsonia
• Astilbe
• Aster
• Balloon Flower
• Bee Balm
• Black-Eyed Susan
• Blanket Flower
• Bleeding Heart
• Candytuft
• Coreopsis
• Coneflower
• Coral Bells
• Creeping Phlox
• Daisy
• Daylily
• Delphinium
• Dianthus
• Foxglove
• Gaura
• Goat’s Beard
• Helleborus
• Hosta
• Ice Plant
• Lavender
• Lithodora
• Penstemon
• Salvia
• Phlox
• Violet
• Yarrow

Zone 6 Annuals

• Angelonia
• Bacopa
• Begonia
• Calibrachoa
• Cleome
• Cockscomb
• Cosmos
• Four O' Clocks
• Fuchsia
• Geranium
• Heliotrope
• Impatiens
• Lantana
• Lobelia
• Marigold
• Mexican Heather
• Moss Rose
• Nasturtium
• Nemesia
• New Guinea Impatiens
• Ornamental Pepper
• Pansy
• Petunia
• Snapdragons
• Strawflower
• Sunflower
• Sweet Alyssum
• Torenia
• Verbena

Hydrangeas are one of those ideal shrubs that offer gorgeous flowers with a touch of magic since you can change the color of bigleaf flowers. Fortunately for those in chilly climates, you can find cold hardy hydrangeas easily. In fact, there are many great options for hydrangeas by zone. Are you interested in growing hydrangeas in zone 6? Read on for tips on the best hydrangeas for this growing zone.

Zone 6 Cold Hardy Hydrangeas

When you live in zone 6, it sometimes seems as though all the best shrubs require milder climates. That is not true of cold hardy hydrangeas, though. With some 23 different types of hydrangeas, you are sure to find hydrangeas for zone 6.

The wildly popular, color-changing bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) is the most sensitive to the cold of all the varieties. However, it is still hardy in zone 6. Bigleaf produces huge snowballs of white, pink, or blue flowers in early summer. These are the “magic” cold hardy hydrangeas that change blossom color according to soil acidity.

However, bigleaf are known to flower sparsely in cold climates. That makes it important to think about good zone 6 hydrangea care. Take some steps to protect your bigleaf hydrangeas by planting them in a wind protected area. You should also mulch them well with organic compost come autumn.

If you are growing hydrangeas in zone 6 and you’d rather go with an even hardier hydrangea, take a look at panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata). Gardeners living in zones as cold as zone 4 can grow this beautiful shrub, sometimes referred to as tree hydrangea. Paniculata are not tiny plants. These cold hardy hydrangeas rise to 15 feet (5 m.) tall. Their flowers don’t change color, but you’ll love the huge, creamy white blooms. Or go for the popular ‘Limelight’ cultivar for unusual green flowers.

Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) is an American native shrub, and it thrives down to zone 5. That means that it is one of the great hydrangeas for zone 6. This hydrangea grows to 6 feet (2 m.) tall and wide. It offers flowers that start a soft green, then turn ivory as they mature, finally fading to a rose-purple in July. If you are looking for fall color or winter interest, consider this hydrangea. Its large, oak-like leaves turn an arresting shade of cinnamon before they fall, and the exfoliating bark is lovely.

Zone 6 Hydrangea Care

Even when you pick cold hardy hydrangeas with growing zones that include your own, it pays to baby these shrubs, at least for the first few years. If you provide optimal zone 6 hydrangea care, your chances of success increase. When you irrigate, be sure that the soil is evenly moist. The flower bed soil must drain well, since the plants cannot tolerate standing water.

Don’t prune unless absolutely necessary for the first few years. This includes deadheading. Another good tip for zone 6 hydrangea care is cold protection. Cover your new plants in spring and fall if the weather looks like frost. In addition, use a heavy layer of organic mulch over their roots until all danger of frost is past.

It’s a good idea to include native plants in your landscape. Why? Well, because native plants are already acclimated to conditions in your area and, therefore, require much less maintenance, plus they feed and shelter local wildlife, birds, and butterflies. 

Not every plant native to the United States is native to a particular zone. Take zone 6, for instance. What hardy native plants are suited for USDA zone 6? Read on to find out about zone 6 native plants.

Growing Hardy Native Plants for Zone 6

The selection of zone 6 native plants is quite diverse, with everything from bushes and trees to annuals and perennials. Incorporating a variety of these into your garden fosters the ecosystem and local wildlife and creates biodiversity in the landscape. 

Since these native plants have spent centuries adapting to local conditions, they require less water, fertilizer, spraying, or mulching than those that are not indigenous to the area. They have, over time, become accustomed to many diseases as well.

Native Plants in USDA Zone 6

This is a partial listing of plants suited for USDA zone 6. Your local extension office will also be able to assist you in choosing those that are suited for your landscape. Before you purchase plants, be sure to ascertain light exposure, soil type, the size of the mature plant, and the purpose of the plant for a selected site. The following lists are sectioned off into sun lovers, partial sun, and shade lovers. Sun worshippers include:

• Big Bluestem
• Black-eyed Susan
• Blue Flag Iris
• Blue Vervain
• Butterfly Weed
• Common Milkweed
• Compass Plant
• Great Blue Lobelia
• Indian Grass
• Ironweed
• Joe Pye Weed
• Coreopsis
• Lavender Hyssop
• New England Aster
• Obedient Plant
• Prairie Blazing Star
• Prairie Smoke
• Purple Coneflower
• Purple Prairie Clover
• Rattlesnake Master
• Rose Mallow
• Goldenrod

Native plants for USDA zone 6 that thrive in partial sun include:

• Bergamot
• Blue-eyed Grass
• Calico Aster
• Anemone
• Cardinal Flower
• Cinnamon Fern
• Columbine
• Goat’s Beard
• Solomon’s Seal
• Jack in the Pulpit
• Lavender Hyssop
• Marsh Marigold
• Spiderwort
• Prairie Dropseed
• Royal Fern
• Sweet Flag
• Virginia Bluebell
• Wild Geranium
• Turtlehead
• Woodland Sunflower

Shade dwellers native to USDA zone 6 include:

• Bellwort
• Christmas Fern
• Cinnamon Fern
• Columbine
• Meadow Rue
• Foamflower
• Goat’s Beard
• Jack in the Pulpit
• Trillium
• Marsh Marigold
• Mayapple
• Royal Fern
• Solomon’s Seal
• Turk’s Cap Lily
• Wild Geranium
• Wild Ginger

Looking for native trees? Look into:

• Black Walnut
• Bur Oak
• Butternut
• Common Hackberry
• Ironwood
• Northern Pin Oak
• Northern Red Oak
• Quaking Aspen
• River Birch
• Serviceberry

Expect an embarrassment of riches when it comes to picking trees for zone 6. Hundreds of trees thrive happily in your region, so you won’t have any problem finding zone 6 hardy trees. If you want to put trees in zone 6 landscapes, you’ll have your choice of evergreen or deciduous varieties. Here are a few tips for growing trees in zone 6.

Trees for Zone 6

If you live in plant hardiness zone 6, the coldest winter temperatures dip to between 0 degrees and -10 degrees Fahrenheit (-18 to -23 C.). This is chilly for some people, but a lot of trees love it. You’ll find plenty of options for growing trees in zone 6.

Take a look at your garden and figure out what type of trees would work best. Think height, light and soil requirements, and whether you prefer evergreen trees or deciduous trees. Evergreens offer year-round texture and screening. Deciduous trees provide autumn color. You may find room for both types of trees in zone 6 landscapes.

