Shop With Confidence: FREE Growing & Glowing Promise

Free Shipping on Orders $199+
View as

  • Silver Mound

    Artemisia schmidtiana

    (3)
    From $1699

  • Rock 'N Round™ Pure Joy Sedum

    Sedum x 'Pure Joy'

    From $1699

  • Hetz Midget Arborvitae

    Thuja occidentalis 'Hetz Midget'

    (1)
    $9324

  • Pocahontas Lilac

    Syringa x hyacinthiflora 'Pocahontas'

    (1)
    $8173

  • Bloomerang® Showmound Lilac

    Syringa x pubescens 'Bloomerang Showmound'

    (1)
    $2614

  • Double Play Dolly® Spirea

    Spiraea x 'SMNSJSA' PP35,032

    From $2614
  • Scentara® Double Blue Lilac

    Scentara® Double Blue Lilac

    Syringa x hyacinthiflora 'SMNSHBBL'

    (2)
    From $9224

  • Baby Kim® Lilac

    Syringa x 'SMNSDTP'

    (4)
    From $2614

  • DAKOTA™ Verde Penstemon

    Penstemon digitalis 'TNPENDV'

    $3432
  • Rosy Returns Daylily (Hemerocallis 'Rosy Returns'), a perennial featuring red, pink flowers and perennial.

    Rosy Returns Daylily

    Hemerocallis 'Rosy Returns'

    (1)
    $3167

  • Snow Flurry Aster

    Symphyotrichum ericoicoides 'Snow Flurry'

    $3253

  • Happy Face® Yellow Potentilla

    Potentilla HAPPY FACE 'Lundy'

    (2)
    From $7043

  • Bleeding Hearts False Sunflower

    Heliopsis 'Bleeding Hearts'

    $3495
  • Summer Nights Sunflower Heliopsis (Heliopsis helianthoides 'Summer Nights'), a perennial featuring yellow flowers and perennial.

    Summer Nights Sunflower Heliopsis

    Heliopsis helianthoides 'Summer Nights'

    (1)
    $5562

  • Vivid Violet Pincushion Flower

    Scabiosa columbaria 'Vivid Violet'

    From $1699
  • Candy Stripe Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata 'Candy Stripe'), a perennial featuring pink, white flowers and perennial.

    Candy Stripe Creeping Phlox

    Phlox subulata 'Candy Stripe'

    $2847

  • Francee Hosta

    Hosta fourtunei 'Francee'

    (1)
    $2764

  • Threadleaf Coreopsis

    Coreopsis verticillata

    $3491

  • Northern Exposure™ Purple Coral Bells

    Heuchera x 'TNHEUNEP'

    $4386

  • Frosted Fire Sedum

    Sedum x 'Frosted Fire'

    (1)
    From $1699

  • Double Play Doozie® Spirea

    Spirea japonica DOUBLE PLAY Doozie 'NCSX2'

    (3)
    From $2614

  • Virginia Rose

    Rosa virginiana

    (1)
    $5923

  • Big Daddy Hosta

    Hosta 'Big Daddy'

    (3)
    From $3285

  • Stella de Oro Daylily

    Hemerocallis 'Stella de Oro'

    (1)
    From $2943

  • Flame® Pro Lilac Garden Phlox

    Phlox paniculata 'Barten'

    (1)
    From $1699

  • Stained Glass Hosta

    Hosta 'Stained Glass'

    (1)
    From $3223

  • Firefly™ Nightglow™ Bush Honeysuckle

    Diervilla x splendens 'El Madrigal'

    (3)
    $8308

  • Rainbow Fizz™ Spirea

    Spiraea japonica 'Matgold'

    (2)
    $5977

  • Jewel Raspberry Bush

    Rubus idaeus 'Jewel'

    (3)
    $3908

  • Happy Returns Daylily

    Hemerocallis 'Happy Returns'

    From $3117

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.
Back to top