Skip to content

Top Navigation

Better Homes & Gardens
Better Homes & Gardens
  • Gardening
  • Home Improvement Ideas
  • Cleaning and Organizing
  • Recipes and Cooking
  • Decorating
  • Holidays
  • Rooms
  • News
  • Beauty & Style

Profile Menu

Join Now

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • BH&G Books this link opens in a new tab
My Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • BH&G Books this link opens in a new tab
Login
Subscribe
Pin

Explore Better Homes & Gardens

Better Homes & Gardens
Better Homes & Gardens
  • Explore

    Explore

    • The Only Weed Identification Guide You'll Ever Need: 33 Common Weedy Plants to Watch For

      The Only Weed Identification Guide You'll Ever Need: 33 Common Weedy Plants to Watch For

      Don't let these pesky plants crash your garden party! The first step is to know your enemy. Then you'll know the best way to deal with your weed problem. Read More
    • 6 Small Steps You Can Take Today to Get Organized for Good

      6 Small Steps You Can Take Today to Get Organized for Good

      A professional organizer offers advice on how to tidy up your home without feeling overwhelmed. Read More
    • 5 Anti-Inflammatory Ingredients to Add to Your Smoothie for a Healthy Boost

      5 Anti-Inflammatory Ingredients to Add to Your Smoothie for a Healthy Boost

      Anti-inflammatory smoothies do exist! Instead of blending in boatloads of sugar and artificial ingredients, try these smoothies for inflammation that are stoked with ingredients that may help lower your risk for chronic diseases including cancer, heart disease, depression, and more. Read More
  • Gardening

    Gardening

    See All Gardening
    4 DIY Seed-Starting Pots You Can Make With Items You Already Have

    4 DIY Seed-Starting Pots You Can Make With Items You Already Have

    Upcycle old newspapers, junk mail, and other waste paper to make these easy, eco-friendly containers you can use to sprout new plants for your garden.
    • Flowers
    • Houseplants
    • Plant Encyclopedia
    • Garden Pests
    • Trees, Shrubs & Vines
    • Caring for Your Yard
    • Edible Gardening
    • Garden Design
    • Gardening By Region
    • Landscaping
  • Home Improvement Ideas

    Home Improvement Ideas

    See All Home Improvement Ideas
    What Style Is Your House? The 10 Most Popular House Styles Explained

    What Style Is Your House? The 10 Most Popular House Styles Explained

    With so many types of house styles, narrowing the list down to your favorite can be overwhelming. We'll show you the top 10 most popular house styles, including Cape Cod, country French, Colonial, Victorian, Tudor, Craftsman, cottage, Mediterranean, ranch, and contemporary. Here's how to tell the differences between each architectural style.
    • Home Exteriors
    • DIY Home Electrical Tips & Guides
    • Outdoor Structures
    • Home Remodeling
    • Plumbing Installations & Repairs
    • Remodeling Advice & Planning
    • Flooring
    • Lighting
    • Decks
    • Porches
  • Cleaning and Organizing

    Cleaning and Organizing

    See All Cleaning and Organizing
    A Whole-House Cleaning Schedule You'll Actually Stick To

    A Whole-House Cleaning Schedule You'll Actually Stick To

    Cleaning your home doesn't have to be a daunting, time-consuming chore. The key to managing household duties quickly and efficiently is to design an easy-to-follow routine that includes all the most important tasks. Follow these step-by-step instructions for creating a customized whole-home cleaning schedule.
    • House Cleaning
    • Laundry & Linens
    • Cleaning Tips
    • Closet Organization
    • Organization Tips
    • Kitchen Storage Organization
  • Recipes and Cooking

    Recipes and Cooking

    See All Recipes and Cooking
    21 Essential Baking Tools Every Home Cook Needs (Plus 16 That Are Nice to Have)

    21 Essential Baking Tools Every Home Cook Needs (Plus 16 That Are Nice to Have)

    If you're a beginner baker who's just starting out (or a master chef looking to declutter), start with this list of baking tool must-haves. We'll help you set up a baking essentials kit for beginners with 21 pastry tools. For those who already own these handy tools, this list may finally provide the motivation you need to toss that never-been-used soufflé dish. Building your essential baking tools and equipment inventory starts here.
    • How to Cook
    • Chicken Recipes
    • Desserts & Baking
    • Fish Recipes
    • Beef Recipes
    • Healthy Recipes
    • Breakfast and Brunch Recipes
    • Lunch
    • Dinner Recipes & Meal Ideas
    • Ethnic Food
  • Decorating

