Massachusetts Climate Snapshot
Understanding your local climate is key to creating a thriving, low-maintenance garden
Hardiness Zones
5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a
Annual Rainfall
42-48 inches annually
Frost Window
May-October (varies by region)
Water Notes
Adequate rainfall; irrigation helpful in summer
Popular Landscaping Styles
Discover design styles perfectly suited to Massachusetts's unique climate and landscape
Informal mix of perennials, roses, and flowering shrubs
Key Features:
- •Picket fences and stone walls
- •Peonies and delphiniums
- •Climbing roses
- •Mixed perennial borders
Salt-tolerant plants for Cape Cod and coastal areas
Key Features:
- •Beach roses and hydrangeas
- •Salt-tolerant shrubs
- •Ornamental grasses
- •Raised beds
Shade garden with native ferns and wildflowers
Key Features:
- •Native azaleas and rhododendrons
- •Spring ephemerals
- •Ferns and hostas
- •Mulched paths
Year-round structure and color for New England winters
Key Features:
- •Evergreens for winter interest
- •Ornamental grasses
- •Berry-bearing shrubs
- •Colorful bark specimens
Recommended Plant Palettes
Native and adapted plants that thrive in Massachusetts's climate
American Cranberry
Vaccinium macrocarpon
Low groundcover with edible berries
Mountain Laurel
Kalmia latifolia
Evergreen shrub with pink-white flower clusters
New England Aster
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
Purple fall flowers; important pollinator plant
Winterberry
Ilex verticillata
Deciduous holly with bright red winter berries
Peony
Paeonia lactiflora
Fragrant spring blooms; long-lived perennial
Daylily
Hemerocallis spp.
Reliable summer bloomer; many varieties
Delphinium
Delphinium spp.
Tall spikes of blue flowers; loves cool weather
Astilbe
Astilbe chinensis
Feathery plumes for shade; many colors
Beach Rose
Rosa rugosa
Fragrant flowers; tolerates salt spray
Hydrangea
Hydrangea macrophylla
Large mophead blooms; thrives in coastal climate
Bayberry
Morella pensylvanica
Native shrub with aromatic gray berries
Switchgrass
Panicum virgatum
Native grass; salt-tolerant and architectural
Seasonal Garden Checklist
Your year-round guide to maintaining a beautiful Massachusetts garden
Plant spring bulbs before ground freezes
Mulch perennials and protect tender plants
Plan garden and order seeds
Prune roses and start seeds indoors
Plant vegetables after last frost
Harvest vegetables and deadhead flowers
Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers to common questions about landscaping in Massachusetts
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