Chinese tree lilac
Syringa reticulata subsp. Pekinensis 'Jinyuan'
- USDA zones
- 3–7
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Medium
3
USDA Hardiness Zone 3
-40 to -30°F • Extremely cold winter climates
Includes sub-zones: 3a, 3b|Ideal for: cold-hardy perennials, evergreens, conifers|1850 total plants
Zone 3 quick answer
What grows in USDA Zone 3?
Plants rated for Zone 3 are expected to tolerate average annual extreme winter lows in the -40 to -30°F range. This collection contains 1850 matching plant profiles, including cold-hardy perennials, evergreens, conifers.
A zone rating is only the first check. Compare sun, soil, moisture, summer heat, wind, and your garden's microclimate before choosing a plant.
Narrow the Zone 3 list for your garden
Browse all 1850 plants for this zone with advanced filtering options. Search by plant type, sun exposure, water needs, and more.
Explore All Plants
Chokecherry
Prunus virginiana 'Schubert'
- USDA zones
- 2–7
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Dry to medium
Chokecherry
Prunus virginiana
- USDA zones
- 2–7
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Dry to medium
Christmas fern
Polystichum acrostichoides
- USDA zones
- 3–9
- Light
- Part shade to full shade
- Water
- Dry to medium
Christmas rose
Helleborus niger 'Altifolius'
- USDA zones
- 3–8
- Light
- Part shade to full shade
- Water
- Medium
Christmas rose
Helleborus 'Walhelivor' IVORY PRINCE
- USDA zones
- 3–8
- Light
- Part shade to full shade
- Water
- Medium
Cilantro
Coriandrum sativum
- USDA zones
- 2–11
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Medium
Cinnamon fern
Osmundastrum cinnamomeum
- USDA zones
- 3–9
- Light
- Part shade to full shade
- Water
- Medium to wet
Cinquefoil
Potentilla gracilis
- USDA zones
- 3–7
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Medium
Citron
Citrullus lanatus var. Citroides
- USDA zones
- 2–11
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Medium
Citron daylily
Hemerocallis citrina
- USDA zones
- 3–9
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Medium
Clasping coneflower
Dracopis amplexicaulis
- USDA zones
- 2–11
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Dry to medium
Clematis
Clematis recta 'Purpurea'
- USDA zones
- 3–9
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Medium
Clematis
Clematis tubulosa
- USDA zones
- 3–8
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Medium
Clematis
Clematis heracleifolia
- USDA zones
- 3–8
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Medium
Clinton's wood fern
Dryopteris clintoniana
- USDA zones
- 3–8
- Light
- Part shade to full shade
- Water
- Medium to wet
Closed gentian
Gentiana andrewsii
- USDA zones
- 3–7
- Light
- Part shade
- Water
- Medium
Clustered bellflower
Campanula glomerata 'Caroline'
- USDA zones
- 3–8
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Medium
Clustered bellflower
Campanula glomerata
- USDA zones
- 3–8
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Medium
Coastal wallflower
Erysimum capitatum
- USDA zones
- 3–7
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Dry to medium
Cockscomb
Celosia argentea var. Cristata (Cristata Group)
- USDA zones
- 2–11
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Medium
Cockscomb
Celosia argentea (Cristata Group) 'Tornado Red'
- USDA zones
- 2–11
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Medium
Cockspur thorn
Crataegus crus-galli (thornless form)
- USDA zones
- 3–7
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Medium
Cockspur thorn
Crataegus crus-galli
- USDA zones
- 3–7
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Medium
Cockspur thorn
Crataegus crus-galli 'Cruzam' CRUSADER
- USDA zones
- 3–7
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Medium
Colorado spruce
Picea pungens 'Bacheri'
- USDA zones
- 3–8
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Medium
Colorado spruce
Picea pungens 'Fat Albert'
- USDA zones
- 3–7
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Medium
Colorado spruce
Picea pungens 'Pendula'
- USDA zones
- 3–7
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Medium
Colorado spruce
Picea pungens 'Walnut Glen'
- USDA zones
- 3–7
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Medium
Colorado spruce
Picea pungens 'Hoopsii'
- USDA zones
- 2–7
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Medium
Colorado spruce
Picea pungens 'Corbet'
- USDA zones
- 3–7
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Medium
Colorado spruce
Picea pungens 'Thuem'
- USDA zones
- 3–7
