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  • Green Spice Coral Bells

    Heuchera 'Green Spice'

    Sold out
    $3719

  • Garden Candy™ Simply Scrumptious™ Itoh Peony

    Paeonia x 'Simply Scrumptious'

    Sold out
    (2)
    $13820
  • Purple Gem Rhododendron (Rhododendron 'Purple Gem'), a shrub featuring rounded form.

    Purple Gem Rhododendron

    Rhododendron 'Purple Gem'

    Sold out
    (1)
    $3996
  • FrostKiss™ Moondance® Lenten Rose

    FrostKiss™ Moondance® Lenten Rose

    Helleborus x 'FrostKiss Moondance'

    Sold out
    $5311

  • Goat Willow (Pussy Willow)

    Salix caprea

    Sold out
    (2)
    $2731
  • Prairie Petite Lilac (Syringa vulgaris ‘Prairie Petite’), a shrub featuring purple flowers and deciduous.

    Prairie Petite Lilac

    Syringa vulgaris 'Prairie Petite'

    Sold out
    (62)
    $6449

  • Glitters & Glows® Arrowwood Viburnum

    Viburnum dentatum 'Glitters & Glows'

    Sold out
    $2649

  • Opening Act Blush Tall Garden Phlox

    Phlox hybrid

    Sold out
    $3427

  • Crete Rhododendron

    Rhododendron 'Crete'

    Sold out
    (1)
    $4199

  • High Contrast Lungwort

    Pulmonaria 'High Contrast'

    Sold out
    $3939

  • Alpine Currant Bush

    Ribes alpinum

    Sold out
    (10)
    $7259

  • Variegated Solomon's Seal

    Polygonatum odoratum 'Variegatum'

    Sold out
    (1)
    $4093

  • Bernice's Legacy Bearded Iris

    Iris germanica 'Bernice's Legacy'

    Sold out
    (2)
    $4091

  • Lady in Red Fern

    Athyrium felix-forma 'Lady in Red'

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    (2)
    $3435
  • French Pussy Willow Tree (Salix caprea), a shrub featuring white flowers and deciduous.

    French Pussy Willow Tree

    Salix caprea

    Sold out
    (2)
    $5625

  • Bottle Rocket Leopard Plant

    Ligularia x 'Bottle Rocket'

    Sold out
    $5978
  • Pocahontas Pink Bee Balm (Monarda didyma 'Pocahontas Pink'), a perennial featuring pink flowers and perennial.

    Pocahontas Pink Bee Balm

    Monarda didyma 'Pocahontas Pink'

    Sold out
    (11)
    $3494

  • Encore® Autumn Lily® Azalea

    Rhododendron 'Autumn Lily'

    Sold out
    (2)
    $4833

  • Pagoda Dogwood

    Cornus alternifolia

    Sold out
    (8)
    $11184
  • Wardii Yew Shrub (Taxus × media 'Wardii'), a shrub featuring yellow, white, green flowers and evergreen.

    Wardii Yew Shrub

    Taxus x media 'Wardii'

    Sold out
    (11)
    $9674

  • Virginia Creeper

    Parthenocissus quinquefolia var. engelmanii

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    (2)
    $5800
  • Serene Lilac Catmint (Nepeta 'Serene Lilac'), a perennial featuring clumping, spreading form.

    Serene Lilac Catmint

    Nepeta 'Serene Lilac'

    Sold out
    $2614

  • Little Lady™ Lilac

    Syringa x 'Little Lady'

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    $6845

  • Pleasant Peasant Tall Bearded Iris

    Iris germanica 'Pleasant Peasant'

    Sold out
    $4088

  • English Roseum Rhododendron

    Rhododendron

    Sold out
    (2)
    From $3996

  • Camelot Lavender Foxglove

    Digitalis purpurea 'Camelot Lavender'

    Sold out
    (2)
    $3115
  • FrostKiss Pippas Purple Hellebore - Lenten Rose with plum-purple speckled blooms

    FrostKiss™ Pippa's Purple® Lenten Rose

    Helleborus x 'FrostKiss Pippa's Purple'

    Sold out
    $5311

  • Dark Towers Penstemon

    Penstemon 'Dark Towers'

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    (2)
    $3462
  • Weeping Higan Flowering Cherry - Tree - Nature Hills Nursery - 1 Container -

    Weeping Higan Flowering Cherry

    Prunus subhirtella 'Pendula'

    Sold out
    $7209
  • FrostKiss™ Dorothy's Dawn® Lenten Rose (Helleborus x 'EPB 29'), a perennial featuring pink flowers and broad-leaved evergreen.

