Zone 5 · winter lows -20°F to -10°F

Aster for Zone 5

39 Aster varieties rated hardy through Zone 5, ranked by how many gardeners actually grow them. Zone 5 is classic northern gardening with a reliable snow blanket.

39 hardy hereof 39 Aster totalLast frost ~early May

The Aster that thrive in Zone 5

#1 most saved

Lou Williams New England Aster

Aster novae-angliae 'Lou Williams'

Zones 4–8· 320 saves

#2 most saved

New England Aster 'Violetta'

Aster novae-angliae 'Violetta'

Zones 4–8· 305 saves

#3 most saved

Rosa Sieger New England Aster

Aster novae-angliae 'Rosa Sieger'

Zones 4–8· 277 saves

Crimson Brocade New England Aster

Aster x hybrida 'Crimson Brocade'

Zones 4–8· 155 saves

Purple Dome New England Aster

Aster novae-angliae 'Purple Dome'

Zones 4–8· 140 saves· from $13

New England Aster

Aster novae-angliae

Zones 4–8· 100 saves· from $9

Little Carlow Blue Wood Aster

Aster cordifolius 'Little Carlow'

Zones 4–8· 97 saves

Aster

Aster x hybrida

Zones 4–8· 89 saves· from $15

Grape Crush Aster

Aster x frikartii 'Grape Crush'

Zones 4–8· 88 saves· from $7

Treasure New England Aster

Aster novae-angliae 'Treasure'

Zones 4–8· 86 saves

Wood's Blue Aster

Aster x frikartii 'Wood's Blue'

Zones 4–8· 85 saves· from $17

Sapphire Aster

Aster dumosus 'Sapphire'

Zones 4–8· 85 saves

Bluebird Smooth Aster

Aster x frikartii 'Bluebird'

Zones 4–8· 78 saves· from $27

Monch Frikart's Aster

Aster x hybrida 'Monch'

Zones 4–8· 72 saves· from $13

New England Aster Pink Crush

Aster novae-angliae 'Pink Crush'

Zones 4–8· 71 saves· from $13

Bushy Aster

Aster dumosus

Zones 4–8· 71 saves

Kickin' Lilac Blue Aster

Aster x frikartii 'Kickin' Lilac Blue'

Zones 5–9· 71 saves

October Skies Aromatic Aster

Aster x hybrida 'October Skies'

Zones 4–8· 69 saves· from $28

Alma Potschke Aster

Aster novae-angliae 'Andenken an Alma Potschke'

Zones 4–8· 69 saves

New York Aster

Aster novi-belgii 'Professor Anton Kippenberg'

Zones 4–8· 69 saves

New England Aster 'September Ruby'

Aster novae-angliae 'September Ruby'

Zones 4–8· 68 saves

Harrington's Pink New England Aster

Aster novae-angliae 'Harrington'

Zones 4–8· 68 saves

heartleaf aster cordate-leaved aster

Aster cordifolius

Zones 4–7· 67 saves

New England Aster

Aster novae-angliae 'Wood'

Zones 4–8· 65 saves

Showing the 24 most-saved of 39 Zone 5–hardy Aster varieties. See the full Aster list →

Aster in Zone 5

Will Aster survive a Zone 5 winter?

39 of the 39 Aster varieties in the Sow catalog are rated hardy through Zone 5, where winter lows reach -20°F to -10°F. Hardiness is per-variety, not per-genus — the plants listed above are the ones that hold up; others in the genus are not rated for this zone.

When should I plant Aster in Zone 5?

In Zone 5 the last spring frost typically lands around early May and the first fall frost around early October. Planting after the last frost — or in early fall, so roots establish before the ground cools — gives the best establishment. Each plant page lists its own planting months.

Which Aster is best for Zone 5?

Start at the top of the list above: it is ranked by how many gardeners actually save and grow each variety, which is a strong real-world reliability signal. Then narrow by your sun exposure and the mature size that fits the bed.

Keep exploring

All Aster

Every Aster variety (39)

Aster in other zones

More for Zone 5

See Aster in your Zone 5 yard

Snap a photo of your space and Sow places these varieties in it at true mature size — then keeps the care schedule for everything you plant.