Gardening Zone 4

Glacier movement left rich, fertile soil in some zone 4 areas and very thin soil over bedrock in others. The growing season is usually five or six month. Average rainfall varies greatly, from ten to forty inches depending on the area. Summer temperatures can be surprisingly high.

The average minimum winter temperature in winter in Zone 4 is -20 to -30 F. Most areas have constant snow cover, and the insulating effect of the snow helps a wide variety of perennials and other herbaceous plants to do very well here. Fewer woody plants grow well in zone 4 compared to warmer zones, but there are still many trees and shrubs that will grow happily in zone 4 gardens.

USDA hardiness zones only address winter temperatures, and the other factors that make plants flourish or fail – soil, sunlight, water, high temperature, number of days without frost – are very important. You may be able to grow plants not ordinarily recommended for zone 4, or recommended plants may not survive, depending on other growing conditions. Additionally, your garden, or parts of it, may somewhat warmer or colder than typical zone 4 temperatures. These microclimates may allow you to grow a wider range of plants.

The plants listed below are recommended for zone 4. Don’t be afraid to try others! Hardiness zones only address one element of a plant’s preferences, and you might be able to grow many plants not listed here.

Perennials for Zone 4

Aster (Aster sp.)
Astilbe (Astilbe sp.)
Baby's breath (Gypsophila paniculata)
Balloon flower or Chinese bellflower (Platycodon grandiflorus)
Basket-of-gold (Aurinia saxatilis)
Beardtongue (Penstemon)
Bee balm (Monarda)
Bellflower (Campanula sp.)
Bergenia (Bergenia sp.)
Blanket flower
Bleeding heart (Dicentra)
Bluestar (Amsonia)
Boltonia (Boltonia asteroides)
Brunnera (Brunnera macrophylla)
Bugbane (Cimicifuga)
Bugleweed (Ajuga sp.)
Bugloss (Anchusa)
Campion (Lychnis)
Candytuft (Iberis)
Cardinal flower (Lobelia)
Carnation (Dianthus)
Chamomile (Anthemis)
Chrysanthemum
Columbine (Aquilegia) Coral bells (Heuchera) hybrids
Coneflower, black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida)
Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
(Coreopsis grandiflora and Coreopsis verticillata))
Cranesbill (Geranium)
Daylily (Hemerocallis)
Delphinium (Delphinium)
Fleabane (Erigeron)
Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia)
Foxglove (Digitalis)
Gas plant (Dictamnus)
Gayfeather (Liatris)
Globeflower (Trollius)
Goatsbeard (Aruncus sp.)
Golden-ray (Ligularia)
Hellebore (Helleborus)
Hosta (Hosta) hybrids
Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens) (shrub in warmer zones)
Iris (Iris and Iris cristata and Iris reticulata)
Lady's mantle (Alchemilla)
Lamb's ears (Stachys)
Leopard's-bane (Doronicum)
Lily (Lilium)
Lupine (Lupinus)
Meadowsweet (Filipendula)
Onion, flowering (Allium) Pearly everlasting (Anaphalis) Peony (Paenoia)
Phlox (Phlox paniculata)
Pincushion flower (Scabiosa) Poppy (Papaver)
Primrose (Primula)
Sage (Salvia officinalis and Perovskia atriplicifolia)
Sea holly (Eryngium)
Sea lavender (Limonium)
Solomon's seal (Polygonatum)
Speedwell (Veronica)
Sunflower (Helianthus)
Swordleaf (Inula ensifolia)
Thrift (Armeria)
Valerian (Centranthus)
Valerian, red (Centranthus)
Violet (Viola)
Windflower (Anemone)
Wormwood (Artemisia)
Yarrow (Achillea)

Shrubs for Zone 4

Broadleaf Evergreen Shrubs

Candytuft (Iberis sempervirens)
Garland flower (Daphne cneorum)
Inkberry (Ilex glabra), with protection
Japanese Pieris (Pieris japonica)
Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia)
Oregon Grapeholly (Mahonia aquifolium), warmer areas
Pieris, Japanese (Pieris japonica), Zone 4b with protection
Rhododendron(Rhododendron), some kinds

Deciduous Shrubs

American cranberry bush (Viburnum trilobum)
Azalea, Northern Lights series
Barberry (Berberis thunbergii)
Bottlebrush, Buckeye (Aesculus parviflora)
Buffaloberry (Shepherdia canadensis)
Burning bush (Euonymus alatus)
Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia)
Cinquefoil, bush (Potentilla fruticosa) Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia) Cinquefoil (Potentilla fruticosa) Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster)
Dogwood (Cornus)
Enkianthus (Enkianthus campanulatus)
Flowering Quince (Chaenomeles speciosa)
Fothergilla (Fothergilla)
Honeysuckle (Lonicera)
Hydrangea (Hydrangea), some types
Korean Rhododendron (Rhododendron mucronulatum)
Lilac (Syringa)
Rose (Rosa)
Serviceberry (Amelanchier)
Silverberry (Elaeagnus commutata)
Smoketree (Cotinus coggygria) in protected areas
Spicebush (Lindera benzoin)
Spirea (Spiraea), some kinds
Staghorn Sumac (Rhus)
Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia)
Tamarisk (Tamarix ramosissima)
Viburnum (Viburnum)
Willow, dwarf blue-leaf Arctic (Salix purpurea)
Winterberry (Ilex verticillata)

Conifers for Zone 4

Arborvitae (Thuja)
Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)
False Cypress (Chamaecyparis)
Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis)
squamata) Juniper (Juniperus)
Pine (Pinus)
Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana)
Spruce (Picea), some kinds
Yew (Taxus canadensis)

Deciduous Trees for Zone 4

Aspen, quaking (Populus tremuloides)
Ash (Sorbus)
Beech (Fagus)
Birch (Betula)
Box elder (Acer negundo)
Buckeye (Aesculus)
Butternut (Juglans cinerea)
Cherry (Prunus) some
Cottonwood (Populus balsamifera)
Crabapple (Malus)
Dogwood (Cornus mas)
Elm (Ulmus)
Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus)
Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)
Hawthorn (Crataegus viridis)
Hickory (Carya glabra)
Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis)
Hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana)
Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana)
Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus), in protected areas
Larch (Larix laricina)
Maple (Acer)
Oak (Quercus)
Poplar (Populus)
Redbud (Cercis)
Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum), in protected sites
Tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica)
Walnut (Juglans)
Winterberry (Ilex verticillata)
Witchhazel (Hamamelis)

Vines for Zone 4

Perennial

Akebia (Akebia quinata)
Boston ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata)
Clematis (Clematis), selected varieties
Dutchman's pipe (Aristolochia durior) Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans)
Wisteria (Wisteria sp.)

Annual

Gourd (Curcubita, Lagenaria and Luffa)
Morning glory (Ipomoea tricolor)
Purple hyacinth bean (Lablab purpurea)