Evergreen Trees for Zone 6

Evergreen trees can create privacy screens or serve as stand-alone specimens. Zone 6 hardy trees that happen to be evergreen include the American arborvitae, a very popular choice for hedges. Arborvitaes are sought after for hedges because they grow fast and accept pruning.

But for taller hedges you can use Leyland cypress, and for lower hedges, check out boxwood (Buxus spp.). All thrive in zones that are chilly in winter.

For specimen trees, pick an Austrian pine (Pinus nigra). These trees grow to 60 feet (18 m.) tall and are drought resistant.

Another popular choice for trees for zone 6 is Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens) with its magnificent silvery needles. It grows to 70 feet (21 m.) high with a 20 foot (6 m.) spread.

Deciduous Trees in Zone 6 Landscapes

Dawn redwoods (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) are one of the few deciduous conifers, and they are zone 6 hardy trees. However, consider your site before you plant. Dawn redwoods can shoot up to 100 feet (30 m.) tall.

A more traditional choice for deciduous trees in this zone is the lovely little Japanese maple (Acer palmatum). It grows in full sun or partial shade and most varieties mature to under 25 feet (7.5 m.) tall. Their fiery fall color can be spectacular. Sugar maples and red maples are also great deciduous trees for zone 6.

Paper bark birch (Betula papyrifera) is a fast growing favorite in zone 6. It’s as lovely in autumn and winter as summer, with its golden autumn display and creamy peeling bark. The attractive catkins can hang onto the bare tree branches until spring.

Do you want flowering trees? Flowering zone 6 hardy trees include saucer magnolia (Magnolia x soulangeana). These lovely trees grow to 30 feet (9 m.) tall and 25 feet (7.5 m) wide, offering glorious blossoms.

Or go for red dogwood (Cornus florida var. rubra). Red dogwood earns its name with red shoots in spring, red flowers and red fall berries, beloved by wild birds.

Evergreen trees in the landscape provide effortless greenery, privacy, animal habitat, and shade. Choosing the right cold hardy evergreen trees for your garden space starts with determining the size of trees you want and evaluating your site.

Choosing Evergreen Trees for Zone 6

Most evergreen trees for zone 6 are native to North America and uniquely adapted to thrive in its average annual temperatures and weather conditions, while others are from locations that have similar climates. This means there are many wonderful evergreen plant specimens from which to choose for zone 6. One of the most important choices when developing a landscape is the selection of trees. 

This is because trees have permanency and anchor plants in the garden. Evergreen trees in zone 6 may be native to the region or simply hardy to temperatures that dip to -10 degrees F. (-23 C.), but they should also reflect your individual needs and aesthetics. Many wonderful trees exist that are suitable for this zone.

Small Zone 6 Evergreen Trees

When considering evergreens, we often think of towering redwoods or huge Douglas fir trees, but specimens don't have to be that large or unmanageable. Some of the more petite forms of zone 6 evergreen trees will mature at under 30 feet (9 m.) in height, still enough to provide dimension in the landscape but not so tall you need to be a lumberjack to perform basic pruning. One of the most unusual is the Umbrella pine. 

This Japanese native has radiant shiny green needles that spread out like the spokes in an umbrella. The dwarf blue spruce grows only 10 feet (3 m.) tall and is popular for its blue foliage. Silver Korean firs are perfect evergreen trees in zone 6. The undersides of the needles are silvery white and reflect beautifully in sunlight. Other lower profile trees to try in zone 6 include:

• Weeping Blue Atlas cedar
• Golden Korean fir
• Bristlecone pine
• Dwarf Alberta spruce
• Fraser fir
• White spruce

Zone 6 Evergreens for Impact and Wildlife

If you really want to have the look of a wild forest surrounding your home, a giant sequoia is one of the most impactful evergreen trees for zone 6. These massive trees can reach 200 feet (61 m.) in their native habitat but are more likely to grow 125 feet (38 m.) in cultivation. 

Canadian hemlock has feathery, graceful foliage and may achieve 80 feet (24 m.) in height. Hinoki cypress has an elegant form with layered branches and dense foliage. This evergreen will grow up to 80 feet (24 m.) but has a slow growth habit, allowing you to enjoy it up close for many years. More zone 6 evergreen trees with a statuesque appeal to try are:

• Contorted white pine
• Japanese white pine
• Eastern white pine
• Balsam fir
• Norway spruce

Zone 6 Evergreens for Hedges and Screens

Installing evergreens that grow together can form privacy hedges or screens that are easy to maintain and offer natural fencing options. Leyland cypress develops into an elegant barrier and achieves 60 feet (18 m.) with a 15 to 25 foot (5-8 m.) spread. Dwarf hollies will retain their foliage and have glossy, green leaves with intricate lobes. 

These can be sheared or left natural. Many varieties of juniper develop into attractive screens and perform well in zone 6. Arborvitae are one of the most common hedges with rapid growth and a number of cultivar selections, including a golden hybrid. Another fast-growing option is Japanese cryptomeria, a plant with soft, almost wispy, foliage and deeply emerald needles. 

Many more excellent zone 6 evergreen plants are available with the introduction of hardier cultivars of less tolerant common species.

Want to grow olives, but you reside in USDA zone 6? Can olive trees grow in zone 6? The following article contains information about cold hardy olive trees for zone 6.

Can Olive Trees Grow in Zone 6?

Olives need long warm summers of at least 80 degrees F. (27 C.), along with cool night temperatures of 35 to 50 degrees F. (2-10 C.) in order to set flower buds. This process is referred to as vernalization. While olive trees need to experience vernalization to set fruit, they freeze from extremely cold temperatures. Some resources claim that a few varieties of olive can withstand temps down to 5 degrees F. (-15 C.). The caveat here is that the tree MAY re-emerge from the root crown, or it may not. Even if it does return, it will take several years to become a producing tree again if it isn’t too severely damaged by the cold. Olive trees become cold damaged at 22 degrees F. (-5 C.), although temperatures of even 27 degrees F. (3 C.) can damage branch tips when accompanied by frost. That said, there are thousands of olive cultivars, and some are more cold-resistant than others. While variations in temperature occur within a USDA zone, certainly those in zone 6 are too cold for even the most cold hardy olive tree. Generally, olive trees are only suited to USDA zones 9 to 11, so sadly, there are no zone 6 olive tree cultivars. Now with all that in mind, I have also read claims of trees dying down to the ground with temps below 10 degrees F. (-12 C.) and then re-growing from the crown. The cold hardiness of olive trees is similar to that of citrus and improves over time as the tree ages and increases in size.

Growing Zone 6 Olives

While there are no zone 6 olive cultivars, if you still want to try growing olive trees in zone 6, the most cold hardy include:

• Arbequina
• Ascolana
• Mission
• Sevillano

There are a couple of other cultivars considered cold hardy olives but, unfortunately, they are used commercially and not obtainable to the average home gardener. Probably the best option for growing in this zone is to container grow the olive tree so it can be moved indoors and protected upon the onset of cold temperatures. A greenhouse sounds like an even better idea.

When you think about hibiscus, you probably think about tropical climates. It’s true-- many hibiscus varieties are native to the tropics and can only survive in high humidity and heat. There are also plenty of types of hardy hibiscus varieties that will easily survive a zone 6 winter and come back year after year. Keep reading to learn more about growing hibiscus in zone 6.

Perennial Hibiscus Plants

Growing hibiscus in zone 6 is very easy, as long as you choose a hardy variety. Hardy hibiscus plants are usually hardy down to zone 4. Their sizes vary depending on their species, but as a rule, they’re bigger than their tropical cousins, sometimes reaching heights of 15 feet (5 m.) and widths of 8 feet (2 m.).

