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  • Incrediball® Blush Hydrangea

    Hydrangea arborescens INCREDIBALL 'NCHA4'

    Sold out
    (644)
    $2799

  • Chocolate Chip Ajuga

    Ajuga reptans 'Valfredda'

    Sold out
    (2)
    From $1999

  • Bleeding Hearts False Sunflower

    Heliopsis 'Bleeding Hearts'

    Sold out
    (1)
    $3495
  • Blue Chip Juniper Bush (Juniperus horizontalis 'Blue Chip'), a shrub featuring white flowers and evergreen.

    Blue Chip Juniper Bush

    Juniperus horizontalis 'Blue Chip'

    Sold out
    (1)
    $3360

  • Berry Timeless Coral Bells

    Heuchera x 'Berry Timeless'

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    (3)
    From $1999

  • Chocolate Mint

    Mentha 'Chocolate Mint'

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    (2)
    $1999

  • Mr. Poppins® Winterberry Holly

    Ilex verticillata 'Farrowmrp'

    Sold out
    (2)
    $2659

  • Garden Candy™ Evie Jane Itoh Peony

    Paeonia × Itoh ‘Smithopus7’

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    $13823

  • Powerball® Panicle Hydrangea

    Hydrangea paniculata 'Powerball'

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    (644)
    $2649

  • Proud Berry® Coralberry

    Symphoricarpos sp. 'Sophie' PP21226

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    $2649

  • Sarah Bernhardt Peony

    Paeonia lactiflora 'Sarah Bernhardt'

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    (2)
    $7456

  • Snowflake Creeping Phlox

    Phlox subulata 'Snowflake'

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    (1)
    $3190

  • Prairie Blues Little Bluestem Grass

    Schizachyrium scoparium 'Prairie Blues'

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    $5884

  • Frosted Fire Sedum

    Sedum x 'Frosted Fire'

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    (1)
    From $1999

  • Paprika Coral Bells

    Heuchera 'Paprika' PP24,575

    Sold out
    (1)
    $4056

  • Baby Kim® Lilac

    Syringa x 'SMNSDTP'

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    (5)
    From $2649

  • Red Lightning Coral Bells

    Heuchera 'Red Lightning' PP27,767

    Sold out
    (1)
    $4385
  • Twinkle Toes Lungwort (Pulmonaria x 'Twinkle Toes'), a perennial featuring blue, purple, pink flowers and perennial.

    Twinkle Toes Lungwort

    Pulmonaria x 'Twinkle Toes'

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    (4)
    From $1999

  • Blazing Star Kobold Gayfeather

    Liatris spicata 'Kobold'

    Sold out
    (4)
    $3650

  • Bloomerang® Showmound Lilac

    Syringa x pubescens 'Bloomerang Showmound'

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    (1)
    $2649

  • Luxuriant Bleeding Heart

    Dicentra 'Luxuriant'

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    (2)
    $3651

  • Chameleon Little Bluestem

    Schizachyrium scoparium 'Chameleon'

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    $4358

  • Garden Candy™ All That Jazz™ Itoh Peony

    Paeonia × Itoh ‘All That Jazz’

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    (2)
    $13828

  • Jonathan Apple Tree

    Malus 'Jonathan'

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    (4)
    $10260

  • Gay Butterflies Butterfly Weed

    Asclepias tuberosa 'Gay Butterflies'

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    (10)
    $4999

  • Steel the Show Sedum

    Sedum 'Steel the Show'

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    (2)
    $3008

  • Dre's Dagger Fern

    Athyrium filix-femina 'Dre's Dagger'

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    (2)
    $3439

  • Shirley Temple Peony

    Paeonia lactiflora 'Shirley Temple'

    Sold out
    (3)
    $8299

  • Jolly Good™ Clematis

    Clematis 'Zojogo'

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    (4)
    $2799
  • Guernsey Cream Clematis (Clematis 'Guernsey Cream'), a perennial featuring white, green flowers and deciduous.

    Guernsey Cream Clematis

    Clematis 'Guernsey Cream'

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    (2)
    $6499

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.
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