Living in regions with frozen soil, high winds, and frigid temperatures can make growing perennials a tough task. However, this doesn’t mean you have limited options when it comes to adding color and variety to your landscape. Despite the challenges, there is a wide range of fascinating and attractive hardy perennials available for planting. So, don’t lose heart and explore the plethora of options to add charm to your garden.

When you search the internet for hardy perennials, you may notice that the same old lists of flowers and shrubs come up time and time again. However, there are actually a wide variety of plants available to light up your landscape. Don’t limit yourself to hostas, daisies, peonies, and hydrangeas – there are plenty of other incredible options out there to explore.

But what exactly makes a perennial hardy? Essentially, these plants can survive freezing temperatures and frozen grounds for at least 3-4 years. They also tend to do well in the sun, even full sun depending on your climate.

If you’re looking for some great hardy perennial options, here are our top 20 picks:

1. Blazing Star (Liatris spicata)
2. Foam Flower (Tiarella cordifolia)
3. Goat’s Beard (Astilbe x)
4. Mountain Rock Cress (Arabis caucasica)
5. Obedient Plant (Physostegia virginiana)
6. Queen of the Prairie (Filipendula rubra)
7. Lungwort (Pulmonaria)
8. Basket of Gold (Alyssum saxatilis)
9. Sticky Purple Geranium (Geranium viscosissimum)
10. Coralberry (Symphoricarpos orbiculatus)
11. Blanket Flower (Gaillardia x grandiflora)
12. Daylilies (Hemerocallis)
13. Leopard Plant (Ligularia x)
14. Snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus)
15. Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
16. Eastern Wahoo (Euonymus atropurpureus)
17. Globe Flower (Trollius europaeus)
18. Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida sp.)
19. Oriental Poppy (Papaver orientalis)

20. Pincushion Flower (Scabiosa)

It’s important to note that to be considered hardy, these plants should grow well in hardiness zone 3 and up. To find the best options for your specific climate, start by looking at native perennials. These plants have already proven that they can survive in your area, so they’re a great starting point. When it comes to finding the best hardy plants for your garden or landscape, always start local.

Blazing Star Liatrus is a great option for those living in harsh climates. This flower is a native plant that can withstand extreme temperatures, drought, poor soil, and other unfavorable environmental conditions. Additionally, it is resistant to pests and diseases. Its tall lavender flowers are truly beautiful and attract butterflies, hummingbirds, and native bees due to its long blooming season. The flowers are small and star-shaped and bloom from the bottom up on spikes above grass-like leaves. This native perennial provides an impressive vertical look that draws people’s attention. Blazing Star is perfect for zones 3-9 and requires full sun exposure. Moreover, it is deer-resistant. Another great choice is Foam Flower (Tiarella cordifolia).

Foamflower is an excellent plant choice for those who live in cold and wintry climates. This native perennial boasts beautiful heart-shaped leaves and showy pure white flowers that grow along wand-like stems, giving the impression of floating foam. Its hardiness and resilience make it a popular option in Midwest and New England landscapes. Foamflower blooms for an extended 4-6 weeks, making it a long-lasting addition to any garden. Some favorite varieties include Sugar and Spice, Crow Feather, Pink Skyrocket, Jeepers Creepers, and Appalachian Trail, which all have unique colored foliage and flowers. It’s also deer-resistant and grows well in partial or full shade in zones 3-8. Another great plant option for gardens is Goat’s Beard, with its delicate, textured flowers and foliage.

Goat’s Beard is an ideal choice for any perennial gardener due to its wide variety of options and robustness. This hardy perennial has a stunning flower display that comes in various colors, making it a standout plant in any garden. The long, flowing plumes of flowers add height, elegance, and grace to the landscape. These blooms last all summer long and attract butterflies and bees, making it a perfect addition to any pollinator garden. Moreover, the foliage is fern-like and attractive, especially in autumn when it changes color. Goat’s Beard flowers come in an astonishing range of colors, including pink, white, purple, lavender, red, and bi-color, among others. There are also dwarf, mid-size, and tall hybrids that are available in the market. Some of the most preferred Goat’s Beard varieties include Hip Hop (light pink/dark pink), Fanal (crimson red), Diamond (white), Sprite (soft pink), and Amethyst (lavender). This perennial can thrive in zones 3-8, and it is resistant to deer and rabbits. Another popular choice for gardeners is Mountain Rock Cress (Arabis caucasica).