Their flowers, too, are much larger than those of tropical varieties. The largest can reach a foot (31 cm.) in diameter. They tend to come in shades of white, pink, and red, though they can be found in other colors.

Zone 6 hibiscus plants like full sun and moist, rich soil. The plants are deciduous and should be pruned back in the fall. After the first frost, cut the plant back to a foot (31 cm.) high and pile a thick layer of mulch over it. Once there’s snow on the ground, heap it on top of the mulch.

If your plant isn’t showing signs of life in the spring, don’t give up hope. Hardy hibiscus is slow to come back in the spring and may not sprout new growth until the soil reaches 70 degrees F. (21 C.).

Hibiscus Varieties for Zone 6

Perennial hibiscus plants that thrive in zone 6 include a wide variety of species and cultivars. Here are a few especially popular ones:

Lord Baltimore – One of the earliest hardy hibiscus hybrids, this cross between several native North American hardy hibiscus plants produces striking, solid red flowers.

Lady Baltimore – Bred at the same time as Lord Baltimore, this hibiscus has purple to pink flowers with a bright red center.

Kopper King – Developed by the famous Fleming brothers, this plant has enormous pink flowers and copper colored leaves.

Zone 6 is a relatively chilly climate, with winter temperatures that can drop to 0 degrees F. (18 C.) and sometimes even below. Planting fall gardens in zone 6 seems like an impossible task, but there are a surprising number of vegetables suitable for zone 6 fall vegetable planting. Don’t believe us? Read on.

When to Plant Fall Vegetables in Zone 6

You probably won’t find many starter vegetables in your local garden center in autumn, when most gardeners have put their gardens to bed for the winter. However, many cool-season vegetable seeds can be planted directly in the garden. The goal is to get the seedlings planted outdoors in time to take advantage of the last days of summer warmth. The exception is veggies in the cabbage family, which should be started by seed indoors. Keep in mind that cabbage and its cousins, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, kohlrabi, and kale, tend to grow very slowly when temperatures turn cold. For direct planting seeds, when to plant fall vegetables in zone 6? As a general rule of thumb, determine the date of the first expected frost in your area. Although the date can vary, the first frost in zone 6 is generally around November 1st. If you aren’t sure, ask at your local garden center or call the Cooperative Extension office in your region. Once you have determined the likely frost date, look at the seed packet, which will tell you the number of days to maturity for that vegetable. Count back from the first expected frost date to determine the best time to plant that particular vegetable. Hint: Look for fast maturing vegetables.

Fall Planting Guide for Zone 6

Cool weather brings out the best flavor in many vegetables. Here are a few hardy vegetables that can tolerate frosty temperatures as low as 25 to 28 degrees F. (-2 to -4 C.). Although these vegetables can be planted directly in the garden, many gardeners prefer to start them indoors:

• Spinach
• Leeks
• Radishes
• Mustard greens
• Turnips
• Collard greens

Some vegetables, considered semi-hardy, can tolerate temperatures of 29 to 32 degrees F. (-2 to 0 C.). These should be planted a bit earlier than the hardy vegetables listed above. Also, be prepared to offer some protection during cold weather:

• Beets
• Lettuce
• Carrots (can be left in the garden all winter in most climates)
• Swiss chard
• Chinese cabbage
• Endive
• Rutabaga
• Irish potatoes
• Celery

USDA zone 6 is an excellent climate for growing vegetables. The growing season for hot weather plants is relatively long and is bookended by periods of cool weather that are ideal for cold weather crops. Keep reading to learn more about choosing the best vegetables for zone 6 and planting zone 6 vegetable gardens.

Vegetables for Zone 6

The average last frost date in zone 6 is May 1st, and the average first frost date is November 1st. These dates will probably vary somewhat for you depending upon where you live in the zone, but regardless, it makes for a pretty long growing season that will accommodate most hot weather plants. That being said, some annuals need more time, and growing vegetables in zone 6 sometimes requires starting seeds indoors ahead of time. Even vegetables that could technically reach maturity if started outdoors will produce much better and longer if given a head start. Many hot weather vegetables like tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, and melons will benefit greatly from being started indoors several weeks before the average last frost and then planted out when the temperature rises. When growing vegetables in zone 6, you can use the long periods of cool weather in spring and fall to your advantage. Some frost hardy vegetables, like kale and parsnips, actually taste much better if they’ve been exposed to a frost or two. Planting them in late summer will get you tasty vegetables long into the autumn. They can also be started in the spring several weeks before the last frost, getting you an early start on the growing season. Fast-growing, cool weather crops like radishes, spinach, and lettuce will likely be ready for harvest before you even get your warm weather transplants in the ground.

Tropical climates typically retain temperatures of at least 64 degrees F. (18 C.) year-round. Zone 6 temperatures may drop to between 0 and -10 degrees F. (-18 to -23 C.). Finding tropical plant specimens that can survive such cold temperatures can be a challenge. Luckily, there are many hardy, tropical-looking plants that will thrive in zone 6, and a few actual tropical denizens that will survive with some protection. Tropical plants in zone 6 aren't just a pipedream, but some careful selection and site considerations are important for success with these heat loving plants.

Growing Tropical Plants in Zone 6

Who doesn't love the look of a tropical island, with its echoes of softly whispering surf and verdant green forests? Bringing these notes into the zone 6 garden is not as impossible as it once was due to hardier cultivars and hardy, tropical-looking plants. Another way to utilize zone 6 tropical plants is by taking advantage of microclimates. These vary depending upon elevation, topography, sun and wind exposure, humidity, and proximate shelters. Tropical plants for zone 6 need to withstand temperatures that can dip below -10 degrees F. (-23 C.). Most warm region plants are not hardy when freezing comes into play and will simply die, but there are some plants that are hardy tropical looking plants with durable winter hardiness. There are a great many ferns and hosta that have the foliage and lush characteristics of tropical rainforest foliage combined with winter hardiness. Hardy hibiscus flowering shrubs are North American natives and have extreme cold tolerance along with tropical-looking flowers. Many ornamental grasses, especially the smaller ones, have tropical appeal but are native to the region. These offer foolproof success in the tropical look garden.

Tropical Plants for Zone 6

If you ever wanted to grow a banana tree in zone 6 but didn't think you could, think again. The hardy Japanese banana (Musa basjoo) can survive and thrive in USDA zones 5 to 11. It will even develop fruit, unlike some of the other hardy banana trees. More food options that bring a tropical flair to the zone 6 garden might be:

• Hardy kiwi
• Hardy fig
• Pawpaw
• Passionflower
• Eastern prickly pear

Canna and Agapanthus can add jewel tones to the northern tropical garden. If you are willing to install sensitive specimens in containers and move them in for winter, there are many more zone 6 tropical plants to try. Suggestions include:

• Caladiums
• Arums
• Ficus tree
• Mandevilla
• Bougainvillea
• Schefflera

The 20 foot (6 m.) tall Chinese needle palm is one of the most cold tolerant palms in existence. The needle palm is the hardiest palm in the world and reaches a useful 8 feet (2 m.) with huge, broad fronds. There are many forms of the big leaved Colocasia with winter hardiness to zone 6, especially if they are planted against a protective structure. Hardy eucalyptus, rice paper plant, and Yucca rostrata are all wonderful tropical options for a 6 climate. Don't forget the clumping or Mexican bamboos which are excellent in cold regions and provide tropical foliage. Some varieties of crepe myrtle thrive in zone 6. Many lovely flower tones are represented, and trees have a steamy 6 to 20 foot (2-6 m.) tall presence. When in doubt in zone 6, use large containers on casters and introduce plant specimens to the patio in spring. By fall, roll any sensitive plants indoors to overwinter and start the process all over again. That way your garden has tropical tones during the season in which you most use it, but you don't have to consider sensitive plants disposable.

