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  • Rock 'N Round™ Bundle of Joy Sedum

    Sedum 'Bundle of Joy'

    Sold out
    $3363

  • Britt Marie Crawford Leopard Plant

    Ligularia dentata

    Sold out
    $4461

  • Oso Easy Ice Bay® Landscape Rose

    Rosa 'Oso Easy Ice Bay'

    Sold out
    $2649
  • Boulevard® Volunteer™ Clematis

    Boulevard® Volunteer™ Clematis

    Clematis 'Volunteer'

    Sold out
    (2)
    $6743

  • Wheee! Hosta

    Hosta 'Wheee!'

    Sold out
    (3)
    From $2999
  • Potted Blue and white columbine flowers on a wooden surface

    Winky Blue & White Columbine

    Aquilegia vulgaris 'Winky Blue-White'

    Sold out
    $3040
  • Double Winky Blue & White Columbine

    Double Winky Dark Blue & White Columbine

    Aquilegia 'Winky Double Dark Blue-White'

    Sold out
    $2989

  • Invitation Tall Bearded Iris

    Iris germanica 'Invitation'

    Sold out
    $4096

  • Dashing Tall Bearded Iris

    Iris germanica 'Dashing'

    Sold out
    $4103
  • Winky Rose and Rose Columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris 'Winky Rose and Rose'), a perennial featuring pink flowers and perennial.

    Winky Rose and Rose Columbine

    Aquilegia vulgaris 'Winky Rose and Rose'

    Sold out
    $2958
  • Flaming Carpet™ Merlot Sedum (Sedum 'Flaming Carpet Merlot') plant, crop photo - Jun 11, 2025

    Flaming Carpet™ Merlot Sedum

    Sedum 'Flaming Carpet Merlot'

    Sold out
    $3263
  • Boulevard® Chevalier™ Clematis

    Boulevard® Chevalier™ Clematis

    Clematis 'Boulevard Chevalier'

    Sold out
    $5211

  • Blue Angel Hosta

    Hosta 'Blue Angel'

    Sold out
    (1)
    $3460
  • Gray - Headed Coneflower (Ratibida pinnata), a perennial featuring yellow flowers and perennial.

    Gray - Headed Coneflower

    Ratibida pinnata

    Sold out
    $4633

  • Blatant Tall Bearded Iris

    Iris germanica 'Blatant'

    Sold out
    $4088
  • Custard Candy Daylily (Hemerocallis 'Custard Candy'), a perennial featuring purple, red, white flowers and perennial.

    Custard Candy Daylily

    Hemerocallis 'Custard Candy'

    Sold out
    $4118

  • Garden Candy™ Summer Sunset Itoh Peony

    Paeonia x 'Garden Candy Summer Sunset'

    Sold out
    From $12499

  • Darcy™ Clematis

    Clematis 'Darcy'

    Sold out
    $5211

  • Rock 'N Low™ Boogie Woogie Sedum

    Sedum x 'Boogie Woogie'

    Sold out
    $3466
  • After Eight Dwarf Oriental Lily (Lilium orientalis 'After Eight'), a perennial featuring red, pink, white flowers and perennial.

    After Eight Dwarf Oriental Lily

    Lilium orientalis 'After Eight'

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    $3160
  • Delgenius™ Shelby Delphinium (Delphinium 'Delgenius Shelby'), a perennial featuring blue, purple flowers and perennial.

    Delgenius™ Shelby Delphinium

    Delphinium 'Delgenius Shelby'

    Sold out
    $3890

  • Delgenius™ Breezin Delphinium

    Delphinium 'Delgenius Breezin'

    Sold out
    $3900

  • Tiny Diamond Dwarf Asiatic Lily

    Lilium x germanicum 'Tiny Diamond'

    Sold out
    $2968

  • Raspberry Eclipse Daylily

    Hemerocallis 'Raspberry Eclipse'

    Sold out
    $4079
  • Delgenious™ Glitzy Delphinium Bloom

    Delgenious™ Glitzy Delphinium

    Delphinium 'Delgenius Glitzy'

    Sold out
    $3901

  • Foxglove Beardtongue

    Penstemon digitalis

    Sold out
    $3956

  • Lily Looks™ Tiny Ghost Asiatic Lily

    Lilium asiatic 'Tiny Ghost'

    Sold out
    $2961

  • Regent Saskatoon Serviceberry

    Amelanchier alnifolia 'Regent'

    Sold out
    (12)
    $7499

  • Tortuga® Juniper

    Juniperus communis 'Tortuga'

    Sold out
    $2659

  • Summer Snow Asiatic Lily

    Lilium asiaticum 'Summer Snow'

    Sold out
    $2979

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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