The Best Plants For USDA Zone 6

Bee Balm (Monarda) — Photo:
Getty Images

Cold winters, warm summers, and a mid-length growing season mean plenty of planting options for USDA Zone 6. From bulbs like crocus and daffodils to woody shrubs like the azalea, the floral offerings for Zone 6 are top notch. But knowing when to plant, when to prune, and when to throw in the towel for a less finnicky flower (looking at you, rose) is key. Here we’ve listed some of the best plants to grow in USDA Zone 6 along with information to help you determine if it’s the right pick for your yard.

01 of 13

Herbaceous Perennial: Astilbe (Astilbe Japonica)

These shade-loving perennials grow in clump-like formations. They feature fern-like leaves and feathery plumes in shades ranging from white to burgundy that appear in late spring and early summer. Astilbe require rich, moist soil, and can stand a little sunlight in more northern locations. They can be planted in either the spring or fall, but you’ll want to avoid summer planting. If plants start to get too full or you want to plant more, you can divide existing mature plants as they spread quickly and easily. They like deep watering every week. Mulch in the spring with organic bark mulch to help maintain appropriate soil moisture levels. Deadheading is not essential though you can opt to do so after flowers fade to keep the plant looking tidy. Prune to the ground in the fall to reduce chance of disease and other concerns.

USDA Growing Zones: 4-9
Bloom/Foliage Color: white, pink, red/burgundy
Light Requirements: partial to full shade
Soil Requirements: moist, well drained
Water Requirements: heavy watering every week

02 of 13

Woody Shrub: Azalea (Rhododendron)

Azaleas come in many varieties and are native to the United States and Asia. They are typically between six- to 10-feet tall and oftentimes nearly as wide. They need protection from harsh afternoon sun and both overwatering and over-fertilizing should be avoided. They can be pruned after blooming in April. They’re not to be confused with the rhododendron of the same genus which blooms later in the spring and feature bell-shaped blooms with 10 or more stamens, rather than the azalea’s funnel-shaped bloom with 5 stamens. Azaleas require regular deep watering in soils with good drainage.

USDA Growing Zones: 4-8
Bloom/Foliage Color: white, yellow, orange, red, purple, lavender, pink
Light Requirements: Dappled sun, afternoon shade
Soil Requirements: moist, well-drained
Water Requirements: slow and deep watering of the root zone

03 of 13

Perennial: Smooth Purple Coneflower (Echinacea Laevigata)

This easy-to-grow wildflower that takes its name from the cone-like center of its flower is native to Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. You can find smooth purple coneflowers growing along the side of the road just as you would find it planted in gardens. Once it’s established it’s remarkably resilient, able to put up with drought, humidity, heat, and even unideal soil. It grows up to 5 feet in height with a span of just 1.5 feet. It blooms in the summer and self-seeds. While you can deadhead, leave a few of the blooms around for both reseeding and the birds.

USDA Growing Zones: 3-8
Bloom/Foliage Color: pink, purple
Light Requirements: full sun
Soil Requirements: moist, well drained
Water Requirements: medium to minimal watering

04 of 13

Perennial: Bee Balm (Monarda)

Plant bee balm in your yard and you’ll quickly see where this fragrant flowering perennial gets its name. It attracts a variety of pollinators including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. One of the primary issues associated with bee balm is powdery mildew, but regular watering should help. They often range in height from two to four feet, but can be taller. You can deadhead if you don’t want them to self-seed. Instead, prune in the late spring or even into summer if you want to push back the bloom schedule.

USDA Growing Zones: 4-9
Bloom/Foliage Color: pink, red, purple
Light Requirements: full sun to partial shade
Soil Requirements: moist, well drained
Water Requirements: regular watering

05 of 13

Perennial Bulb: Crocus (Crocus)

The crocus is a species in the early blooming iris family and feature flowers that open in the morning and close on cloudy days or at night. At only 6-inches tall and wide when full grown, the crocus is native to areas of the Mediterranean and eastern Europe over to northwest China. It might be tempting to trim them down after they bloom but avoid doing so as the plant will be pulling nutrients from the leaves to aid next year’s blooms.

USDA Growing Zones: 3-8
Bloom/Foliage Color: gold/yellow, purple, white
Light Requirements: full sun
Soil Requirements: sandy, well drained
Water Requirements: keep moist during growing season

06 of 13

Perennial Bulb: Daffodil (Narcissus)

Fast-growing daffodils bloom for two to three weeks between December and May, depending on your USDA zone. Daffodils have a clumping habit and can be divided by digging out the bulbs soon after the foliage dies. To that end, do not trim foliage back until it has yellowed. The best time to plant bulbs is in the fall, spacing two to three inches apart. The blooms will follow the sun so don’t neglect that fact when you’re determining the best place to plant them.