The Mountain Rock Cress is an excellent choice for gardeners looking for a low-maintenance, easy-to-grow, and hardy plant that can withstand extreme temperatures. This perennial is a real showstopper when it blooms, with its profusion of white flowers that can almost appear like snow on the ground. The Mountain Rock Cress is not only a great addition to any garden, but it also has a lovely fragrance that attracts butterflies. It’s deer and rabbit resistant, and it can thrive in full sun or light shade. It looks especially beautiful planted between tall shrubs or trees or covering a rock wall. With its impressive potential, the Mountain Rock Cress is an ideal option for anyone looking to add some color and life to their garden in a challenging climate. Another great plant that fits this description is the Obedient Plant (Physostegia virginiana).

Despite its name, the Obedient Plant is not always obedient and can spread quite widely. However, it does produce a stunning assortment of soft-hued flowers each year that are sure to catch your eye. This native plant boasts tall stems adorned with tube-shaped flowers that attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds during the mid-summer to fall season. It is a hardy perennial that can grow up to 3-4 feet tall and may become invasive if not monitored closely. Although it prefers to take center stage, this native plant can thrive in cold climates. It is ideal for wild gardens or meadows, but it can also be kept under control in landscape beds or grown in containers. Notable varieties include Crown of Snow (pure white), Vivid (lilac purple), and Rosea (light pink). This plant is deer-resistant and can tolerate full sun or light shade. Another noteworthy native plant is the Queen of the Prairie (Filipendula rubra).

The Queen of the Prairie is an absolutely stunning flower that exudes a regal energy in any garden. With its impressive height of 6-8 feet and its fluffy clusters of light pink flowers, this native perennial is truly a showstopper. It’s almost as if the landscape is filled with soft pink clouds when the Queen of the Prairie is in full bloom.

If you decide to plant this majestic beauty, keep in mind that it loves to form colonies. So, either choose a location where it can spread out or be sure to monitor it so it doesn’t take over your garden. As an added bonus, the Queen of the Prairie is adored by pollinators, making it an excellent choice for wild gardens, naturalistic plantings, accents, borders, or near creeks and ponds.

This plant is hardy to zones 3-9 and thrives in full sun or partial shade. It’s native to the Midwest, Southeast, and Northeast regions of the United States.

Another great plant to consider for your garden is the Lungwort (Pulmonaria).

Lungwort, a sturdy perennial, is an ideal plant for filling in garden spaces and providing ground cover in shady areas. Its foliage is the main attraction, with each leaf being spear-shaped and sporting a combination of green and silver markings. This unique foliage adds interest to gardens throughout the growing season and serves as a perfect backdrop for the bell-shaped flowers that come in a variety of colors. Lungwort is a relatively short plant, growing up to 12 inches tall, making it a great choice for ground cover or filler plants. With minimal maintenance required, it is an excellent option for low-maintenance gardeners. Some popular varieties of Lungwort include Victorian Brooch, Silver Bouquet, Raspberry Splash, and Blue Ensign. Alyssum saxatilis, also known as Basket of Gold, is another hardy plant that is well-suited for zones 3-9 and thrives in full or partial shade. This plant is deer-resistant and produces a stunning display of yellow flowers in the spring.

Enhance the beauty of your garden and attract your favorite pollinators by using Basket of Gold. This charming plant boasts a bright display of golden-yellow flowers, which bloom in abundance during spring. The grayish-green foliage of this small plant creates a perfect background for these stunning flowers, adding to the spectacle of colors.

With a height ranging between 6-12 inches, Basket of Gold is an ideal addition to low borders, walkways, walls, and ground cover. Expect bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies to flock to the blooms, while you sit back and enjoy their presence in your garden.

In addition to its striking appearance and allure to pollinators, Basket of Gold is also deer-resistant. It thrives in full sun and is hardy to zones 3-7. Another fantastic option for your garden is the Sticky Purple Geranium (Geranium viscosissimum).

Sticky Purple Geraniums are the perfect addition to any garden. These low-maintenance perennials, native to the Midwest, are a stunning shade of purple that attracts bees and butterflies. They require very little care and can withstand tough climates, making them easy to keep year-round. In addition to their beauty, the flowers are edible and make for a great salad topping. These plants are an excellent choice for an edible landscape. Spotted Cranesbill is another hardy native geranium that looks great in meadows, rock gardens, flower beds, and wildflower gardens. Coralberry, also known as Symphoricarpos orbiculatus, is another great plant to consider for your garden.

The Coralberry is a stunning shrub that will leave you in awe with its long-lasting display of berries. Native to the United States, this bush produces beautiful pink berries that last throughout the winter and provide a vital food source for wildlife. Not only does it serve as a nutritious meal for birds and small mammals, but it also adds a pop of color to an otherwise drab winter landscape. The dense foliage is a deep green and the flowers are small but cute.

