Top Perennial Plants for Minnesota Landscapes: A Guide for Cold-Hardy Beauty

hydrangea yard

Minnesota residents cherish their outdoor spaces and seek plants that can withstand the state’s harsh winters while adding beauty and vibrancy to their landscapes. If you’re looking to transform your garden into a lush paradise, we’ve got you covered with our selection of top perennial shrubs, bushes, and trees that are perfectly suited to Minnesota’s climate.

Perennial Shrubs

Lilacs (Syringa spp.)

Known for their fragrant blooms and elegant appearance, Lilacs are a beloved choice for Minnesota gardens. Their clusters of purple, pink, or white flowers usher in the spring with unmatched beauty and fragrance.

New Lilacs At Applewood For 2024!!

  • Summerific® Lilac Crush Hibiscus – This bold garden perennial gets to be 6′ and features showy ruffled, large lilac flowers with lavender-blue overtones; appears more blue under cool conditions; attractive dark-green leaves; ideal for the mixed garden border or in mass.
  • Durabloom® Electric Lilac Petunia – Getting to 12″ and an outstanding easy to grow series that shows excellent weather and stress tolerance; vigorous mounded plants with trailing tendencies feature large, brightly colored blooms all season long; superb performance in landscapes and containers.

Spirea (Spiraea spp.)

With their cascading branches and delicate blooms, spirea shrubs add grace and charm to any landscape. These hardy plants come in various sizes and colors, from the compact ‘Little Princess‘ with pink flowers to the larger ‘Firegold‘ with white blooms.

Hydrangeas (Hydrangea spp.)

Hydrangeas are prized for their stunning flower heads that range in color from blue and pink to white and purple. These versatile shrubs thrive in Minnesota’s acidic soils and partial shade, making them a favorite among gardeners.

New Hydrangeas At Applewood For 2024!!

  • Endless Summer® Pop Star® Hydrangea – A compact hydrangea that blooms on old and new wood, giving a long season of color; rounded lacecap flowers are electric blue in acidic soil, or shades of pink in neutral or alkaline soils; Reaching 3′ makes it perfect for shrub borders or containers.

Ninebark (Physocarpus spp.)

Named for its peeling bark that reveals layers of contrasting colors, Ninebark adds visual interest to any landscape. This hardy shrub produces clusters of white or pink flowers in the spring, followed by colorful foliage in the fall. One of our favorites at Applewood is the ‘Diablo® Ninebark‘ which reaches 8’ and is a large spreading shrub with intensely purple leaves all season long, small white flowers followed by pretty reddish fruit which show well against the foliage, and interesting peeling papery bark; extremely tough and durable, makes a superb color accent.

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Viburnums (Viburnum spp.)

Viburnums are valued for their ornamental flowers, berries, and foliage, making them a multi-seasonal favorite in Minnesota gardens. Whether you choose the Nannyberry which will grow to be about 15 feet tall at maturity, or the Lil’ Ditty® Witherod Viburnum, an outstanding dwarf variety, both produce large clusters of creamy white fragrant flowers in late spring.

Weigela (Weigela spp.)

Weigelas are prized for their beautiful trumpet-shaped flowers that attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators to the garden. With varieties ranging from dwarf compact shrubs to larger specimens, there’s a weigela for every garden space. A favorite variety of ours is the ‘Wine and Roses® Weigela,’ a flamboyant new spring-flowering compact shrub, featuring rosy-pink trumpet-shaped flowers held over deep wine-colored foliage. Truly stunning!

Potentilla (Potentilla fruticosa)

Potentillas are renowned for their profusion of bright yellow, orange, or pink flowers that bloom from late spring to early fall. These low-maintenance shrubs are drought-tolerant and thrive in Minnesota’s challenging climate. With its long lifespan and stunning double orange blooms, the Marmalade® Potentilla is one of our ideal choices for adding color and charm to your landscape.

Forsythia (Forsythia spp.)