USDA Growing Zones: 4-8
Bloom/Foliage Color: white, yellow, orange, pink, variegated
Light Requirements: full sun to partial shade
Soil Requirements: well drained, acidic
Water Requirements: keep moist during growing season

07 of 13

Perennial Tuber: Dahlia (Dahlia)

While dahlias are perennials in USDA zones 8-11, they aren’t winter hardy for zone 6. But all isn’t lost for the dahlia-lovers among us. Grow them instead as annuals. Plant tubers in the spring and you’ll be rewarded with blooms in late summer. With an abundance of colors and species to choose from, utilize resources whether at your local nursery or online with The American Dahlia Society’s Online Classification Guide. Most varieties of dahlias will need to be staked at planting, but do not delay staking until after the plant is growing as it could damage the roots or tuber. Beware of excessive watering as it could lead to root rot. Mature plants should be watered if rainfall amounts total less than an inch in a week.

USDA Growing Zones: 3-7 (annual); 8-11 (perennial)
Bloom/Foliage Color: black, white, cream, yellow, orange, pink, variegated
Light Requirements: full to partial sun
Soil Requirements: well drained
Water Requirements: light

08 of 13

Perennial: Delphinium (Delphinium Elatum)

If you’re looking to create a cut-flower garden, consider the bold blue flower stalks of delphinium a must. Flowers appear in spring, but deadheading right after it blooms could spur a second late-season bloom as well. Because it is delicate, it will need staking, similar to the dahlia, though you can opt to plant it alongside a fence for support instead. In USDA Zones farther South it will need some shade from mid-afternoon sun and humidity could also cause problems.

USDA Growing Zones: 3-7
Bloom/Foliage Color: blue
Light Requirements: full sun
Soil Requirements: well drained
Water Requirements: water during growing season if rainfall is less than one inch in a week

09 of 13

Perennial Shrub: Forsythia (Forsythia)

You’ll recognize these flowering shrubs by their petite, golden flowers that cover the branches in early spring. They reach a mature height of anywhere from 3 to 10 feet. While forsythia is relatively low maintenance and can typically manage in either partial to full sun, planting in full sun will likely result in more blooms and with earlier timing. It’s oftentimes left up to its own devices because it can put up with a wide variety of soil types and conditions, that being said, forsythia can be pruned to keep it from getting too wild. If doing so, prune right after the spring flowering. Absolutely avoid pruning after mid-July as you’ll probably be trimming away next year’s blooms.

USDA Growing Zones: 5-8
Bloom/Foliage Color: yellow
Light Requirements: full sun to partial shade
Soil Requirements: well drained
Water Requirements: medium

10 of 13

Perennial: Heuchera (Heuchera)

The North Carolina-native heuchera features beautiful foliage that can be used as a border or in a mass group planting where lighter-leaved varieties can really pop against the foliage of darker varieties. While their leaves are the primary draw, a few heuchera varieties have flowers which appear in early summer and continue throughout the growing season. While many varieties can be grown in either full sun to partial shade, the more sun their leaves receive, the more vibrant their foliage.

USDA Growing Zones: 3-9
Bloom/Foliage Color: white, pink, orange, red
Light Requirements: full sun to partial shade
Soil Requirements: moist, well-drained
Water Requirements: one inch water per week

11 of 13

Perennial Shrub: Smooth Hydrangea (Hydrangea Arborescens)

Also known as the wild hydrangea, the smooth hydrangea is extremely cold hardy but also manages to grow in warmer areas. It takes partial shade but can handle full sun if you stay on top of watering. Unlike the French hydrangea, the flower color of the smooth hydrangea does not change with soil pH levels. It attracts butterflies, songbirds, and the hydrangea sphinx moth, of which it is its host plant.

USDA Growing Zones: 3-9
Bloom/Foliage Color: white, cream, pink, green
Light Requirements: full sun to partial shade
Soil Requirements: moist, well drained
Water Requirements: one inch of water per week

12 of 13

Perennial Ground Cover: Lamb’s Ear (Stachys Byzantina)

Lambâs Ear (Stachys Byzantina) — Getty Images

Lamb’s ear creates a beautifully rich and textured ground cover thanks to the velvety silver-green leaves that grow in dense groupings. It grows nicely in medium to dry soil that’s very well drained and performs as an evergreen in warmer climates. The soft leaves are a whimsical addition to children’s gardens or sensory gardens, just beware of overwatering as these beautiful fuzzy leaves can be an incubator for disease if kept over moist.

USDA Growing Zones: 4-9
Bloom/Foliage Color: gray/silver, green
Light Requirements: full sun to partial shade
Soil Requirements: well drained
Water Requirements: minimal

13 of 13

Perennial Shrub, Vine: Rose (Rosa)

A beloved flowering perennial, roses come in seemingly endless varieties. They’re typically heat tolerant but suffer from a variety of disease and pest issues and concerns which put them in the high-maintenance category. They will need yearly pruning, but the type and timing of pruning will depend on the individual rose type. Plant in rich, well-drained soil where they can benefit from full sun. Because many varieties impart a wonderful fragrance, consider planting them near an outdoor seating area where wafts of their perfume can be enjoyed.

USDA Growing Zones: 5-11
Bloom/Foliage Color: white, cream, yellow, orange, red, pink, lavender, variegated
Light Requirements: full sun
Soil Requirements: rich, well drained
Water Requirements: dependent on growing zone, soil conditions, and rose variety

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Tell us why!