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  • Cascade Common Hops

    Humulus lupulus 'Cascade'

    Sold out
    $5250

  • Summerific® Lilac Crush Rose of Sharon

    Hibiscus x 'Lilac Crush' PP35,181

    Sold out
    (1)
    $5487

  • Garden Candy™ Pineapple Fizz™ Itoh Peony

    Paeonia x 'Smithopus4'

    Sold out
    (1)
    $13820

  • Sonic Bloom® Wine Weigela

    Weigela florida 'SMNWFG' PP35,120

    Sold out
    From $5585

  • Viva Polonia Clematis

    Clematis 'Viva Polonia'

    Sold out
    (1)
    $2899

  • Encore Azalea Autumn Embers®

    Rhododendron ’Conleb’

    Sold out
    (1)
    $5833

  • Flavorette Pear'd® Rose

    Rosa 'Flavorette Pear'd'

    Sold out
    (1)
    $2799
  • Shagbark Hickory Tree (Carya ovata), a tree featuring green flowers and deciduous.

    Shagbark Hickory Tree

    Carya ovata

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    (1)
    From $13213
  • FrostKiss Pippas Purple Hellebore - Lenten Rose with plum-purple speckled blooms

    FrostKiss™ Pippa's Purple® Lenten Rose

    Helleborus x 'RD09'

    Sold out
    $5311

  • Amazing Daisies® Daisy May® Shasta Daisy

    Leucanthemum x superbum 'Daisy Duke'

    Sold out
    (1)
    $3429

  • Heritage® River Birch

    Betula nigra 'Cully'

    Sold out
    (2)
    $8942

  • American Persimmon Tree

    Diospyros virginiana

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    From $5661

  • WorryFree® Love-A-Lot™ Pink Hydrangea Tree

    Hydrangea paniculata 'Love-A-Lot'

    Sold out
    (620)
    $14728
  • Serene Lilac Catmint (Nepeta 'Serene Lilac'), a perennial featuring clumping, spreading form.

    Serene Lilac Catmint

    Nepeta 'Serene Lilac'

    Sold out
    $2614

  • Bloombux® Blush Rhododendron

    Rhododendron 'Bloombux Blush'

    Sold out
    $9141

  • Ghost Fern

    Athyrium x 'Ghost'

    Sold out
    $3454

  • Encore® Autumn Twist® Azalea

    Rhododendron ’Conlep’

    Sold out
    (9)
    $5639

  • Elfin Creeping Thyme

    Thymus serpyllum 'Elfin'

    Sold out
    $2945
  • Concertina Tall Bearded Iris (Iris germanica 'Concertina'), a perennial featuring purple, pink flowers and perennial.

    Concertina Tall Bearded Iris

    Iris germanica 'Concertina'

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    $4102

  • Ann Magnolia Shrub

    Magnolia x 'Ann'

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    $10090
  • Frostkiss® Elemental® Lenten Rose (Helleborus x 'Elemental'), a shrub featuring pink flowers and broad-leaved evergreen.

    Frostkiss® Elemental® Lenten Rose

    Helleborus x 'Elemental'

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    $5311
  • Scarlet Heaven Itoh Peony (Paeonia x 'Scarlet Heaven'), a perennial featuring red flowers and perennial.

    Scarlet Heaven Itoh Peony

    Paeonia x 'Scarlet Heaven'

    Sold out
    $13154
  • Golden Weeping Willow (Salix alba 'Tristis'), a tree featuring erect, open form.

    Golden Weeping Willow

    Salix alba 'Tristis'

    Sold out
    (1)
    From $4079

  • Earlybird™ Yellow Columbine

    Aquilegia x Earlybird 'Yellow'

    Sold out
    (1)
    $3109

  • Ohio Spiderwort

    Tradescantia ohiensis

    Sold out
    $3485
  • Little Lanterns Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis 'Little Lanterns'), a perennial featuring red, yellow flowers and perennial.

    Little Lanterns Columbine

    Aquilegia canadensis 'Little Lanterns'

    Sold out
    $3043

  • Red Candy Lingonberry

    Vaccinium vitis-idaea 'Red Candy'

    Sold out
    (1)
    $8125

  • Cranberry Cotoneaster

    Cotoneaster apiculatus

    Sold out
    $8675

  • Mop Top® Fountain Butterfly Bush

    Buddleia alternifolia 'SMNBAB'

    Sold out
    (2)
    $2689

  • Samaritan Jo™ Clematis

    Clematis 'Evipo075'

    Sold out
    $6743

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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