One of the best things about this perennial is that it’s easy to maintain. It thrives on neglect, making it a great option for gardeners who don’t want to spend a lot of time tending to their plants. However, it can be a bit invasive, so keep an eye on it if you want it contained. This plant is perfect for informal hedges, slopes stabilization, or as a border plant when grown with other shrubs.

The Coralberry is a hardy plant that can withstand harsh conditions and is deer resistant. It tolerates drought, poor soil, and pollution, making it a great choice for gardens in various regions of the United States. If you’re looking for a low-maintenance, yet stunning plant, the Coralberry is definitely worth considering.

Another gorgeous option for your garden is the Blanket Flower (Gaillardia x grandiflora).

The Blanket Flower is a tough and resilient native perennial that is often included in top perennial lists. With its vibrant and lively colors, it’s hard to miss the cheerful presence of this flower that can instantly lift your mood. When planted in large groups, Blanket Flowers create a mesmerizing spectacle reminiscent of multi-colored pinwheels dancing in the landscape. Hummingbirds and butterflies are irresistibly drawn to these blooms and will frequently visit them from early summer all the way through fall. The hybrids come in a delightful blend of reds, yellows, oranges, gold, and burgundy, with single, double, and semi-double varieties available. Some of the favorite Blanket Flower varieties include Mesa Bright Bicolor (yellow/red), Sun Devil (red/yellow, pinwheel form), Sunset Mexican (yellow/pink), Sunset Spice (orange/yellow), and Arizona Apricot (peach/yellow). These flowers are hardy and can thrive in zones 2-10, with full sun exposure and excellent deer resistance. Another popular flower species that deserves mention is the Daylily (Hemerocallis).

Daylilies are an exceptional choice for any garden due to their classic appearance and low maintenance requirements. They are available in over 50,000 registered cultivars with stunning colors and showy blooms that make it easy to select a few or fill the entire garden with daylilies. Daylilies are known to be one of the hardiest flowers that can withstand drought, heat, freezing temperatures, and frozen grounds with ease, earning them the title of “perfect perennial.” Some of the favorite daylily varieties include Awesome Blossom (apricot/plum), Rocket City (tangerine/golden), Ming Toy (red/yellow), Wineberry Candy (pink/purple/yellow), Advanced Party (lavender/lime green), Moonlit Masquerade (cream/purple), and American Revolution (dark purple/yellow). These plants thrive in zones 3-9 and require full sun or light shade. Additionally, they are deer resistant. Leopard Plant (Ligularia x) is another great option for your garden.

The Leopard Plant is a popular perennial due to its attractive blossoms and foliage. With its stunning display of flowers and foliage, it’s no wonder why gardeners love this plant. Its leaves are large, dark green, and have deep serrations that give them a unique texture. They grow in massive mounds, and when the plant blooms, tall stems rise up from the center of the leaves with bright yellow daisy-like flowers lining them. The Leopard Plant is also hardy and can withstand cold temperatures. Even when not in bloom, its foliage creates an interesting backdrop for other plants in the garden. This plant is suitable for zones 3-8 and prefers full sun or partial shade. Another noteworthy plant is the Snowberry, also known as Symphoricarpos albus.

Cultivating Snowberry can do wonders not only for your gardening and landscaping endeavors, but also for the welfare of the wildlife in your area during the harsh winter months. This indigenous perennial shrub bears an abundant crop of lovely, snow-white waxy berries in early autumn that birds and small animals find irresistible. The berries remain on the bush well into winter and serve as a vital food source, making Snowberry a must-have in your garden or landscape. The shrub’s sweet-looking flowers may be small and unobtrusive, but they attract pollinators in droves for their nectar. During the growing season, the dense blue-green foliage adds interest to your surroundings. Low maintenance and exceptionally resilient, Snowberry works well as hedges, borders or natural erosion control. It thrives in a broad range of soil types and can tolerate droughts. Hardiness zones 3-7 suit this plant, which can grow under full sun, partial shade or full shade. Originally from the Midwest, Southwest, New England and Pacific Northwest regions, Snowberry deserves a spot in your garden.

Coneflowers are a stunning and durable type of flower that are not only easy to grow but also bloom brightly. These perennials are virtually indestructible, as they can withstand almost anything – be it heat, humidity, drought, or poor soil. They are also loved by various pollinators, such as butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. Furthermore, deer won’t bother these flowers so you can rest easy knowing that your garden is safe. Coneflowers are definitely the low-maintenance plant that every gardener needs. What’s more, they have a long blooming season that lasts throughout the summer, providing a colorful display for months on end. They even come in different fragrances, making them an even more attractive choice. With hundreds of cultivars to choose from, Coneflowers come in various colors such as orange, red, yellow, pink, white, peach, and lavender, aside from the classic purple one. You could easily create a beautiful and robust landscape just with Coneflowers alone. These plants are hardy in zones 3-9 and thrive best under full sun or very light shade. They are native to both the northeast and southeast regions. Another type of plant that is popular is the Eastern Wahoo (Euonymus atropurpureus).