An impressive plant with huge, heart-shaped leaves, elephant ear (Colocasia) is found in tropical and sub-tropical climates in countries around the world. Unfortunately for gardeners in USDA planting zone 6, elephant ears are typically grown only as annuals because Colocasia, with one notable exception, won’t tolerate temperatures below 15 degrees F. (-9 C.). Read on to learn about that one notable exception, and how to grow the plant in zone 6.

Colocasia Varieties for Zone 6

When it comes to planting elephant ears in zone 6, gardeners have only one choice, as most elephant ear varieties are only viable in the warm climates of zone 8b and above. However, Colocasia ‘Pink China’ may be hardy enough for chilly zone 6 winters. Luckily for gardeners who want to grow zone 6 elephant ears, ‘Pink China’ is a lovely plant that displays bright pink stems and attractive green leaves, each with a single pink dot in the center. Here are some tips on growing Colocasia ‘Pink China’ in your zone 6 garden:

• Plant ‘Pink China’ in indirect sunlight.
• Water the plant freely and keep the soil evenly moist, as Colocasia prefers moist soil and even grows in (or near) water.
• The plant benefits from consistent, moderate fertilization. Don’t overfeed, as too much fertilizer can scorch the leaves.
• Give ‘Pink China’ plenty of winter protection. After the first frost of the season, surround the base of the plant with a cage made of chicken wire, and then fill the cage with dry, shredded leaves.

Caring for Other Zone 6 Elephant Ears

Growing frost tender elephant ear plants as annuals is always an option for gardeners in zone 6 – not a bad idea since the plant develops very quickly. If you have a large pot, you can bring Colocasia inside and grow it as a houseplant until you move it back outdoors in spring. You can also store Colocasia tubers indoors. Dig the entire plant before temperatures drop to 40 degrees F. (4 C.). Move the plant to a dry, frost-free location and leave it until the roots are dry. At that time, cut the stems and brush excess soil from the tubers, then wrap each tuber separately in paper. Store the tubers in a dark, dry place where temperatures are consistently between 50 and 60 degrees F. (10-16 C.).

Zone 6, being a milder climate, gives gardeners the opportunity to grow a wide variety of plants. Many cold climate plants, as well as some warmer climate plants, will grow well here. This is also true for zone 6 bulb gardening. While winter in zone 6 is still too cold for tropical bulbs like calla lilies, dahlias, and canna lilies to remain in ground, zone 6 summers provide them with a longer growing season than gardens in the north. Cold hardy bulbs such as tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths appreciate the cool winters this zone provides. Read on for more information about growing bulbs in zone 6.

Zone 6 Bulb Gardening

Many types of hardy bulbs require a cold dormant period in winter. While winters are still cold enough in zone 6 to provide this dormancy period, gardeners in warmer climates may have to simulate this cold period for certain bulbs. Below is a list of some of the cold hardy bulbs that perform well in zone 6. These bulbs are usually planted in fall, require at least several weeks of a cold, and oftentimes naturalize in the garden:

• Allium
• Asiatic Lily
• Anemone
• Blackberry Lily
• Camassia
• Crocus
• Daffodil
• Foxtail Lily
• Glory of the Snow
• Hyacinth
• Iris
• Lily of the Valley
• Muscari
• Oriental Lily
• Scilla
• Snowdrops
• Spring Starflower
• Surprise Lily
• Tulip
• Winter Aconite

Some bulbs that cannot survive northern winters but grow well in zone 6 are listed below:

• Alstroemeria
• Chinese Ground Orchid
• Crocosmia
• Oxalis
• Saffron

Growing Bulbs in Zone 6 Gardens

When growing bulbs in zone 6, one of the most important necessities is a well-draining site. Bulbs are prone to rots and other fungal diseases in soggy soils. It's also important to think about companion and succession planting with bulbs. Many bulbs bloom for only a short time, oftentimes in spring, then they slowly die back to the ground, absorbing the nutrients from their dying foliage for bulb growth. Perennials or shrubs that fill in and bloom once your bulbs are finished can help hide the unsightly, wilting foliage of spring blooming bulbs.

When you remember a southern landscape filled with summer blooms, it’s likely you’re thinking of crepe myrtle, the classic flowering tree of the American South. If you want to start growing crepe myrtle trees in your home garden, it’s a bit of a challenge in zone 6. Will crepe myrtle grow in zone 6? Generally, the answer is no, but there are a few zone 6 crepe myrtle varieties that might do the trick. Read on for information on crepe myrtles for zone 6.

Hardy Crepe Myrtles

If you ask about hardiness zones for growing crepe myrtle trees, you’ll probably learn that these plants thrive in USDA plant hardiness zones 7 and above. They can even suffer cold damage in zone 7. What’s a zone 6 gardener to do? You’ll be happy to learn that some new, hardy crepe myrtles have been developed. So, will crepe myrtle grow in zone 6 now? The answer is: sometimes. All crepe myrtles are in the Lagerstroemia genus. Within that genus are several species. These include Lagerstroemia indica and its hybrids, the most popular species, as well as Lagerstroemia fauriei and its hybrids. While the former are not hardy crepe myrtles for zone 6, the latter can be. Various cultivars have been developed from the Lagerstroemia fauriei variety. Look for any of the following at your garden store:

• 'Pocomoke'
• 'Acoma'
• 'Caddo'
• 'Hopi'
• 'Tonto'
• 'Cherokee'
• 'Osage'
• 'Sioux'
• 'Tuskegee'
• 'Tuscarora'
• 'Biloxi'
• 'Kiowa'
• 'Miami'
• 'Natchez'

While these hardy crepe myrtles can survive in zone 6, it is a stretch to say that they thrive in regions this cold. These zone 6 crepe myrtle varieties are only root hardy in zone 6. That means that you can start growing crepe myrtle trees outdoors, but you’ll have to think of them as perennials. They will probably die back to the ground over the winter, then resprout in spring.

Options for Crepe Myrtles for Zone 6

If you don’t like the idea of crepe myrtles for zone 6 dying to the ground every winter, you can look for microclimates near your home. Plant the zone 6 crepe myrtle varieties in the warmest, most protected spots in your yard. If you find the trees a warm microclimate, they may not die back in winter. Another option is to start growing zone 6 crepe myrtle varieties in large containers. When the first freeze kills back the leaves, move the pots to a cool location that offers shelter. An unheated garage or shed works well. Only water them monthly during winter. Once spring comes, gradually expose your plants to outdoor weather. Once new growth appears, start up irrigation and feeding.

Growing magnolias in zone 6 climates may seem like an impossible feat, but not all magnolia trees are hothouse flowers. In fact, there are more than 200 species of magnolia, and of those, many beautiful hardy magnolia varieties tolerate the chilly winter temperatures of USDA hardiness zone 6. Read on to learn about a few of the many types of zone 6 magnolia trees.

How Hardy are Magnolia Trees?

Hardiness of magnolia trees varies widely depending on the species. For example, Champaca magnolia (Magnolia champaca) thrives in humid tropical and subtropical climates of USDA zone 10 and above. Southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) is a slightly tougher species that tolerates relatively mild climates of zone 7 through 9. Both are evergreen trees. Hardy zone 6 magnolia trees include Star magnolia (Magnolia stellata), which grows in USDA zone 4 through 8, and Sweetbay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana), which grows in zones 5 through 10. Cucumber tree (Magnolia acuminata) is an extremely tough tree that tolerates extreme cold winters of zone 3. The hardiness of Saucer magnolia (Magnolia x soulangiana) depends on the cultivar; some grow in zones 5 through 9, while others tolerate climates as far north as zone 4. Generally, hardy magnolia varieties are deciduous.