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Medium
Colorado spruce
Picea pungens 'Glauca Prostrata'
- USDA zones
- 3–7
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Medium
Colorado spruce
Picea pungens 'Foxtail'
- USDA zones
- 3–7
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Medium
Colorado spruce
Picea pungens 'Montgomery'
- USDA zones
- 3–7
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Medium
Colorado spruce
Picea pungens 'Colonial Gold'
- USDA zones
- 3–7
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Medium
Colorado spruce
Picea pungens 'Glauca Globosa'
- USDA zones
- 2–7
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Medium
Colorado spruce
Picea pungens 'Baby Blueeyes'
- USDA zones
- 3–7
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Medium
Colorado spruce
Picea pungens
- USDA zones
- 2–7
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Medium
Columbine
Aquilegia chrysantha 'Yellow Queen'
- USDA zones
- 3–9
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Medium
Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis 'Corbett'
- USDA zones
- 3–8
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Medium
Columbine
Aquilegia 'Dove'
- USDA zones
- 3–9
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Medium
Columbine
Aquilegia 'Red Hobbit'
- USDA zones
- 3–8
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Medium
Columbine
Aquilegia viridiflora 'Chocolate Soldier'
- USDA zones
- 3–8
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Medium
Columbine
Aquilegia vulgaris 'William Guiness'
- USDA zones
- 3–8
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Medium
Columbine
Aquilegia caerulea 'Rotstern'
- USDA zones
- 3–8
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Medium
Columbine
Aquilegia 'Winky Blue and White'
- USDA zones
- 3–8
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Medium
Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis 'Little Lanterns'
- USDA zones
- 3–8
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Medium
Columbine
Aquilegia vulgaris (Grandmother's Garden Group)
- USDA zones
- 3–8
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Medium
Columbine
Aquilegia (McKana Group)
- USDA zones
- 3–9
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Medium
Columbine
Aquilegia (Songbird Series) 'Cardinal'
- USDA zones
- 3–9
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Medium
Columbine
Aquilegia vulgaris (Vervaeneana Group)
- USDA zones
- 3–8
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Medium
Columbine
Aquilegia (Biedermeier Group)
- USDA zones
- 3–8
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Medium
Columbine
Aquilegia vulgaris var. Stellata 'Ruby Port'
- USDA zones
- 3–8
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Medium
Columbine
Aquilegia 'Music Mix'
- USDA zones
- 3–9
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Medium
Columbine
Aquilegia vulgaris var. Flore-pleno 'Tower White'
- USDA zones
- 3–8
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Medium
Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
- USDA zones
- 3–8
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Medium
Columbine
Aquilegia vulgaris
- USDA zones
- 3–8
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Medium
Columbine
Aquilegia glandulosa
- USDA zones
- 3–8
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Medium
Columbine
Aquilegia viridiflora
- USDA zones
- 3–8
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Medium
Common bearberry
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi 'Massachusetts'
- USDA zones
- 2–6
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Dry to medium
Common bearberry
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
- USDA zones
- 2–7
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Dry to medium
Common blue violet
Viola sororia
- USDA zones
- 3–7
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Medium
Common buckthorn
Rhamnus cathartica
- USDA zones
- 3–8
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Medium
Common bugle
Ajuga reptans
- USDA zones
- 3–10
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Medium
Common globe amaranth
Gomphrena globosa
- USDA zones
- 2–11
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Medium
Common hop
Humulus lupulus 'Aureus'
- USDA zones
- 3–8
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Medium
Common juniper
Juniperus communis 'Compressa'
- USDA zones
- 3–6
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Medium
Common juniper
Juniperus communis 'Effusa'
- USDA zones
- 2–7