    FrostKiss™ Dorothy's Dawn® Lenten Rose

    Helleborus x 'FrostKiss Dorothy's Dawn'

    Sold out
    $5428

Zone 4 Plants, Trees & Shrubs

Zone 4 Plants: Cold Hardy Performers for Northern Gardens

USDA Hardiness Zone 4 spans a broad swath of northern America, from southern Minnesota and Wisconsin through much of New England, northern Iowa, and parts of the Mountain West. With average annual minimums between -30°F and -20°F, Zone 4 gardens experience serious winter cold but enjoy a generous growing season that supports an impressive range of plants.

This collection features every tree, shrub, perennial, and vine in our inventory rated for Zone 4 performance. Our horticulture team has verified each selection to ensure it does not just survive Zone 4 winters but actively thrives, delivering strong growth, reliable blooms, and lasting landscape value.

What Thrives in Zone 4?

Cold hardy magnolia trees are a Zone 4 gardener's secret weapon. Varieties like Ann Magnolia and Merrill Magnolia deliver breathtaking spring blooms even after harsh winters. Ornamental trees like Japanese Lilac, Redbud, and Flowering Crabapple add layers of seasonal color.

Cold hardy perennials form the backbone of Zone 4 gardens. Hydrangeas (especially Annabelle and paniculata types), Peonies, Lavender, Echinacea, and ornamental grasses like Karl Foerster all return reliably. For privacy and year-round structure, Arborvitae, Spruce, and Boxwood are proven performers.

Cold hardy fruit trees including apple, pear, plum, and cherry varieties produce excellent harvests in Zone 4. Blueberries, raspberries, and cold-tolerant grape vines round out the edible garden.

Zone 4 Gardening Tips

Plant in spring after frost danger passes (usually early to mid-May) or in early fall for root establishment before freeze. Mulch generously and consider windbreak plantings for exposed sites. Zone 4 offers enough growing season for two flushes of bloom from many perennials if you deadhead mid-season.

FAQ's for Buying Zone 4 Plants FAQs Online

What is USDA Hardiness Zone 4?
Zone 4 is defined by average annual minimum winter temperatures between -30°F and -20°F. It spans southern Minnesota, Wisconsin, much of New England, northern Iowa, and Mountain West valleys. Zone 4 gardens get cold winters but enjoy a productive growing season from May through October.

Can you grow magnolia trees in Zone 4?
Yes. Several cold hardy magnolia varieties thrive in Zone 4, including Ann Magnolia, Merrill Magnolia, and Star Magnolia. These deliver stunning spring blooms and have been bred specifically for northern climates with temperatures reaching -30°F.

What are the best perennials for Zone 4?
Top Zone 4 perennials include Hydrangeas (Annabelle, Limelight), Peonies, Echinacea (Coneflower), Daylilies, Hosta, Black-Eyed Susan, Russian Sage, and Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass. These provide reliable color from spring through fall with minimal maintenance.

When should I plant in Zone 4?
The ideal planting windows for Zone 4 are mid-May through June (after last frost) and September through early October (fall planting). Spring planting gives the full growing season for establishment, while fall planting lets roots develop before winter dormancy.

What fruit trees grow in Zone 4?
Zone 4 supports a wide variety of fruit trees including apple (Honeycrisp, McIntosh), pear (Bartlett, Luscious), plum (Mount Royal, Toka), and sour cherry (North Star, Montmorency). Hardy blueberry, raspberry, and grape varieties also produce well in Zone 4.
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