Best Zone 6 Magnolia Trees

Star magnolia varieties for zone 6 include:

• ‘Royal Star’
• ‘Waterlily’

Sweetbay varieties that will thrive in this zone are:

• ‘Jim Wilson Moonglow’
• ‘Australis’ (also known as Swamp magnolia)

Cucumber trees that are suitable include:

• Magnolia acuminata
• Magnolia macrophylla

Saucer magnolia varieties for zone 6 are:

• ‘Alexandrina’
• ‘Lennei’

As you can see, it is possible to grow a magnolia tree in a zone 6 climate. There are a number to choose from and their ease of care, along with other attributes specific to each, make these great additions to the landscape.

Ground covers serve a multitude of purposes. They conserve moisture, repel weeds, provide seamless transitional green spaces, reduce erosion, and more. Zone 6 ground covers must also be hardy to temperatures that may plummet below -10 degrees Fahrenheit (-23 C.). 

USDA ground cover plants in zone 6 are also often exposed to long, hot summer temperatures and must, therefore, be very adaptable to a wide range of weather conditions. Choosing hardy ground cover plants also depends upon the height, growth rate, foliage type, and other site characteristics desired.

Growing Hardy Ground Covers

Ground covers can be used as an alternative to a lawn as well as a mulching substitute. Persistent, evergreen ground covers can also hide a multitude of eyesores, and no one is the wiser. 

The options for hardy ground covers actually range from evergreen, perennial, flowering, fruiting, tall, short, fast- or slow-growing, and many more in between. This gives the zone 6 gardener many more choices than traditional ground covers, which may not survive in cold winters.

Foliage Ground Covers for Zone 6

Many plants that offer outstanding foliage options are useful as ground covers. There is much to be said for a constant green carpet across the landscape. Persistent greenery has the advantage of year-round beauty and ease of care. Some of the classics often used as ground cover include vinca, ivy, creeping juniper, or wintercreeper. Each of these is a tough, tenacious plant that will gradually cover an area with vibrant greenery.

Plants like variegated ground ivy, bronze dutch clover, and golden creeping speedwell offer unparalleled color and durability. Creeping Mahonia is a native plant that has bronze-edged leaves in fall and produces bright, yellow blooms. Many of the heath and heather species are hardy in zone 6 and have dense, feather foliage with tiny, bell-like pink to purple flowers.

Selaginella looks a bit like tiny hands and has a soft, almost mossy feel. Lilyturf adds drama to the landscape with strappy foliage that can also be found in silvery variegation. There are many ground covers from which to choose in zone 6. The problem is narrowing the choices down for your site and visionary needs.

The term "ground cover" is a little flexible, as this is traditionally used to mean low-growing plants that spread, but modern uses of the term have become more broad to include mounding plants and even those that can be grown vertically. Try any of the following as ground cover plants in zone 6:

• Bearberry
• Pachysandra
• Mondo Grass
• Cotoneaster

Flowering Zone 6 Ground Covers

Nothing says spring like a hillside covered in flowers. This is where hardy ground cover plants like blue star creeper or bugleweed come into play. Each will decorate any area quickly with flowers and charming foliage in shades of blue to deep purple.

Sweet woodruff runs along shady zones in the garden, with delicate, finely turned white blooms. Lamium, or deadnettle, spreads quickly and often has variegated foliage with sweet pink to lavender flowers.

Hardy herbs like red thyme, golden oregano, and creeping raspberry add culinary tones to the garden along with their bright blooms. Other flowering plants to try might be:

• Candytuft
• Creeping Phlox
• Sedum Stonecrop
• Ice Plant

About Zone 6 Shrubs

Zone 6 isn’t the coldest region in the country, but it’s not the warmest either. The Department of Agriculture’s hardiness zone system ranges from 1 to 12, based on the coldest winter temperatures. In zone 6, you can expect minimum temperatures of 0 to -10 degrees F. (-18 to -23 C.). While tropical bushes won’t survive the freezes your garden will experience, hardy shrubs for zone 6 are not rare. You’ll find both deciduous bushes and evergreens among the zone 6 shrubs available.

Types of Bushes for Zone 6

When you are growing shrubs in zone 6, you’ll have many options. That means you can afford to figure out in advance what types of bushes for zone 6 would work best in your backyard. Evaluate your garden and backyard sites you intend to plant. Figure out how tall you’d like your zone 6 shrubs, and whether you want to create a hedge or plant individual specimens. If flowering shrubs would make you happy, now is the time to consider those possibilities.

Hedges

If you are thinking of growing shrubs in zone 6 for a permanent privacy screen or windbreak, think evergreens. One evergreen classic for hedges is arborvitae (Thuja spp). It looks like a lush Christmas tree with its fan-like evergreen foliage, offering year-round privacy and wildlife shelter. Many species of arborvitae are available in commerce, with different mature heights and spreads. Nearly all thrive as zone 6 shrubs, so take your pick. If you want a defensive hedge, barberry (Berberis spp.), with its sharp thorns, works well. You’ll find many types of bushes for zone 6 among the barberry family. Most offer arching, fine-textured branches with purple or yellow foliage. The flowers give way to bright berries that birds love.

Flowering Ornamentals

If you want zone 6 shrubs to create a romantic garden, look no further than weigela (Weigela spp.) which thrives in zones 3 through 9. Its lush blossoms won’t disappoint. For blooms that appear earlier in the year, forsythia (Forsythia spp.) is a great choice for zone 6. Its brilliant yellow flowers are often the first blooms to appear in springtime. Other hardy shrubs for zone 6 include Sevenbark hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens), which offers big, snowball blossoms, and the rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus). This deciduous shrub blooms late but offers gorgeous trumpet flowers well into autumn.

Avid cooks and amateur naturopaths living in zone 6, rejoice! There are plenty of herb choices for zone 6 herb gardens. There are some hardy zone 6 herbs that can be grown outdoors, and other more tender herbs can be brought indoors when the weather begins to chill. In the following article, we’ll discuss what herbs grow in zone 6 and information about growing herbs in zone 6.

Growing Herbs in Zone 6

Many herbs, by nature, are naturally hardy, especially the perennial varieties that reliably return year after year. Others are far more tender and can’t really be attempted unless you’re living in zone 8 or above-- or you grow them indoors. If you love a certain herb that you want to cultivate but it isn’t suited to your zone 6 climate, you can grow the herb in a pot and then bring it indoors for the winter. Herbs like aloe vera do very well when grown inside like a houseplant, as does bay laurel, which can be grown as a patio plant and then brought indoors. You can also treat herbs like an annual and just replant them every year. Basil is an example of this. It can be grown as a perennial in zone 10 and above but for everyone else, treat it like an annual. You can also try protecting it from chilly winter temps. If you plan to leave a tender herb outside, plant it in a protected area such as a space between two buildings or between a building and a solid fence. Mulch it well in the fall and cross your fingers.

What Herbs Grow in Zone 6?

The following is a list of plants for zone 6 herb gardens.