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Medium
Common juniper
Juniperus communis 'Blue Stripe'
- USDA zones
- 3–7
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Medium
Common lilac
Syringa vulgaris 'Little Boy Blue'
- USDA zones
- 3–7
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Medium
Common lilac
Syringa vulgaris 'Marie Frances'
- USDA zones
- 3–7
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Medium
Common lilac
Syringa vulgaris 'Sensation'
- USDA zones
- 3–7
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Medium
Common lilac
Syringa vulgaris 'Wedgwood Blue'
- USDA zones
- 3–7
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Medium
Common lilac
Syringa vulgaris 'Monge'
- USDA zones
- 3–7
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Medium
Common lilac
Syringa vulgaris 'Andenken an Ludwig Spath'
- USDA zones
- 3–7
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Medium
Common lilac
Syringa vulgaris
- USDA zones
- 3–7
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Medium
Common lilac
Syringa vulgaris 'Président Grévy'
- USDA zones
- 3–7
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Medium
Common lungwort
Pulmonaria officinalis
- USDA zones
- 3–8
- Light
- Part shade to full shade
- Water
- Medium
Common milkweed
Asclepias syriaca
- USDA zones
- 3–9
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Dry to medium
Common mullein
Verbascum thapsus
- USDA zones
- 3–9
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Dry to medium
Common pitcher plant
Sarracenia purpurea subsp. Purpurea
- USDA zones
- 3–7
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Wet
Common pitcher plant
Sarracenia purpurea
- USDA zones
- 3–8
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Wet
Common sunflower
Helianthus annuus
- USDA zones
- 2–11
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Dry to medium
Common tansy
Tanacetum vulgare
- USDA zones
- 3–8
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Dry to medium
Common teasel
Dipsacus fullonum
- USDA zones
- 3–8
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Medium
Common witch hazel
Hamamelis virginiana 'Green Thumb'
- USDA zones
- 3–8
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Medium
Common witch hazel
Hamamelis virginiana
- USDA zones
- 3–8
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Medium
Common witch hazel
Hamamelis virginiana 'Little Suzie'
- USDA zones
- 3–8
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Medium
Compass plant
Silphium laciniatum
- USDA zones
- 3–8
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Medium
Coneflower
Echinacea 'Bravado'
- USDA zones
- 3–8
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Dry to medium
Coneflower
Rudbeckia 'Summerblaze'
- USDA zones
- 3–9
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Dry to medium
Coneflower
Echinacea 'Firebird'
- USDA zones
- 3–8
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Dry to medium
Coneflower
Echinacea 'Art's Pride' ORANGE MEADOWBRITE
- USDA zones
- 3–8
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Dry to medium
Coneflower
Echinacea 'Twilight' BIG SKY TWILIGHT
- USDA zones
- 3–8
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Dry to medium
Coneflower
Rudbeckia occidentalis 'Green Wizard'
- USDA zones
- 3–9
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Medium
Coneflower
Echinacea 'CBG Cone 2' PIXIE MEADOWBRITE
- USDA zones
- 3–9
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Dry to medium
Coneflower
Echinacea 'Sunrise' BIG SKY SUNRISE
- USDA zones
- 3–9
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Dry to medium
Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea 'Purity'
- USDA zones
- 3–8
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Dry to medium
Coneflower
Echinacea 'Tiki Torch'
- USDA zones
- 3–8
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Dry to medium
Want to see more?
View all 1850 plants for Zone 3 with advanced filtering options. Search by plant type, sun exposure, water needs, and more.
See All PlantsBest Plants for Zone 3
USDA Hardiness Zone 3 experiences winter minimum temperatures between-40 to -30°F. This collection includes 1850 plants specifically suited for Zone 3 conditions, including cold-hardy perennials, evergreens, conifers.
Understanding Your Hardiness Zone
The USDA hardiness zone is based on average annual minimum winter temperature. While it's an excellent starting point, also consider your local microclimate, soil conditions, rainfall patterns, and summer heat when selecting plants.