Free Shipping on Orders $199+

Growing Zone: | Garden in
Find your Growing Zone!
View as

  • Bloomerang® Dark Purple Lilac

    Syringa x 'Bloomerang® Dark Purple'

    Up to 30% off
    (19)
    Regular price From $4700
  • Pocahontas Lilac

    Syringa x hyacinthiflora 'Pocahontas'

    30% off
    Sale price $5719 Regular price $8173
  • Bernice's Legacy Bearded Iris

    Iris germanica 'Bernice's Legacy'

    30% off
    Sale price $2859 Regular price $4091
  • Custard Candy Daylily

    Hemerocallis 'Custard Candy'

    Regular price $4118
  • Vulcan Hosta

    Hosta 'Vulcan'

    Regular price $2917
  • Blazing Star

    Liatris spicata

    Regular price $3489
  • Purple Glory Lilac

    Syringa x hyacinthiflora 'Purple Glory'

    Regular price $8160
  • Cat's Pajamas Catmint

    Nepeta x 'Cat's Pajamas'

    Preorder
    Regular price From $1699
  • Happy Face® Pink Paradise Potentilla

    Potentilla fruticosa HAPPY FACE 'Kupinpa'

    Regular price $2614
  • Goldsturm Black - Eyed Susan

    Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii 'Goldsturm'

    Regular price From $1699
  • Princeton Sentry Ginkgo

    Ginkgo biloba 'Princeton Sentry'

    Regular price From $10000
  • Blackhawks Big Bluestem

    Andropogon gerardii 'Blackhawks'

    Regular price From $3730
  • Jewel Raspberry Bush

    Rubus idaeus 'Jewel'

    (1)
    Regular price $3908
  • Tater Tot™ Arborvitae

    Thuja occidentalis 'SMNTOBAB' USPP30,761, Can PBRAF

    Regular price From $2614
  • May Night Salvia

    Salvia x sylvestris 'Mainacht'

    Regular price From $1699
  • Vanilla Strawberry™ Panicle Hydrangea

    Hydrangea paniculata 'Renhy'

    Preorder
    (514)
    Regular price From $2781
  • Summer Wine® Black Ninebark

    Physocarpus opulifolius 'SMNPMS'

    Regular price From $2629
  • Robusta Boston Ivy

    Parthenocissus tricuspidata 'Robusta'

    Regular price From $1699
  • Viking Black Chokeberry

    Aronia melanocarpa 'Viking'

    (1)
    Regular price $5960
  • Renaissance Spirea

    Spiraea vanhouttei 'Renaissance'

    Regular price From $4312
  • Whirlwind Hosta

    Hosta 'Whirlwind'

    Regular price $3665
  • Celtic Pride® Siberian Cypress

    Microbiota decussata 'Prides'

    (1)
    Regular price From $2614
  • Invincibelle Mini Mauvette® Hydrangea

    Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA7'

    Preorder
    (514)
    Regular price From $2648
  • Sugar Maple Tree

    Acer saccharum

    (1)
    Regular price $9790
  • PowWow® Wild Berry Coneflower

    Echinacea purpurea 'Pas702917'

    Regular price $1699
  • Magnus Purple Coneflower

    Echinacea purpurea 'Magnus'

    Regular price From $1699
  • Scarlet Flame Creeping Phlox

    Phlox subulata 'Scarlet Flame'

    Regular price $2847
  • Whitespire Birch Tree

    Betula populifolia 'Whitespire'

    (3)
    Regular price $11760
  • Scentara® Double Blue Lilac

    Syringa x hyacinthiflora 'SMNSHBBL'

    Regular price From $2614
  • Miss Kim Lilac

    Syringa pubescens subsp. patula 'Miss Kim'

    Regular price From $3680

Zone 3 Plants, Trees & Shrubs

Zone 3 Plants: Built to Survive the Coldest Winters

USDA Hardiness Zone 3 covers some of the coldest inhabited regions in the continental United States, with average annual minimum temperatures plunging to -40°F. From northern Minnesota and Montana to the high-elevation valleys of Wyoming and the Dakotas, gardening in Zone 3 demands plants with exceptional cold hardiness and deep root resilience.

Every plant in this collection has been hand-selected by our horticulture team for proven Zone 3 performance. These are not borderline survivors. They are vigorous growers that establish strong root systems even in short growing seasons and emerge each spring ready to deliver the color, shade, and beauty your landscape deserves.

What Thrives in Zone 3?

Cold hardy trees like Paper Birch, Colorado Blue Spruce, and Quaking Aspen anchor Zone 3 landscapes with year-round structure. For spring color, cold hardy magnolia varieties and ornamental crabapples deliver stunning blooms despite harsh winters. Cold hardy perennials including Daylilies, Hosta, Echinacea, and Black-Eyed Susans return reliably year after year, while native ornamental grasses add movement and texture through fall.

Cold hardy fruit trees are a Zone 3 highlight. Hardy apple varieties, cold-tolerant cherry and plum trees, and bush fruits like blueberries and currants all produce abundant harvests. Evergreen shrubs like Arborvitae, Juniper, and Boxwood provide critical winter structure and privacy screening.

Zone 3 Gardening Tips

The key to success in Zone 3 is timing. Plant in early spring after soil thaws or in early fall to give roots time to establish before freeze-up. Apply a thick layer of mulch (3-4 inches) to insulate root zones through winter. Choose sheltered planting sites when possible, and consider windbreaks for exposed properties.

FAQ's for Buying Zone 3 Plants FAQs Online

What is USDA Hardiness Zone 3?

Zone 3 is defined by average annual minimum winter temperatures between -40°F and -30°F. It covers northern states like Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, and high-elevation areas. Plants rated for Zone 3 are among the most cold-hardy varieties available.

When is the best time to plant in Zone 3?

The best planting windows in Zone 3 are late spring (after the last frost, typically mid-May to early June) and early fall (September). Fall planting gives roots time to establish before winter, while spring planting takes advantage of the full growing season.

What are the easiest plants to grow in Zone 3?

Some of the most reliable, low-maintenance plants for Zone 3 include Daylilies, Hosta, Black-Eyed Susan, Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass, Arborvitae, Colorado Blue Spruce, and Hardy Hydrangeas. These establish quickly and tolerate Zone 3 winters with minimal protection.

Can you grow fruit trees in Zone 3?

Yes. Many apple varieties (Honeycrisp, Zestar, Haralson), hardy plum trees, sour cherry trees, and cold-tolerant pear varieties thrive in Zone 3. Bush fruits like blueberries, currants, and honeyberries are also excellent choices for cold-climate fruit production.

What trees grow best in Zone 3?

Top-performing Zone 3 trees include Paper Birch, Quaking Aspen, Colorado Blue Spruce, White Spruce, Northern Red Oak, Sugar Maple, Amur Maple, and cold-hardy flowering crabapples. These species handle extreme cold and relatively short growing seasons.

Find Your Garden's Growing Zone!

Your Current Growing Zone:

Zone

ZIP Code:

✓ Growing Zone Set Successfully!

Your zone has been saved and will be used throughout the site.

⚠ Unable to locate a growing zone for that ZIP code.

Please check your ZIP code and try again.

Looking up your growing zone...

When ordering a tree or plant, make sure to know your planting zone.

You can determine your garden's USDA hardiness zone by entering your Zip Code below.