    Decorating

    See All Decorating
    7 Interior Design Trends Everyone Will Be Trying in 2021, According to Experts

    7 Interior Design Trends Everyone Will Be Trying in 2021, According to Experts

    Designers weigh in on the most popular decorating styles, colors, and materials you can look forward to in the coming year.
    • Choosing Color
    • Expert Decorating Advice
    • Fireplace Design Ideas
    • Do It Yourself Magazine
    • Window Treatments
    • Styles & Decor
    • Interior Painting
    • Home Makeovers
    • Small-Space Decorating
    • Traditional Home
  • Holidays

    Holidays

    See All Holidays
    International Women's Day: The Powerful Story Behind This 111-Year-Old Tradition

    International Women's Day: The Powerful Story Behind This 111-Year-Old Tradition

    What began as a small movement, has grown into a global holiday dedicated to celebrating the strong women in our communities.
    • Valentine's Day
    • Mother's Day
    • Easter
    • Father's Day
    • Fourth of July/Memorial Day
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas
    • New Year's
    • Juneteenth
    • Hanukkah
  • Rooms

    Rooms

    See All Rooms
    Living Room Furniture Arrangement Ideas

    Living Room Furniture Arrangement Ideas

    Get tips for arranging living room furniture in a way that creates a comfortable and welcoming environment and makes the most of your space.
    • Bedroom Decorating and Design Ideas
    • Bathroom Decorating and Design Ideas
    • Kitchen Decorating and Design Ideas
    • Living Room Decorating and Design
    • Dining Room
    • Home Office
    • Kid's Rooms
    • Baby Nursery
  • News
  • Beauty & Style

    Beauty & Style

    See All Beauty & Style
    Here's Exactly How to Find Your Perfect Nude Nail Color

    Here's Exactly How to Find Your Perfect Nude Nail Color

    Truth be told, there's no such thing as a universal nude.
    • Anti-Aging
    • Hair
    • Skin Care
    • Makeup
    • Style
    • Nails

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Join Now

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • BH&G Books this link opens in a new tab
My Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • BH&G Books this link opens in a new tab
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. BHG.com
  2. Gardening
  3. Flowers
  4. Perennials
  5. 13 Pretty Perennials You Can Count On to Survive Even the Coldest Winters

13 Pretty Perennials You Can Count On to Survive Even the Coldest Winters

Sheryl-Geerts headshot
By Sheryl Geerts Updated October 11, 2021
Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
Skip gallery slides
Save Pin FB
a group of monarda flowers in a garden
Credit: Denny Schrock
Before freezing temperatures arrive, its important to know which cold climate plants are tough enough to survive frost. Here are some top picks for the most reliable, cold-hardy perennials that you can count on to take a polar vortex or two in stride and come back strong in the spring.
Start Slideshow

1 of 13

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Sedum

pink Sedum plant
Credit: Marty Ross

Need a hardy creeper or a colorful tall plant for the back of the border? Look no further than the sedum family, which includes both low-growing types and more upright forms. These rough-and-tumble plants survive both hot summers and cold winters. They're also drought-tolerant perennials, so they're real winners if rainfall is scarce in your area.

Test Garden Tip: Wait to cut down the faded flower stalks of tall sedums until spring. They'll add interest to your winter garden by poking through the snow.

Name: Sedum

Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade in medium moist, well-drained soil

Size: Up to 2 feet tall and wide

Zones: 4-8

Buy It: Autumn Joy Sedum ($23, Breck's)

1 of 13

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 13

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Peony

close up of peony flowers
Credit: Karla Conrad

Northern gardeners can rely on peonies to provide a spring festival of color. These plants are tough enough to survive long, frigid winters. Peonies are available in a wide variety of flower forms and colors, so you should have no trouble finding one or more that fits in with the rest of your garden's design.

Test Garden Tip: Trim dead peony foliage back to the ground in winter. That way, the new spring foliage won’t have to poke through the previous year’s dead leaves.

Name: Paeonia

Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade in medium moist, well-drained soil

Size: Up to 3 feet tall and wide

Zones: 3-8

Buy It: Peonies Bulbs Sarah Bernhardt ($21, The Home Depot)

2 of 13

3 of 13

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Coneflower

Coneflowers blooming in a garden
Credit: Blaine Moats

An American native perennial, coneflower is a tough and rugged flowering plant that tolerates drought well. Its large flowers bloom through the summer and fall, drawing pollinators. Varieties are available in a wide range of colors, like pink, purple, yellow, orange, red, and white, plus there are a few different flower forms. Most varieties are hardy enough for cold weather, but some of the modern hybrids aren't very cold weather-tolerant, so check the plant label before you buy.

