Flowering shrubs for zone 5

12 of the 14 flowering shrubs in our guide survive a zone 5 winter.

All plants Perennials Annual flowers Herbs BulbsFlowering shrubsVegetables

Zone 3 Zone 4Zone 5Zone 6 Zone 7 Zone 8 Zone 9 Zone 10

Full sun: hardy in zone 5

Shrub roseZones 5 to 10 · Late spring to frost Butterfly bushZones 5 to 9 · Summer to fall Common lilacZones 3 to 7 · Mid spring ForsythiaZones 5 to 8 · Early spring SpireaZones 4 to 8 · Late spring to summer WeigelaZones 4 to 8 · Late spring

Sun or part shade: hardy in zone 5

Panicle hydrangeaZones 3 to 8 · Mid to late summer NinebarkZones 3 to 7 · Late spring

Part shade: hardy in zone 5

Bigleaf hydrangeaZones 5 to 9 · Summer AzaleaZones 5 to 9 · Spring RhododendronZones 4 to 8 · Late spring

Shade: hardy in zone 5

Smooth hydrangeaZones 3 to 9 · Early to late summer

Not reliably hardy in zone 5

These need a milder winter. Some can be grown in pots and moved inside.

CamelliaZones 7 to 9 GardeniaZones 8 to 11

When to plant in zone 5

In zone 5a, plant in spring from about Apr 19 to Jun 14, or in early fall from about Jul 27 to Aug 24.

Zones measure winter cold, not season length, so your own frost dates can be a week or two off the zone median. Look up your frost dates by ZIP code, or read all about zone 5a.

Hardiness ranges, light and size are typical figures from university extension services and botanic garden plant records; a named variety can differ, so check its tag. Planting dates come from each zone's median frost dates (NOAA 1991 to 2020 climate normals) and the timing rules in how we check.