Forsythias are early bloomers that herald the arrival of spring with their bright yellow flowers. These fast-growing shrubs are ideal for creating hedges or adding a splash of color to the landscape. The Northern Gold Forsythia specifically, is the ultimate choice for vibrant spring color with minimal maintenance. Standing at 8 feet tall with a 7-foot spread, this vigorous shrub bursts with stunning gold bell-shaped flowers in early spring. Resilient and hardy, it requires little pruning and is deer-resistant, making it a hassle-free addition to any garden. Thriving in full sunlight and adaptable to various conditions, Northern Gold Forsythia brings enduring beauty to your landscape year after year.

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Barberry (Berberis spp.)

Barberries are prized for their colorful foliage, which ranges from shades of green and gold to deep burgundy. These deer-resistant shrubs add year-round interest to the garden and are highly adaptable to various soil conditions. The Helmond Pillar Japanese Barberry is our standout choice for landscapes, offering striking purple-red foliage and an upright, columnar form. With showy scarlet fruit in fall and clusters of yellow flowers in spring, this low-maintenance shrub adds beauty year-round. Perfect for vertical accents or mass plantings, it thrives in full sun to partial shade and adapts well to various conditions. Deer-resistant and requiring minimal pruning, it’s an ideal choice for creating focal points or hedges with enduring elegance.

Elderberry (Sambucus spp.)

Elderberries are valued for their ornamental foliage, fragrant flowers, and edible berries. These versatile shrubs are not only beautiful but also attract pollinators and provide food for wildlife. We love the Red-Berried Elderberry which is a tough and adaptable shrub, prized for its creamy white spring flowers and vibrant red berries. With an upright spreading habit, it adds beauty to any landscape, perfect for mass plantings or hedges. Low-maintenance and tolerant of various conditions, it thrives in full sun to partial shade. Growing up to 10 feet tall with a spread of 8 feet, it’s an ideal choice for attracting birds and adding color to your yard.

Perennial Bushes

Peonies (Paeonia spp.)

Peonies are cherished for their large, fragrant blooms and lush foliage. These long-lived perennials come in a variety of colors, including white, pink, red, and coral, and thrive in Minnesota’s cold climate.

New At Applewood For 2024!!

  • Many Happy Returns Peony – A stunning, gold medal winner presenting sphere shaped, fully double blooms in vibrant red; long lasting flowers on sturdy stems; great for borders or mass planting; an excellent cut flower.

Rhododendrons/Azalea (Rhododendron spp.)

Rhododendrons are prized for their showy flowers and evergreen foliage. These shade-loving bushes come in a range of colors and sizes, making them a versatile choice for Minnesota gardens. From the light pink blooms of the Aglo Rhododendron, to the deep golden flowers of the Golden Lights Azalea, there is a Rhododendron for everyone.

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Boxwood (Buxus spp.)

Boxwoods are prized for their dense foliage and elegant appearance. These versatile bushes can be shaped into hedges, topiaries, or specimen plants and provide year-round interest in the garden. Both the Chicagoland Green Boxwood and the Green Velvet Boxwood are primarily valued in the landscape or garden for their ornamental globe-shaped form. It has forest green evergreen foliage. The small round leaves remain forest green throughout the winter.

Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus)

Rose of Sharon Hibiscus is valued for its large, showy flowers that bloom from midsummer to fall. These heat-tolerant bushes come in a variety of colors and are prized for their long-lasting blooms.

New At Applewood For 2024!!

