These hardy perennials will thrive in very cold growing zones — and pollinators enjoy them, too! From bee balm to salvia, these are perfect picks.
Top 10 Cold Hardy Perennials for Northern Gardeners
Published on Oct. 29, 2024
Giant Allium
Allium giganteum, Zones 5 to 8
A softball-sized cluster of star-shaped purple florets atop a thick, naked stem grows up to 6 inches in diameter and creates a stunning focal point in the garden. Plant allium bulbs in full sun and medium to well draining soil. The so-called giant onions have leaves and stalks that smell like the pungent veggie but aren’t edible.
Why we love it: Flowers on these hardy perennials bloom in late spring and can be cut or dried for floral arrangements.
Yarrow
Achillea millefolium, Zones 3 to 9
Once a medicinal plant, common yarrow evolved into a popular hardy perennial after it was brought to the United States from Europe. Flattened clusters of tiny flowers top stems covered in fernlike, aromatic foliage that retains its spicy scent in dried arrangements. This yarrow spreads, but you can snip spent blooms and remove new sprouts.
Why we love it: Butterflies, bees and other pollinators frequently visit yarrow.
Catmint
Nepeta, Zones 3 to 8
Petite lavender-blue blooms dot the entire length of the stem and last from May through September, to the delight of insect pollinators. Cutting flower spikes after the initial bloom promotes continuous flowering. Catmint may become weedy, but you can select clumping varieties that do not readily reseed.
Why we love it: Catmint is a fragrant, low-maintenance perennial that thrives in dry soils.
St. John’s Wort
Hypericum perforatum, Zones 3 to 8
Since ancient times, these hardy perennial plants have been used as an herbal medicine. Star-shaped yellow flowers with black dots on the edges of the petals appear in June and last through August. One plant can produce up to 100,000 seeds a year, and seeds can last up to 10 years in the soil!
Why we love it: Perennials can grow up to 3 feet tall and naturalize via runners or prolific self-seeding. St. John’s wort is also one of our favorite blooming bushes that attract butterflies.
Blanket Flower
Gaillardia x grandiflora, Zones 3 to 10
Crossing annual and perennial varieties of gaillardia led to these hardy perennials with a longer bloom period. Grow blanket flower in full sun and watch birds and butterflies enjoy rich red and orange blooms from May through September. Since it can be short-lived, skip deadheading and allow it to self-seed.
Why we love it: Goldfinches flock to the seeds in the spent flower heads in the fall.
Salvia
Salvia officinalis, Zones 4 to 8
Commonly known as sage, the culinary herb, salvia plants have a sprawling growth pattern and can grow up to 21/2 feet tall and just as wide. The aromatic gray-green leaves can be used fresh or dried.
Why we love it: Salvia produces long-lasting, showy whorls of lavender-blue flowers in late spring, making it valuable as an ornamental pollinator magnet. Salvia is a hummingbird favorite.
Backyard tip: You know your yard best, so be sure to select plants that are suited for the specific growing conditions of your yard. If you have your heart set on a perennial that does better in a warmer zone, consider trying to grow it as an annual instead.
Ruby Spider Daylily
Hemerocallis hybrid, Zones 3 to 9
Gardeners love this award-winning daylily for its large ruby red petals with vibrant yellow throats. Mature plants grow 34 inches tall and spread up to 24 inches; the massive petals are 9 inches long. In mass plantings, the early summer blooms create a striking floral display that attracts bees, hummingbirds and other pollinators.
Why we love it: Daylilies are well suited to harsh conditions from drought and poor soils to pollution.
Hosta
Hosta, Zones 3 to 9
Hostas are prized for their ability to add lush foliage to the landscape. The low-maintenance, shade-loving perennials are available in countless varieties with ornamental leaves ranging from blue-green to gold to variegated patterns and some can spread up to 70 inches wide. Their ability to thrive in low light makes them shade garden staples.
Backyard tip: Fall is the best time to divide perennials because plants have stored sufficient energy to recover from transplant stress. Transplant at least six weeks before the first frost. This gives plants enough time to get established before winter.
Black-eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta, Zones 3 to 10
The low-maintenance native wildflower thrives in wooded areas and prairies. Stems grow up to 3 feet tall in full sun. Bright-yellow to orange flowers with domed, dark brown centers bloom from June to September. Depending on your location and the cultivar, it may act as an annual, biennial or perennial.
Why we love it: Black-eyed Susan can easily be grown from seed and blooms the first year it’s planted.
Bee Balm
Mondarda spp., Zones 3 to 9
The leaves of these hardy perennials were once used as a balm for bee stings, giving the plant its moniker. Flowers in shades of red, white, pink, lavender and purple appear in summer and attract pollinators. Plant in full sun and deadhead to encourage reblooming.
Why we love it: Bee balm is a member of the mint family and produces fragrant (and edible) foliage.
More Cold Hardy Perennials
For more low-maintenance hardy perennials that do well in the cold, consider Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia), hardy ageratum, (Eupatorium coelestinum), and Mexican petunia (Ruellia simplex).
Sources
- Missouri Botanical Garden
- Walters Gardens
- Penn State Extension
- National Audubon Society – Why Native Plants Matter