• Angelica: Angelica is suited for growing in zones 4 through 9 and used in cooking, medicinally, and as a landscape plant. It has a sweet flavor and can grow up to 5 feet (1.5 m.) in height with rich soil and plenty of water.
• Catnip: Catnip (zones 3-9) is a member of the mint family that makes an excellent companion plant due to its strong aroma that repels pests. Cats love it too, and people use it as a soothing tea.
• Chamomile: Chamomile is suited to zones 5 through 8. This culinary and medicinal herb is used to make a popular tea with relaxing properties.
• Chives: Chives (zones 3-9) make a hardy zone 6 herb. This cold hardy perennial can be grown from seeds, divisions, or transplants. With a delicate onion flavor, chives should be divided every two to four years in the spring or fall.
• Comfrey: Comfrey is a medicinal herb known as knit bone and is suited to zones 3 through 8.
• Cilantro: Cilantro is a cold hardy annual that can be grown early in the spring and again late in the summer. Cilantro leaves are eaten in cooking for their bright flavor and the herb seeds are also used in various cuisines.
• Chervil: Chervil is a half-hardy annual that grows best in light shade. Chervil looks much like parsley but has a mild anise-like flavor.
• Dill: Dill can be direct sown in the garden four to five weeks before the last frost in the spring and is suited to zone 6.
• echinacea: Echinacea is often grown for its lovely, purple, daisy-like flowers in zones 3 through 10 but is also used as a medicinal herb to boost the immune system.
• Feverfew: Feverfew is a medicinal herb that has been used to treat migraine headaches and arthritis pain. The leaves are edible and can be added to salads, sandwiches, or made into tea.
• Lavender: Lavender varieties English and Grosso are suited to zone 6. Not so for their relations, the French and Spanish varieties, though, which thrive in zones 8 to 9. Lavender blossoms can be used in cooking, as aromatic potpourri, in crafts, wreaths, or as a scent in candles and soaps.
• Lemon Balm: Lemon balm (zones 5-9) has a light, lemony aroma that is often included in teas to promote relaxation but can also be used in cooking or herbal remedies.
• Marjoram: Marjoram is hardy to zones 4 to 8 and has been used to treat mild coughs and sore throats. It is commonly found in many Greek and Italian cuisines and is related to oregano.
• Mint: Mint is very easy to grow and comes in a multitude of varieties, not all of them suited for zone 6. With so many varieties, there’s bound to be a mint for your garden. Keep in mind that mint is a rabid spreader and can overtake areas of the garden, which can be a good thing or a bad thing.
• Oregano: Oregano thrives in zones 5 through 12 and is also popular in Greek and Italian cuisines.
• Parsley: Parsley is a biennial herb that is either curly-leaved or flat-leaved (Italian). Parsley leafs out in the first season and then comes back the second season to flower, seed, and die.
• Rosemary: Rosemary is commonly used for seasoning dishes, but this herb plant also makes an excellent ornamental specimen in the landscape.
• Rue: Rue is both a culinary and medicinal herb that is also used as a landscape plant. A small plant, rue has lacy, bitter flavored leaves that can be added to salads. Due to its intense aroma, many garden pests are deterred, so it also makes an excellent companion plant.
• Sage: Sage can be grown in zone 6. S. officinalis is most often used in cooking while S. sclarea has been used for centuries in eyewashes and, when added to potpourri, has a fixative property that makes the other scents last longer.
• St. John's Wort: St. John’s wort is a medicinal herb that can be grown in zones 4 through 9 and is an easy-to-grow natural antidepressant.
• Tarragon: Tarragon likes rich, well-draining soil and can be grown in zones 4 through 9. Its anise-like flavor has been used to treat indigestion and stress.
• Thyme: Thyme, a culinary and medicinal herb, can be grown in zones 4 through 9. French thyme is somewhat less hardy than its counterpart English thyme.
• Valerian: Valerian can be grown in zone 6 (zones 4-9) and its leaves have a sedative effect when used in tea.

Zone 6 dwellers have plenty of fruit tree options available to them, but probably the most commonly grown in the home garden is the apple tree. This is no doubt because apples are the hardiest fruit trees and there are many varieties of apple trees for zone 6 denizens. The following article discusses apple tree varieties that grow in zone 6 and specifics regarding planting apple trees in zone 6.

About Zone 6 Apple Trees

There are over 2,500 apple varieties grown in the United States, so there’s bound to be one for you. Choose apple varieties that you like to eat fresh or are better suited to certain uses such as those for canning, juicing, or baking. Apples that are best eaten fresh are often referred to as “dessert” apples. Assess the amount of space you have for an apple tree. Realize that while there are a few apple varieties that do not require cross pollination, most do. This means that you will need to have at least two separate varieties for pollination in order to produce fruit. Two trees of the same variety will not cross pollinate each other. This means you need to have some space or select a self-pollinating variety, or choose dwarf or semi-dwarf cultivars. Some varieties, such as Red Delicious, are available in multiple strains which are mutations of a variety that has been propagated for a specific characteristic like fruit size or early ripening. There are over 250 strains of Red Delicious, some of which are spur-type. Spur-type apple trees have small short twigs with fruit spurs and leaf buds closely spaced, which reduces the trees size-- another option for growers that are lacking in space. When purchasing zone 6 apple trees, get at least two different cultivars that bloom at the same time and plant them within 50 to 100 feet (15-31 m.) of each other. Crabapples are excellent pollinators for apple trees and if you already have one in your landscape or in a neighbor’s yard, you won’t need to plant two different cross pollinating apples. Apples need full sunlight for most or all of the day, particularly early morning sun which will dry the foliage thus reducing the risk of disease. Apple trees are unfussy regarding their soil, although they do prefer well-drained soil. Do not plant them in areas where standing water is a problem. The excess water in the soil doesn’t allow the roots access to oxygen and the result is stunted growth or even death of the tree.

Apple Trees for Zone 6

There are many options of apple tree varieties for zone 6. Remember, apple cultivars that are suited down to zone 3, of which there are several and will thrive in your zone 6. Some of the hardiest include:

• McIntosh
• Honeycrisp
• Honeygold
• Lodi
• Northern Spy
• Zestar

Slightly less hardy varieties, suited to zone 4 include:

• Cortland
• Empire
• Freedom
• Gold or Red Delicious
• Liberty
• Paula Red
• Red Rome
• Spartan

Additional apple cultivars suited to zones 5 and 6 include:

• Pristine
• Dayton
• Akane
• Shay
• Enterprise
• Melrose
• Jonagold
• Gravenstein
• William’s Pride
• Belmac
• Pink Lady
• Ashmead’s Kernel
• Wolf River

And the list goes on….with:

• Sansa
• Gingergold
• Earligold
• Sweet 16
• Goldrush
• Topaz
• Prima
• Crimson Crisp
• Acey Mac
• Autumn Crisp
• Idared
• Jonamac
• Rome Beauty
• Snow Sweet
• Winesap
• Fortune
• Suncrisp
• Arkansas Black
• Candycrisp
• Fuji
• Braeburn
• Granny Smith
• Cameo
• Snapp Stayman
• Mutsu (Crispin)

As you can see, there are many apple trees well suited to growing in USDA zone 6.

What nut trees grow in zone 6? If you’re hoping to grow nut trees in a climate where winter temperatures can drop as low as -10 degrees F. (-23 C.), you’re in luck. Many hardy nut trees actually prefer a chilly period during the winter months. While most nut trees are relatively slow to establish, many can continue to grace the landscape for centuries, some reaching majestic heights of 100 feet (30.5 m.). Read on for a few examples of hardy nut trees for zone 6.

