Where Is Zone 5 For Gardening

Planting In Zone 5: Gardening Tips For Zone 5

By: Darcy Larum, Landscape Designer

zone 5 garden

Hardiness zones are the USDA's general guidelines of the temperatures a plant can survive. Zone 5 plants can survive winter temperatures no lower than -20 degrees F. (-28 C.). If a plant is hardy in zones 5 through 8, it can be grown in zones 5, 6, 7, and 8. It would probably not survive the cold winter temperatures in zone 4 or lower. It also could probably not survive the hot, dry summers and inadequate time for dormancy in zone 9 or higher. Continue reading to learn about the best plants zone 5 gardens.

About Zone 5 Gardens

The average date of the last frost in zone 5 is around April 15. Most zone 5 gardeners tend to hold off until early to mid-may before planting vegetable gardens and annual beds. Most annuals and vegetables do very well in zone 5, as long as they are not hit by a late frost while they are young. Many tough zone 5 or above perennials can withstand a late frost, or will still be dormant in early spring.

Best Plants for Zone 5

A large variety of perennials grow wonderfully in zone 5 gardens.

Creeping phlox, dianthus, creeping thyme, stonecrop, and violets are excellent ground covers for sunny zone 5 gardens. For all season long color, interplant zone 5 hardy perennials like:

Echinacea
Bee balm
Phlox
Daylily
Delphinium
Rudbeckia
Filipendula
Sedum
Lilies
Lavender
Gaillardia
Poppy
Salvia
Penstemon
Russian sage
Hollyhock
Peony
Butterfly weed

For a shady zone 5 garden try ajuga, lamium, lungwort, vinca/periwinkle, or mukdenia as a groundcover or border. Interplantings here could include:

Hosta
Coral bells
Ligularia
Ferns
Bleeding heart
Jacob's ladder
Hellebore
Foxglove
Monkshood
Spiderwort
Astilbe
Balloon flower

A zone 5 gardener has many excellent perennials to choose from; too many to list them all. While I've already mentioned many zone 5 perennial options, I've also comprised lists of my top 5 picks of trees and shrubs for zone 5 gardens.

Deciduous Shade Trees

October Glory or Autumn Blaze Maple, zones 3-8
Pin Oak, zones 4-8
Skyline Honey locust, zones 3-9
Cleveland Select pear, zones 5-8
Ginkgo, zones 3-9

Deciduous Ornamental Trees

Royal Rain Drops Crabapple, zones 4-8
Ivory Silk Japanese Lilac tree, zones 3-7
Redbud, zones 4-9
Saucer Magnolia, zones 4-9
Newport Plum, zones 4-10

Evergreen Trees

Arborvitae, zones 3-8
Colorado Blue Spruce, zones 2-7, or Black Hills, zones 3-7
Douglas or Concolor Fir, zones 4-8
Hemlock, zones 3-7
White Pine, zones 3-7

Deciduous Shrubs

Dappled Willow, zones 5-9
Red-twig Dogwood, zones 2-9
Forsythia, zones 4-8
Easy Elegance or Knockout Rose, zones 4-8
Weigela, zones 4-9

Evergreen Shrubs

Boxwood, zones 4-9
Juniper, zones 3-9
Mr. Bowling Ball Arborvitae, zones 3-8
Yew, zones 4-7
Golden Mops, zone 5-7

These are not all inclusive lists. Zone 5 gardeners will find many beautiful trees, shrubs, and perennials at local garden centers that grow very reliably in their zone.

This article was last updated on 04/15/21