Zones 1 and 2 are among the most unique gardening situations in all of the USDA zones. Plants require specific adaptations to withstand frigid conditions for prolonged periods of time. From tundra to taiga to mountain woodlands, the species that grow and flower and fruit in the lowest growing zones is a wonder. The plant communities teem with biodiversity, growing in windswept slopes in rocky, organic soils and along boggy margins in the warm season.

The average lowest winter temperatures in zone 1 are -60 to -50°F (-51 to -46°C) and in zone 2 -50 to -40°F (-46 to -40°C). In North America, these zones occur in Alaska and upper Canada, including Yukon, Nunavut, and Northwest Territories. The average last frost dates in spring are in late May (zone 1) to early June (zone 2). Fall’s first frost usually occurs in August for the coldest zone 1 and early September for zone 2. With a short growing season, plants may be dwarfed or compact to use resources efficiently. 

Serviceberry

Sweet, blueberry-flavored berries ripen beautifully in the summer.

Alder-leaved, or Saskatoon serviceberry, is a deciduous shrub or small specimen tree that flowers and fruits. Showy white flower clusters appear in spring before the leaves emerge. Small, edible berries follow, ripening to purple-black over the summer with a blueberry flavor.

In the fall, green leaves with pale undersides turn shades of gold and burgundy for multi-season appeal. Even when the leaves drop, the form remains attractive with soft gray bark. The species is native to western and northern regions of North America.

Look to ‘Regent’ for an award-winning compact selection with good fall color. It reaches four to six feet with early flowering and a rounded form. Masses of crisp white flowers bring a light fragrance as temperatures warm. Birds and people enjoy the sweet berries.

Ninebark

Soft pinkish-white blooms create a dreamy spring display.

Ninebark is a shrub for zone 2 and worth a try in protected areas of zone 1 due to its rugged durability and ease of growth. Native to eastern North America, common ninebark is drought-tolerant, withstands various soils from clay to rocky, and grows across conditions.

Ninebark has ornamental features that distinguish it by season in the landscape. It has exfoliating bark that peels to reveal shades of red, copper, and light brown, adding winter interest. PInkish-white flower clusters cover the shrubs in soft, hazy spheres in spring. New leaves are chartreuse and mature to deeper green, turning yellow in late summer in the coldest zones. Drooping red berries develop post-bloom.

Ninebark is a favorite for pollinators and beneficial insects as a rich nectar source from its multitude of petite flowers. Birds and small berries forage on the fruits. Numerous cultivars bring dynamic foliage in burgundy or gold in dwarf or more compact forms. Most are reliably hardy to zone 3; offer protection if trying them in lower zones. The straight species is the hardiest of these shrubs for zones 1 and 2.

Tatarian Dogwood

New stems show the most vivid and brilliant color.

Red-barked dogwoods are highly ornamental with bright red stems, fall color, white berries, and creamy white blooms. Also called Siberian dogwood, these woody shrubs are reliable in zone 2. They’re a fit for naturalistic arrangements and hedges and make an impact in a group. While less aggressive spreaders than red twig dogwood, they form thickets with suckering shoots. 

Young stems show the best color. Remove a quarter of old stems in early spring to promote new growth. Cut stems back entirely every few years as regenerative pruning. Sever any unwanted suckering shoots with a spade to prevent unwanted spread.

Neon Burst ‘Byboughen’ has striking yellow-chartreuse leaves and a dense, rounded habit that reaches four to five feet tall. It shows the brightest color in full sun and resists scorch.

Dwarf Arborvitae

Tidy, globe-shaped forms stay neat with little to no pruning.

There are so many useful dwarf varieties of American arborvitae that grow in the lowest zones. Cultivars of this Eastern U.S. native species boast tightly packed, flat sprays of foliage on rounded or pyramidal forms. Long-lived in the landscape, they grow slowly and perform as evergreen anchors for foundations, along walkways, and in mixed borders.

Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit recipient ‘Hetz Midget’ is a staple among dwarf selections. It reaches three to four feet tall and has blue-green scales. ‘Sunkist’ (also with AGM status) is broadly pyramidal at six to ten feet. Its sunny yellow leaves transition to orangey gold in winter. ‘Golden Globe’ has thick, soft yellow leaves and reaches only two to four feet. They retain a tidy globe shape and need little, if any, pruning.

Thuja is easy to grow in well-draining soils. It does best with regular moisture.

Red Twig Dogwood

Colorful twigs and berries attract birds and wildlife year-round.

