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Plants for hardiness zone 5B

Gardening
in Zone 5B

Cold winters, warm summers and a growing season of about five and a half months. A huge range of roses, shrubs, vines and perennials thrive in Zone 5.

  • Winter

    Lows −15 to −10°F

    Cold snaps, steady snow

  • Summer

    Warm to hot

    Warm summers with hot spells

  • Growing season

    About 5½ months

    Typical last frost Apr 25 · first frost Oct 10

  • Best time to plant

    Apr–May

    Spring, with a second window in Sep

your year in 5B

When to plant, and when to wait it out

  1. JanJanuary: Winter rest: wait it out
  2. FebFebruary: Winter rest: wait it out
  3. MarMarch: Good planting time. Bareroot roses
  4. AprApril: Good planting time. Last frost ~late Apr
  5. MayMay: Growing & blooming
  6. JunJune: Growing & blooming. Peak bloom
  7. JulJuly: Growing & blooming
  8. AugAugust: Growing & blooming
  9. SepSeptember: Good planting time. Fall planting
  10. OctOctober: Winter rest: wait it out
  11. NovNovember: Winter rest: wait it out
  12. DecDecember: Winter rest: wait it out
  • Winter rest: wait it out
  • Good planting time
  • Growing & blooming
  • You are here

It's October: the garden's resting in 5B. Plan and order now; plant once the ground thaws.

good to know

What 5B means for your plants

  1. 1

    Two planting windows

    Plant in spring after the last frost, or in early fall at least six weeks before the ground freezes.

  2. 2

    Most plants are happy here

    Anything rated to Zone 5 or colder comes back reliably. Zone 6 plants need a sheltered spot.

  3. 3

    Prune roses when forsythia blooms

    That's your signal that hard frosts are over and it's safe to cut back.

  4. 4

    Water before the freeze

    A deep watering in late fall helps evergreens and new plants through dry winter winds.

our picks for you

Recommended for Zone 5B

Sorted by how easily each plant handles 5B’s winters and summers.

  • Thrives in 5B
  • Grow in pots or as seasonal color

Thrives in 5B

Comfortably within their range here. Plant these with confidence.

See all Thrives in 5B

Grow in pots or as seasonal color

Rated for warmer zones. Easy here in a container you bring in on freezing nights.

See all Grow in pots or as seasonal color

Natives for Zone 5B

Plants native to your region, chosen for your zone. Coming soon.

Read: Hardiness zones, explained