Cold-Hardy Plants for Northern Gardens and Landscapes

Gardening in the Northern Climates poses the special challenge of finding cold-hardy plants that can survive the extreme cold. Fortunately, there are many. You have only to look around as you travel along the old country roads of New England to see examples of plants that have not only survived, but thrived from the original plantings generations ago. Ornamental Sweet Peas and Tiger Lilies are some of the most winter-hardy perennial flowers around and from single plantings have often multiplied to thousands of plants over as much as a hundred years or more alongside the old stonewalls of country farms. Here is a list of some favorite cold-hardy plants for the North.

Cold-Hardy Perennial Flowers

Crocus: What discussion of cold-hardy plants doesn't start with the tiny crocus? The colorful crocus is almost always the first to poke up through the spring snow to let us know that winter is done. Small leaves and oversized blossoms are characteristic of the crocus. Soon after flowering the plant dies back to prepare for the next spring. Many people bury crocus bulbs throughout their lawns since they are often up and gone before the lawn needs to be mowed in the spring.

Tiger Lily: These tough as nails perennials provide large bright orange flowers to brighten any landscape. Tiger Lilies will spread as the underground bulbs multiply. Established sets can be dug up and moved to new locations. No northern winter is too cold for this New England favorite.

Black-eyed Susan: The bright and distinctive flowers of the black-eyed Susan are present in farm fields, meadows and riparian borders across the North. They make an excellent addition to property edges that border on overgrown. Large bright flowers are plentiful and last for most of the summer.

Peony: The peony is available in a variety of pinks, reds, whites, and purples. The delicate stems rise up from the ground early each spring and the massive blossoms open in a veritable explosion of colorful petals. Peonies offer some of the largest and brightest blossoms of the cold-hardy perennials. Peonies will also spread from a single planting though they are not as prolific as the tiger lily. A single small planting will present a growing circle of plants each year. They can be easily dug up and split to make new groupings throughout your property. These make great additions along a fence or to define a walkway. Peonies will grow about 3 feet high and the heavy blossoms make them tend to lean over, so a stake or garden ring helps keep them straight and tall.

Rose: When planting a new rose in a Northern Climate check each variety to see how much cold it can stand. Different varieties will have different tolerances for cold weather. With roses, unless a particular plant has proven to withstand the winter cold over time, it's best to give them a little protection. They should be trimmed back each fall and a thick layer of mulch or even an inverted bucket placed over the plant can make the difference for the plant's survival over the coldest winters.

Daffodil: Daffodils are one of the earliest plants to break through in the spring and provide a welcome splash of color. Like the tiger lily, their underground bulbs will multiply and a small patch will spread profusely over time. They're easy to dig up and spread around your property or make great gifts for friends and family. The flowers can be cut and kept in water as part of a delightful spring bouquet.

Winter-Hardy Shrubs, Bushes and Trees

Forsythia: The plentiful bright yellow flowers of the forsythia bush are one of the spring's early bloomers. The flowers form on the previous year's new growth, though, so for the best spring display, don't prune them in the fall. Forsythias should only be pruned right after the flowers fade and pass. The forsythia can grow into a massive hemispherical bush as much as 15 or 20 feet across. When the ends of its branches touch down to the ground they may form roots, and start a new bush to extend its coverage even further. Once established, you can dig up these newly rooted branches and transplant them to other locations in your yard. The cold-hardy Forsythia will not be killed by frost or cold, but a late frost may damage the early flower buds and reduce the number of flowers in a given spring.

Holly: Holly is a great cold-hardy bush. It even adds a bit of green during the winter as its thick leaves retain their color and last from year to year. The bright red berries and the dark green leaves are a Christmas tradition in many home made wreaths. Holly is winter-hardy and requires little care beyond pruning for a pleasing shape.

Apple Tree: Almost every home of any age in New England has one or more apple trees. Indeed, as a testament to their hardiness and longevity, you will often see old apple trees in places where the houses have long since fallen away to ruin and only an old cellar hole remains in the woods. Not only are the early spring apple blossoms beautiful, but they, of course, turn into delicious apples. If you're buying a new apple, check to make sure the variety you buy is cold-hardy enough for the winters in your area. If you buy from local nurseries, you should have no problem.

Blueberry: Blueberries, both wild and many cultivated varieties, are winter-hardy favorites. Available in high and low bush versions, blueberries will produce fruit from early July through late August. If you don't pick the blueberries yourself, you can enjoy the many birds that will frequent your yard to pick them for you. A strong frost late in the spring may kill off some of the early buds and reduce the number of berries in a single year, but the plants will survive and produce for many years through the coldest winters.

There are many, many more winter-hardy plants available for northern gardens and landscapes. This is just a short list of some favorites. There are many online gardening sites where you can find more choices, and your local nursery can also provide numerous selections suitable for your area.