The Eastern Wahoo is a stunning and durable perennial that changes its colors throughout the year. This unique bush, which is native to the Midwest, Southwest, and Northeast regions of the United States, adds bold and vibrant hues to your landscape. It is an excellent alternative to the invasive Burning Bush, offering maroon flowers in late spring followed by light purple seed capsules that turn into ruby red berries in the fall. The foliage of the Eastern Wahoo starts as lime-green and transforms into brilliant red during autumn. Although less flashy than the Burning Bush, the Eastern Wahoo is still incredibly attractive and less prone to disease. It can thrive in various challenging conditions, making it an excellent addition to any hardy landscape. The Eastern Wahoo prefers full sun, partial shade, or full shade and can withstand zones 3-7. Another beautiful plant to consider for your garden is the Globe Flower, scientifically known as Trollius europaeus.

The Globe Flower is a stunning and attractive plant that will certainly catch the attention of hummingbirds and butterflies with its bright and warm hues. Moreover, it has a unique feature that keeps pesky deer and rabbits away. Its golden-yellow flowers resemble buttercups and grow on long stalks above the dark green foliage, making it hard to miss. This low maintenance perennial will definitely add a touch of brilliance to any garden, especially when planted in large groupings or borders. The Globe Flower is also a hardy plant that can survive in zones 3-8, whether in full sun or light shade. Another great thing about this plant is that it is deer and rabbit resistant, making it an excellent choice for those who want to keep their gardens looking beautiful without worrying about pests. On the other hand, the Black-Eyed Susan or Rudbeckia fulgida sp. is another beautiful and vibrant plant that would make a great addition to any garden.

Black-Eyed Susans are a popular flower that has gained fame for its toughness. It is a beloved perennial that every garden should have. During the summer and fall seasons, the tall stems with bright and beautiful golden-yellow daisy-shaped flowers light up any landscape, bringing happiness to all who lay eyes on them. The Black-Eyed Susans are perfect for planting in large groupings, where they can bloom profusely, adding an extra dimension of beauty to your garden.

These versatile plants are excellent choices for borders, wild gardens, or meadows. Butterflies and bees are drawn to their irresistible flowers, while deer and rabbits tend to stay away. Moreover, they require minimal maintenance and seldom suffer from disease. Black-Eyed Susans are hardy plants that can survive in zones 3-8. However, not all Black-Eyed Susans are suitable for zone 3, so it’s essential to double-check the species before purchasing.

These plants thrive in full sun or very light shade, and they are drought-tolerant and resistant to deer and rabbits. Another plant worth mentioning is the Oriental Poppy (Papaver orientalis).

Don’t be fooled by their delicate appearance, Oriental poppies are surprisingly tough and can withstand harsh climates as a perennial plant. These vibrant flowers are a sight to behold and deserve to be showcased in a prominent location for all to admire. With a wide range of colors available, it’s hard to go wrong with this show-stopping addition to your garden. Oriental Poppy blooms resemble crepe paper and continue to flourish for months throughout the summer. Even after they have ceased blooming, their unique seedpods add interest and intrigue to your outdoor space. Some popular Oriental Poppy varieties include Patty’s Plum (plum purple), Prinzessin Victoria Louise (light pink), Eye Catcher (burnt orange), Fancy Feathers (pink and frilled), Harlem (burgundy), Helen Elizabeth (light peach), Lauren’s Grape (deep purple), Prince of Orange (tangerine orange), and Perry’s White (white with purple). These plants thrive in full sun and are resistant to deer and rabbits, making them a perfect addition to any garden. Another unique and charming option is the Pincushion Flower, also known as Scabiosa.

The pincushion flower is a great addition to any garden due to its striking appearance and easy maintenance. Its name accurately reflects its appearance, as the dense pastel-colored flowers resemble pincushions with numerous upright stamens. These flowers bloom in late spring and continue to bloom until fall, adding color and interest to your garden for months on end. This low-growing plant reaches an average height of 12-18 inches and features wiry stems topped with grayish-green leaves. Not only is the pincushion flower attractive to humans, but it also attracts butterflies with its abundant blooms. Additionally, this plant is hardy in zones 3-9, thrives in full sun or partial shade, is drought-tolerant, and resistant to deer.