Red twig dogwoods offer unique adaptations with upright stems that turn from burgundy to bright red in cold weather. Striking in the winter landscape, the red twig dogwood is a suckering shrub native to much of North America. Cultivars in yellow and coral with green, gold, or variegated foliage add to the interest.

Red twigs produce small white flowers and white, blue, or purple berries that provide forage for birds and wildlife. The twiggy branches form thickets and do well in moist areas. In a sweep or stand, they stand out amongst a snowy backdrop. Like Cornus alba, they’re beautiful in naturalized compositions. 

Arrowwood Viburnum

It’s a multi-season beauty with fragrant blooms and colorful fall foliage.

Viburnum provides fragrant blooms and colorful interest throughout the year. Textural leaves and clusters of creamy white flowers make this durable native worthy of a spot in the cold-climate garden. Foliage turns yellow or burgundy red in the fall. Flattened clusters of blue-black berries emerge after early summer blooms and are an asset for wildlife.  Pollinators visit the blooms, and songbirds forage on the berries.

Arrowwood viburnums are multistemmed, deciduous shrubs with upright branches. They make adaptable screens, mixed borders, and grouped plantings in challenging sites. Viburnums are low-maintenance and prefer moist, well-drained soils.

Bearberry

This resilient groundcover adapts to dry, shaded areas.

Bearberry forms a thick, evergreen groundcover in challenging situations. A great low-growing shrub for zones 1 and 2 (zone 1 with protection), the hardy, broadleaf creeper spreads slowly. This North American native grows on dry slopes, open woodlands, meadows, and sandy beaches. It provides interest across the seasons and valuable fruits for wildlife. 

In summer, white blossoms lead to green drupes that turn red in fall. The dark green leaves take on a bronze tinge with winter temperatures. The rugged bearberry does best in dry situations and tolerates dappled light under tree canopy.

Juniper

Waxy berries and exfoliating bark create year-round interest.

Junipers range in shape and size from trailing groundcovers to tall, columnar trees. Their foliage, which ranges from deep green to blue to gray, adds evergreen interest. Their blue, waxy berries add to the winter aesthetic.

Common juniper (Juniperus communis) reaches 5 to 25 feet and has a wide range in cool climates, including growing wildly in the Arctic Circle. In harsh exposures, plants form low-growing, prostrate shrubs. Short needles line the multi-stems, and the exfoliating bark is attractive in red and brown.

For a foundation planting or along walkways, ‘Effusa’ is a low-growing cultivar at just 18 inches tall with a contained spread of four to six feet. ‘ReeDak’ Copper Delight reaches two feet tall and over 10 feet wide with dynamic foliage that changes from green to bronze. ‘AmiDak’ Blueberry Delight® has a similar habit with dark green leaves with silver blue tones. Both ‘Delights’ are out of the Badlands in North Dakota.

Rosa glauca

Late spring flowers and fall hips create seasonal interest.

Rosa glauca is another species rose to delight with bright blooms. The shrub rose has soft pink, single-petaled blooms. Distinctive foliage also adds interest in silvery blue with blushes of plum-purple.

The starry flowers emerge in late spring and carry a subtle fragrance. Abundant orange-red hips ripen in fall and last into winter, along with burgundy canes to further the cold-season interest.

Rosa glauca is a sturdy, disease-resistant rose with few thorns. It makes an excellent specimen or small grouped planting at the back of the perennial border, woodland edge, and shrub border.

Labrador Tea

Clusters of white flowers attract pollinators in summer.

Labrador tea grows across the coldest regions of North America, making it a versatile native shrub in zones 1 and 2. It grows in bogs, swamps, muskegs, spruce forests, and alpine ledges. The low, globe-shaped evergreens have azalea-like leaves (in the same genus), small and dark green with fine brown hairs on the undersides.

Tiny white flowers emerge in summer in rounded clusters for soft ornament and a pollinator draw. Labrador tea has a long history of ethnobotanical uses for medicinal purposes. Its thick, glossy leaves are aromatic but slightly toxic.

Purple-Leaf Sand Cherry

Showy pinkish-white blooms are followed by dark berries for birds.

Purple-leaf sand cherry, also called dwarf red-leaf plum, has showy, deep purple-red leaves for high contrast in the arrangement. They shine in sunlight and hold their color throughout the season. The striking foliage and landscape performance earned this cold-hardy shrub the Award of Garden Merit.

The hybrid out of South Dakota State University in 1910 has pinkish-white flowers that appear after leaves emerge. They lead to small, dark berries that birds enjoy. Sand cherries are easy to grow in well-drained soils. Their rounded, dense, upright form is an asset in mixed hedges, foundations, privacy fences, and specimens.