  • Summerific® Edge of Night Hibiscus – Summerific® Edge of Night Hibiscus is a striking garden perennial with bubblegum pink flowers and jet black foliage. Perfect for beds, borders, or mass plantings, it thrives in full sun to partial shade. Attracting butterflies and hummingbirds, it adds beauty and wildlife interest to your yard. Growing up to 3 feet tall with a spread of 4 feet, it’s ideal for vibrant garden displays. 
  • Summerific® Evening Rose Hibiscus – Summerific® Evening Rose Hibiscus is a striking garden perennial with hot pink flowers and near-black foliage. Perfect for mixed borders or mass plantings, it thrives in full sun to partial shade. Attracting butterflies and hummingbirds, it adds beauty and wildlife interest to your yard. Growing up to 4 feet tall with a spread of 5 feet, it’s ideal for vibrant garden displays.
  • Summerific® Lilac Crush Hibiscus – Summerific® Lilac Crush Hibiscus is a bold garden perennial with ruffled lilac flowers and dark-green leaves. Perfect for mixed borders or mass plantings, it thrives in full sun to partial shade. Attracting butterflies and hummingbirds, it adds beauty and wildlife interest to your yard. Growing up to 6 feet tall with a spread of 5 feet, it’s ideal for accentuating garden displays.

Blueberry (Vaccinium spp.)

Blueberries are prized for their delicious fruit and ornamental value. These versatile bushes thrive in acidic soils and produce white or pink flowers in the spring, followed by tasty berries in the summer. Varieties like, Northblue Blueberry, Northcountry Blueberry, and Northland Blueberry all do well in Minnesota.

Smokebush (Cotinus spp.)

Smokebushes are prized for their unique, smoky-purple foliage that adds drama to the landscape. These drought-tolerant bushes produce fluffy plumes of flowers in the summer, creating a striking visual display.

New At Applewood For 2024!!

  • Winecraft Gold® Smokebush – Winecraft Gold® Smokebush is a bold and beautiful shrub, perfect for adding a vibrant color accent to your garden. With its orange emerging foliage maturing to chartreuse, and smoky plumes of green to pink in early to mid-summer, it’s a standout choice for any landscape. Growing to 6 feet tall with a spread of 6 feet, it’s ideal for accents, mass plantings, or screening. Low-maintenance and deer-resistant, it thrives in full sunlight and adapts well to various conditions.

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Perennial Trees

Red Maple (Acer rubrum)

Red Maples are valued for their brilliant fall foliage and adaptability to various soil conditions. These fast-growing trees are ideal for providing shade and adding color to the landscape.

Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum)

Sugar Maples are prized for their stunning fall foliage and sap, which is used to make maple syrup. These majestic trees are a symbol of the North American landscape and provide shade, beauty, and wildlife habitat.

River Birch (Betula nigra)

River Birches are valued for their peeling bark, which reveals shades of cinnamon, cream, and salmon. These graceful trees thrive in wet soil conditions and provide year-round interest in the landscape.

Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.)

Serviceberries are prized for their delicate white flowers, edible berries, and vibrant fall foliage. These small trees are ideal for urban gardens and provide food for birds and wildlife.

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Crabapple (Malus spp.)

Crabapples are prized for their showy spring blooms and colorful fruit. These versatile trees come in a range of sizes and varieties, from weeping forms to upright specimens, and attract birds with their nutritious berries.

Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)

Flowering Dogwoods are valued for their showy spring blooms and striking fall foliage. These understory trees thrive in partial shade and provide habitat for birds and wildlife.

Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum)

Japanese Maples are prized for their graceful form, delicate foliage, and stunning fall colors. These ornamental trees come in a variety of shapes and sizes, from cascading laceleaf varieties to upright specimens.

Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra)

Northern Red Oaks are prized for their majestic stature, strong wood, and vibrant fall foliage. These long-lived trees are a symbol of strength and resilience and provide habitat for a variety of wildlife.

White Pine (Pinus strobus)

White Pines are prized for their graceful form, soft needles, and evergreen foliage. These fast-growing trees are ideal for windbreaks and privacy screens and provide habitat for birds and wildlife.

Shop All Perennial Trees, Bushes, and Shrubs At Applewood Nursery & Landscape Supply

Whether you’re seeking vibrant blooms, colorful foliage, or edible fruit, our selection of top perennial shrubs, bushes, and trees has something for every Minnesota garden. From lilacs and peonies to red maples and serviceberries, these hardy plants are sure to thrive in the challenging climate and enhance the beauty of your landscape for years to come. Visit our nursery today to explore our wide range of cold-hardy perennials and start creating the garden of your dreams.

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