Zone 6 Nut Trees

The following nut tree varieties are all hardy to zone 6 regions: Walnut

• Black Walnut (Juglans nigra), zones 4-9
• Carpathian Walnut, also known as English or Persian walnut, (Juglans regia), zones 5-9
• Butternut (Juglans cinerea), zones 3-7
• Heartnuts, also known as Japanese walnuts (Juglans sieboldiana), zones 4-9
• Buartnuts (Juglans cinerea x juglans spp.), zones 3-7

Pecan

• Apache (Carya illinoensis ‘Apache’), zones 5-9
• Kiowa (Carya illinoensis ‘Kiowa’), zones 6-9
• Wichita (Carya illinoensis ‘Wichita’), zones 5-9
• Pawnee (Carya illinoensis ‘Pawnee’), zones 6-9

Pine Nut

• Korean pine (Pinus koreaiensis), zones 4-7
• Italian stone pine (Pinus pinea), zones 4-7
• Swiss stone pine (Pinus cembra), zones 3-7
• Lacebark pine (Pinus bungeana), zones 4-8
• Siberian dwarf pine (Pinus pumila), zones 5-8

Hazelnut (also known as filberts)

• Common Hazelnut, also known as contorted or European hazelnut (Corylus avellana), zones 4-8
• American Hazelnut (Corylus americana), zones 4-9
• Beaked Hazelnut (Corylus cornuta), zones 4-8
• Red Majestic Contorted Filbert (Corylus avellana ‘Red Majestic’), zones 4-8
• Western Hazelnut (Corylus cornuta v. Californica), zones 4-8
• Contorted Filbert, also known as Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick, (Corylus avellana ‘Contorta’), zones 4-8

Hickory

• Shagbark Hickory (Catya ovata), zones 3-7
• Shellbark Hickory (Catya laciniosa), zones 4-8
• Kingnut Hickory (Catya laciniosa ‘Kingnut’), zones 4-7

Chestnut

• Japanese Chestnut (Castanea crenata), zones 4-8
• Chinese Chestnut (Castanea mollisima), zones 4-8

Gardens in USDA zone 6 usually experience winters that are hard, but not so hard that plants can’t survive with some protection. While winter gardening in zone 6 won’t yield lots of edible produce, it’s possible to harvest cold weather crops well into the winter and to keep many other crops alive until the spring thaw. Keep reading to learn more about how to grow winter vegetables, in particular how to treat winter vegetables for zone 6.

Winter Gardening in Zone 6

When should you be planting winter vegetables? Many cool weather crops can be planted in late summer and harvested well into the winter in zone 6. When planting winter vegetables in late summer, sow the seeds of semi-hardy plants ten weeks before the average first frost date and hardy plants eight weeks before. If you start these seeds indoors, you’ll protect your plants from both the hot summer sun and capitalize on space in your garden. Once the seedlings are about 6 inches (15 cm.) tall, transplant them outdoors. If you’re still experiencing hot summer days, hang a sheet over the plants’ south-facing side to protect them from the afternoon sun. It’s possible to protect cool weather crops from the cold when winter gardening in zone 6. A simple row cover works wonders at keeping plants warm. You can go a step further by constructing a hoop house out of PVC pipe and plastic sheeting. You can make a simple cold frame by building walls out of wood or straw bales and covering the top with glass or plastic. Sometimes, mulching heavily or wrapping plants in burlap is enough to keep them insulated against the cold. If you do build a structure that’s tight against the air, make sure to open it up on sunny days to keep the plants from roasting.

If you're like me, the charm of winter quickly wears off after Christmas. January, February, and March can feel endless as you patiently wait for signs of spring. In mild hardiness zones, winter blooming flowers can help cure the winter blues and let us know that spring isn’t too far away. Continue reading to learn more about winter blooming flowers in zone 6.

Winter Flowers for Zone 6 Climates

Zone 6 is a pretty medium climate in the United States and winter temperatures don’t usually go below 0 to -10 degrees F. (-18 to -23 C.). Zone 6 gardeners can enjoy a nice mix of cold climate loving plants, as well as some warmer climate loving plants.

In zone 6 you also have a longer growing season in which to enjoy your plants. While northern gardeners are pretty much stuck with only houseplants to enjoy in winter, zone 6 gardeners may get blooms on winter hardy flowers as early as February.

What are Some Hardy Flowers for Winter?

Below is a list of winter blooming flowers and their bloom times in zone 6 gardens:

Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis), blooms begin February-March

Reticulated Iris (Iris reticulata), blooms begin March

Crocus (Crocus sp.), blooms begin February-March

Hardy Cyclamen (Cyclamen mirabile), blooms begin February-March

Winter Aconite (Eranthus hyemalis), blooms begin February-March

Icelandic Poppy (Papaver nudicaule), blooms begin March

Pansy (Viola x wittrockiana), blooms begin February-March

Lentin Rose (Helleborus sp.), blooms begin February-March

Winter Honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima), blooms begin February

Winter Jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum), blooms begin March

Witch Hazel (Hamamelis sp.), blooms begin February-March

Forsythia (Forsythia sp.), blooms begin February-March

Wintersweet (Chimonanthus praecox), blooms begin February

Winterhazel (Corylopsis sp.), blooms begin February-March

Bamboo is a member of the grass family and a tropical, sub-tropical, or temperate perennial. Luckily, there are hardy bamboo plants that can be grown in areas where snow and severe winter ice occur annually. Even zone 6 residents can successfully grow an elegant and graceful bamboo stand without worrying their plants will succumb to cold temperatures. Many bamboo plants for zone 6 are even hardy into USDA zone 5, making them perfect specimens for northern regions. Learn which species are the most cold hardy so you can plan your zone 6 bamboo garden.

Growing Bamboo in Zone 6

Most bamboo grows in temperate to warm Asia, China, and Japan, but some forms occur in other regions of the world. The most cold tolerant groups are Phyllostachys and Fargesia. These can tolerate temperatures of -15 degrees F. (-26 C.). Zone 6 gardeners can expect temperatures to drop to -10 degrees F. (-23 C.), which means some bamboo species will thrive in the zone. Deciding which hardy bamboo plants to choose from these groups will depend upon what form you require. There are both running and clumping bamboo, each with its own pros and cons. Northern gardeners can harness the exotic, tropical feel of bamboo by choosing winter hardy varieties or providing a microclimate. Microclimates are found in many areas of the garden. Such areas may be in protected hollows of natural or created topography, against the protective walls of the home, or inside a fence or other structure that minimizes cold winds that can dry out plants and enhance the freezing temperatures. Growing bamboo in zone 6 that is less hardy may be done by containerizing plants and moving them indoors or to sheltered areas during the coldest periods of the winter. Choosing the hardiest bamboo plants will also ensure healthy plants that can thrive even when temperatures drop below freezing.

Zone 6 Bamboo Varieties

The Fargesia group are the desired clumping forms that are not as invasive as running types that colonize through vigorous, tough rhizomes. Phyllostachys are runners that can become invasive with no maintenance but can be kept in check by cutting back new shoots or planting inside a barrier. Both have the capacity to survive temperatures below 0 degrees F. (-18 C.), but leaf loss may occur and possibly even shoots will die back. As long as the crowns are protected by mulching or even covering during severe freezes, in most cases, even shoot death is recoverable and new growth will occur in spring. Selecting bamboo plants for zone 6 within these groups that are the most cold tolerant will increase the likelihood that plants will survive freezing winters. The cultivars 'Huangwenzhu,' 'Aureocaulis' and 'Inversa' of Phyllostachys vivax are hardy to -5 degrees F. (-21 C.). Phyllostachys nigra 'Henon' is also reliably hardy in zone 6. Other excellent cultivars to try in zone 6 are:

• Shibataea chinensis
• Shibataea kumasca
• Arundinaria gigantean

Clumping forms like Fargesia sp. 'Scabria' is specific for zone 6. Other options include:

• Indocalamus tessellatus
• Sasa veitchii or oshidensis
• Sasa morpha borealis

If you are concerned about cold pockets or want to use bamboo in exposed areas, choose plants hardy to zone 5 to be on the safe side. These include: Clumping

• Fargesia nitida
• Fargesia murielae
• Fargesia sp. Jiuzhaigou
• Fargesia Green Panda
• Fargesia denudata
• Fargesia dracocephala

Running

• Phyllostachys nuda
• Phyllostachys bissettii
• Phyllostachys Yellow Groove
• Phyllostachys Aureocaulis
• Phyllostachys Spetabilis
• Phyllostachys Incense Bamboo
• Phyllostachys Lama Temple

Probably most gardeners familiar with yucca consider them desert plants. However, with 40 to 50 different species from which to choose, these rosette-forming shrubs to small trees have remarkable cold tolerance in some of the species. That means growing yucca in zone 6 is not just a pipe dream but actually a reality. Of course, it is important to choose hardy yucca plants for any chance of success and a few tips can help ensure that no damage occurs to your beautiful specimens.

