Articles and Buying Guides

5 Plants That Withstand Cold

Winter Plants

Choosing perennials that don’t seem to do well over long winters can be frustrating. You’re either stuck buying more plants every year, or you have to move your plants indoors for winter. Don’t fret! There’s an easy solution. By choosing plants that do well in winter and are hardy for your particular growing zone will help you to create a garden that comes back year after year with less hassle. If you’re ready for a low-maintenance yet beautiful garden, check out this list of plants that can withstand the cold among many parts of the country:


1. Yarrow

Yarrow

As a very adaptable plant, Yarrow can be seen growing in a wide range of elevations from sea level to mountain peaks. Its rugged genetics allows it to do well in both desert and snowy regions. The plant is extremely easy to maintain and only requires dry soil. Many color variations are available including yellow, pink, and white. Plant Yarrow in spots that receive full sun, as too much shade for this plant may encourage disease. Yarrow can spread quite quickly, so make sure that you use it in a sparse spot in the garden to promote fuller growth in the future.


2. Big Bluestem

Bluestem plants

This warm season grass is native to much of the country and can be seen growing in meadows and open areas. It is a prairie grass that can reach up to eight feet at maturity. Big Bluestem thrives in well-drained soil, can adapt to other soil conditions, and can withstand cold weather making it a low maintenance plant. Homeowners can control the growth of the plant by cutting down plants that are 20 inches or higher down to eight inches. You’ll want to use sharp loppers to do so. Also, many animals including livestock consume this plant making it a popular choice for livestock farmers.


3. Hosta

Hosta plant

These beautiful variegated plants offer much coverage in the heat of the summer while also withstanding frigid temperatures in winter. Hosta plants are easy to care for and require little maintenance. They are known for loving shade, but this can vary greatly depending on the type of Hosta you choose. Many experts suggest that lighter colored Hostas need more sunlight while darker colored ones need less. The plants go dormant in winter making fall a great time to use pruners to cut back the plant. Doing so will give your garden more room for spring growth. These plants are a great addition to help an existing flower bed really pop as they add a rich hue of green, yellow, or white depending on the type of Hosta you pick.


4. Catmint

catmint plant

This very hardy plant can survive conditions in USDA Hardiness Zone 3 making it an excellent option for many homeowners. Catmint has many of the same features as lavender and produces soft blue or purple blooms that appear in early summer on top of greyish green stems. It can mature up to eight feet high and three feet wide making this a great option to fill in a bare corner of the garden. Catmint isn’t too picky on the type of soil it is in. In fact, it can adapt to many different soil conditions. Plant them in a sunny part of the garden to prevent the stems from falling over.


5. Coneflower

Coneflowers

Commonly known as Echinacea, these daisy-like flowers are great for those homes located in colder climates. The coneflower is known for its ruggedness in being able to survive hot and humid summers along with bitterly cold winters. Plant coneflowers in an area of your garden where many pollinators, like birds and butterflies, can visit the flowers without being disturbed. This drought-tolerant plant blooms in the middle of summer and makes a great addition to a flower arrangement as well. Cut off any dead or fading flowers using a micro-tip pruning snip to prolong blooming and prevent too much seeding.


Choosing hardy perennials that can withstand frigid temperatures is vital in creating a garden that will last year after year. Consider adding a few or all of these plants to your garden to showcase some beautiful blooms as well as make sure that your garden survives the harsh winter temperatures.