Test Garden Tip: Help coneflowers and other perennials weather winters better by covering them with a 1- to 2-inch layer of mulch after they go dormant in the fall. Uncover them in the early spring after the soil thaws.

Name: Echinacea

Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade in medium moist, well-drained soil

Size: Up to 5 feet tall and 2 feet wide

Zones: 3-8

Buy It: Purple Coneflower (from $30, Etsy)

3 of 13

Advertisement

4 of 13

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Bee Balm

a group of monarda flowers in a garden
Credit: Denny Schrock

Bring bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies to the garden with bee balm. This upright, aromatic perennial develops beautiful flowers resembling mopheads that can be pink, red, orange, purple, or white, depending on the variety you choose. This plant belongs to the mint family and like many other mint relatives, it can spread quickly, so place it where it will have room to ramble.

Name: Monarda

Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade in medium moist, well-drained soil

Size: Up to 4 feet tall and 3 feet wide

Zones: 4-9

Buy It: Scarlet Beebalm Seeds ($2, Etsy)

4 of 13

5 of 13

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Wild Columbine

columbine flowers on plant
Credit: Blaine Moats

A delightful spring bloomer, wild columbine forms large colonies in partially shady locations. Each plant might only live a few years, but they re-seed easily, so a patch of this perennial will likely sustain itself for decades. Its wiry stems support pink and yellow flowers that bob and dance on spring breezes.

Name: Aquilegia canadensis

Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade in medium moist, well-drained soil

Size: Up to 36 inches tall and 18 inches wide

Zones: 3-8

Buy It: Wild Columbine ($3, Etsy)

5 of 13

6 of 13

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Coral Bells

close up view of heuchera leaves
Credit: Justin Hancock

Pack a ton of color into your shady garden beds with coral bells. Prized for their colorful foliage, coral bells come in shades of purple, green, yellow, orange, red, and multicolored varieties. As a bonus, the plants send up spikes of pink or white bell-shaped flowers in the early summer.

Name: Heuchera

Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade in medium moist, well-drained soil

Size: Up to 18 inches tall and 12 inches wide

Zones: 3-8

Buy It: Dolce Spearmint Coral Bells ($16, The Home Depot)

6 of 13

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 13

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Siberian Iris

Siberian Iris
Credit: Lynn Karlin

Native to northern Turkey and Russia, Siberian iris isn’t bothered when temperatures drop below zero. This reliable perennial puts on a spectacular spring show of blue, purple, lilac, yellow, or white flowers. It also produces thick clumps of dark green, straplike leaves that provides lasting beauty after it blooms.

Name: Iris sibirica

Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade in medium moist, well-drained soil

Size: Up to 4 feet tall and 3 feet wide

Zones: 3-8

Buy It: So van Gogh Siberian Iris ($19, Breck's)

7 of 13

8 of 13

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

'Moonbeam' Coreopsis

Yellow Coreopsis 'Moonbeam'
Credit: Andy Lyons

Throughout the summer, 'Moonbeam' coreopsis produces a seemingly endless supply of cheerful yellow flowers. It’s also a rugged variety that takes cold winter temperatures in stride. Not all coreopsis varieties are as winter hardy as ‘Moonbeam’, so check the plant label before you buy.

Test Garden Tip: To keep ‘Moonbeam’ in top form, dig and divide the plants every several years.

Name: Coreopsis verticillata 'Moonbeam'

Growing Conditions: Full sun in medium moist, well-drained soil

Size: Up to 2 feet tall and wide

Zones: 3-9

Buy It: Coreopsis verticillata 'Moonbeam'  ($9, Etsy)

8 of 13

9 of 13

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Baptisia

Baptisia flowers up close
Credit: Denny Schrock

Once established, Baptisia can live for decades. Also called false indigo, this hardy prairie native has pretty gray-green foliage topped with sprays of blue, purple, white, or yellow flowers in the spring. Thanks to its prairie heritage, Baptisia can tolerate both summer heat and below-zero winters. This perennial grows slowly, so buy the largest plants you can find if you want a faster flower show.

Test Garden Tip: Baptisia can be a bit fussy when transplanted, so place it in your garden in the early spring. That way the plant will have plenty of time to develop a strong root system before summer's heat kicks in.