Growing Yucca in Zone 6

Most varieties of yucca commonly grown are hardy to USDA zones 5 to 10. These drought tolerant plants are often found in desert settings where temperatures get scorching during the day but may dip to freezing at night. Such conditions make yucca one of the more versatile plants, as they have adapted to these extremes. Adam's Needle is one of the more cold hardy species but there are several yuccas for zone 6 from which to choose. Many shoulder hardy plant specimens can be successfully grown in cooler regions. Site selection, mulching, and species are all part of the equation. Yucca plant varieties that may be deemed semi-hardy can still thrive in zone 6 with some protection. Using organic mulch over the root zone protects the crown while planting on a sheltered side of the house diminishes exposure to cold air. Choose the most suitable of the hardy yucca plants for the best chance of success and then decide the best location in your landscape. This may also mean taking advantage of any microclimates in your yard. Think about areas that tend to stay warmer, are protected from cold winds, and have some natural cover from snow.

Hardy Yucca Options

Yuccas for zone 6 must be able to withstand temperatures below 0 degrees F. (-17 C.). While Adam's Needle is a good option due to its attractive rosette form, low growth at 3 feet (1 m.), and USDA hardiness of 4 to 9, most of its many cultivars are not hardy to zone 6, so check plant tags to ensure the suitability in your landscape. Soapweed yucca is more tolerant of cold temperatures and is often utilized in USDA zone 6. This is a small zone 6 yucca, but you don't have to settle for little to grow a yucca in zone 6. Even the popularly known Joshua tree, Yucca brevifolia, can withstand brief exposure to below 9 temps (-12 C.) once established. These elegant trees can achieve 6 feet (2 m.) or more. Some other beautiful yucca plant varieties from which to choose in zone 6 are:

• Yucca baccata
• Yucca elata
• Yucca faxoniana
• Yucca rostrata
• Yucca thompsoniana

Wintering Yuccas for Zone 6

Yucca roots will survive frozen soil best if kept a bit on the dry side. Excess moisture that freezes and thaws over can turn the roots to mush and kill the plant. Some leaf loss or damage can be expected after a severe winter. Protect zone 6 yucca with a light covering, such as burlap or even a sheet, during extreme conditions. If damage does occur, the plant may still rise from the crown if that is undamaged. Prune in spring to remove damaged foliage. Cut back to healthy plant tissue. Use sterile cutting tools to prevent introducing rot. If there is a yucca species you want to grow that is not zone 6 hardy, try installing the plant in a container. Then simply move it indoors to a sheltered location to wait out the cold weather.

Invasive plants are a serious problem. They can spread easily and completely take over areas, forcing out more delicate, native plants. This not only threatens the plants, but it can also wreak havoc on the ecosystems built around them. In short, the problems with invasive plants can be very serious and shouldn’t be taken lightly. Keep reading to learn more about controlling invasive plants and, in particular, how to recognize and deal with invasive plants in zone 6.

Problems with Invasive Plants in Gardens

What are invasive plants and where do they come from? Invasive plants are almost always transplants from other parts of the world. In the plant’s native environment, it’s part of a balanced ecosystem where certain predators and competitors can keep it in check. When it’s moved to a totally different environment, however, those predators and competitors are suddenly nowhere to be found. If no new species are able to fight against it, and if it takes really well to its new climate, it will be allowed to run rampant. And that’s not good. Not all foreign plants are invasive, of course. If you plant an orchid from Japan, it’s not going to take over the neighborhood. It is, however, always good practice to check before planting (or better yet, before buying) to see if your new plant is considered an invasive species in your area.

Zone 6 Invasive Plant List

Some invasive plants are only problems in certain areas. There are some that terrorize warm climates that are not considered invasive plants in zone 6, where the fall frost kills them before they can take hold. Here is a short zone 6 invasive plant list, put out by the U.S. Department of Agriculture:

• Japanese knotweed
• Oriental bittersweet
• Japanese honeysuckle
• Autumn olive
• Amur honeysuckle
• Common buckthorn
• Multiflora rose
• Norway maple
• Tree of heaven

Check with your local extension office for a more comprehensive list of invasive plants in zone 6.

If you’ve done any reading about gardening, you’ve probably noticed USDA plant hardiness zones again and again. These zones are mapped across the U.S. and Canada and are meant to give you a sense of which plants will thrive in which area. USDA zones are based on the coldest temperature an area tends to reach in the winter, separated by increments of 10 degrees F. (-12 C.). 

If you do an image search, you’ll find countless examples of this map and should be able to find your own zone easily. That being said, this article focuses on gardening in USDA zone 6. Keep reading to learn more.

Growing Zone 6 Plants

Basically, the lower a zone number is, the colder that area’s weather is. Zone 6 usually experiences a yearly low of -10 F. (-23 C.). It stretches in something like an arc, more or less, across the middle of the U.S. 

In the northeast, it runs from parts of Massachusetts down into Delaware. It stretches south and west through Ohio, Kentucky, Kansas, and even parts of New Mexico and Arizona before turning northwest up through Utah and Nevada, ending in Washington state. 

If you live in zone 6, you may be scoffing at the idea of lows like this because you’re used to warmer or colder temperatures. It’s not at all foolproof, but it’s a very good guideline. Planting and growing zone 6 plants typically begins around mid-March (after the last frost) and continues through mid-November.

Best Plants for Zone 6

If you look at a seed packet or information tag on a plant, it ought to have a USDA zone mentioned somewhere - this is the coldest area that plant is likely to survive in.

 So can all zone 6 plants and flowers survive temperatures down to -10 F (-23 C.)? No. That number tends to apply to perennials that are meant to survive the winter. Plenty of zone 6 plants and flowers are annuals that are supposed to die with the frost, or perennials meant for a warmer zone that can be treated as annuals. 

Gardening in USDA zone 6 is very rewarding because so many plants do well there. While you may have to start some seeds indoors in March and April, you can transplant your seedlings outside in May or June and experience a long, productive growing season. 

The best plants for zone 6 that can be sown outside as early as March are cold weather crops like lettuce, radishes, and peas. Of course, many other vegetables perform well in zone 6 too, including common garden varieties of:

• Tomatoes
• Squash
• Peppers
• Potatoes
• Cucumbers

Perennial favorites that thrive in this zone include:

• Bee balm
• Coneflower
• Salvia
• Daisy
• Daylily
• Coral bells
• Hosta
• Hellebore

Common shrubs known to grow well in Zone 6 are:

• Hydrangea
• Rhododendron
• Rose
• Rose of Sharon
• Azalea
• Forsythia
• Butterfly bush

Note that these are just some of the plants that grow well in zone 6, as the variety and flexibility this zone offers makes the actual list quite long. Check with your local extension office for more information on specific plants in your area.