Zone 5 · winter lows -20°F to -10°F
North American Natives for Zone 5
1.2k native plants that are hardy through Zone 5, ranked by how many gardeners actually save and grow them.
Most-saved native plants for Zone 5
#1 most savedButterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa
#2 most savedCheyenne Spirit Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea 'Cheyenne Spirit'
#3 most savedPink Muhly Grass
Muhlenbergia capillaris
Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa 'Gay Butterflies Mix'
Butterfly Kisses Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea 'Butterfly Kisses'
Butterfly Weed Gay Butterflies Milkweed
Asclepias tuberosa 'Gay Butterflies'
Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa 'Deluxe Butterfly Garden'
Hello Yellow Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa 'Hello Yellow'
Garden Phlox
Phlox paniculata 'Mix'
Black-eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta 'American Gold Rush'
Blanket Flower
Gaillardia x grandiflora 'Mixed Border'
Incrediball Hydrangea
Hydrangea arborescens 'Incrediball'
Cinderella Milkweed
Asclepias incarnata 'Cinderella'
Prairie Phlox
Phlox pilosa
Cheyenne Spirit Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea 'Cheyenne Spirit Mix'
Black-eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta 'Autumn Colors Mix'
Common Milkweed
Asclepias syriaca
Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
Lou Williams New England Aster
Aster novae-angliae 'Lou Williams'
Black-eyed Susan
Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldsturm'
Red Popsicle Lupine
Lupinus polyphyllus 'Red Popsicle'
Coral Honeysuckle
Lonicera sempervirens 'Coral Honeysuckle'
New England Aster 'Violetta'
Aster novae-angliae 'Violetta'
Foxglove Beardtongue
Penstemon digitalis 'George Home'
Showing the 24 most-saved of 1.2k. See all north american natives →
North American Natives in Zone 5
What are the best native plants for Zone 5?
The 24 above are the most-saved native plants that are also rated hardy through Zone 5. Ranking by real gardeners — not by catalog marketing — surfaces the ones gardeners keep coming back to.
Will these survive Zone 5 winters?
Every plant listed here is rated for Zone 5, where winter lows reach -20°F to -10°F. Site conditions still matter: drainage, wind exposure, and a good layer of mulch make the difference between a rated-hardy plant and a happy one.
Why plant natives?
They support dramatically more caterpillars and pollinators than non-natives (which means more birds), and once established they typically need less watering and no fertilizer.
Are native plants low maintenance?
Mostly yes — matched to your conditions they thrive on rainfall alone after the first season. The key is right plant, right place: a wet-prairie native still wants moisture.
Keep exploring
North American Natives in other zones
Design a Zone 5 bed with these
Snap a photo of your yard and Sow places these plants in it — correctly sized, matched to your zone, with care reminders that follow your real weather.