Name: Baptisia

Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade in dry to medium moist, well-drained soil

Size: Up to 4 feet tall and wide

Zones: 3-9

Buy It: False Indigo Baptisia ($4, Etsy)

9 of 13

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 13

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Catmint

Catmint blooming in front of a brick wall
Credit: Dean Schoeppner

You'll love catmint for its lavender-like flowers in spring and summer, making it an ideal substitute for actual lavender, which is less winter hardy (its leaves are fragrant like lavender, too!). Shear back the plants after the first wave of flowers fades in spring and you’ll get a second wave of bloom in late summer.

Test Garden Tip: Catmint starts to bloom almost as soon as it breaks dormancy in the spring, so clip the plants back in the fall to make way for fresh growth the next year. This will also allow snow to accumulate over the crown of the plants, which helps insulate them in the winter.

Name: Nepeta

Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade in dry to medium moist, well-drained soil

Size: Up to 30 inches tall and 36 inches wide

Zones: 4-8

Buy It: Catmint ($12, Etsy)

10 of 13

11 of 13

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Heliopsis

Heliopsis flowers up close
Credit: Kindra Clineff

An American native, Heliopsis (also called oxeye daisy or false sunflower) produces masses of cheerful yellow flowers all summer long. Heliopsis is a large perennial, so plant it where it can spread out. It isn’t fussy about soil type but does need full sun to keep stems upright; it'll flop over if grown in part shade. The blooms make pretty cut flowers and the more you cut, the more the plant will produce.

Name: Heliopsis helianthoides

Growing Conditions: Full sun in dry to medium moist, well-drained soil

Size: Up to 6 feet tall and 4 feet wide

Zones: 3-9

Buy It: Heliopsis helianthoides 'Dark Leaf Selection' ($30, Breck's)

11 of 13

12 of 13

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

New England Aster

aster perennial flowers in bloom
Credit: Denny Schrock

Keep your garden colorful through the fall by adding a generous dose of New England asters. These easy-care natives burst into bloom just as other perennials in your garden start to flag. New England asters are also a popular source for nectar for migrating monarch butterflies on their way south each year. Available in shades of pink and purple, asters look terrific paired with ornamental grasses and chrysanthemums.

Test Garden Tip: After asters finish blooming, cut the tall stems back to the ground to prevent them from flopping over under the weight of the snow. This will keep the plant tidier and healthier in the spring.

Name: Symphyotrichum novae-angliae

Growing Conditions: Full sun in medium moist, well-drained soil

Size: Up to 6 feet tall and 3 feet wide

Zones: 4-8

Buy It: In Memory of Alma Pötschke New England Aster ($18, Breck's)

12 of 13

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 13

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Hosta

Hosta leaves close up
Credit: David McDonald

Make hostas the backbone of your shade garden. Unfazed by cold winters, hostas just keep growing bigger and better every year. Because these hardy perennials are available in a seemingly endless selection of shapes, sizes, and colors, they’re a lot of fun to mix and match in your garden. They also make perfect companions for other shade-lovers such as astilbe, deadnettle, barrenwort, coral bells, and bleeding heart.

Name: Hosta

Growing Conditions: Part shade in evenly moist, well-drained soil

Size: Up to 18 inches tall and 30 inches wide

Zones: 3-8

Buy It: Variegated Hosta Plant ($15, The Home Depot)

13 of 13

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Sheryl Geerts

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 13 Sedum
    2 of 13 Peony
    3 of 13 Coneflower
    4 of 13 Bee Balm
    5 of 13 Wild Columbine
    6 of 13 Coral Bells
    7 of 13 Siberian Iris
    8 of 13 'Moonbeam' Coreopsis
    9 of 13 Baptisia
    10 of 13 Catmint
    11 of 13 Heliopsis
    12 of 13 New England Aster
    13 of 13 Hosta

    Share & More

    Tweet Email Send Text Message
    • Better Homes & Gardens BHG Logo Products at Walmart
    • Better Homes & Gardens BHG Real Estate Real Estate Services
    Better Homes & Gardens

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • About Us
    • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
    • Books from Better Homes & Gardens
    • Help
    • Advertise
    • Content Licensing
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Follow Us
    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Sign Up
    MeredithBH&G is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2022 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright Better Homes & Gardens. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.bhg.com

    Sign in

    View image

    13 Pretty Perennials You Can Count On to Survive Even the Coldest Winters
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.