USDA Zone 1 is the coldest plant hardiness zone in the United States, where winter temperatures can drop below −50°F (−45.6°C). This zone experiences extremely harsh and prolonged winters, with short, cool summers that limit the growing season to just a few weeks. Only the toughest, cold-hardy plants can survive here, it is one of the most challenging zones for gardening or agriculture.
Zone 1 primarily covers the coldest regions of North America, including parts of northern Alaska, the northernmost areas of Canada, and small portions of high-elevation mountain ranges in the United States. These regions are often characterized by permafrost, tundra landscapes, and very little soil development suitable for deep-rooted vegetation.
The growing season in Zone 1 is very brief—often lasting no more than 30 to 60 days. During this short window, plants must grow, flower, and seed quickly before the frost returns. This favors hardy perennials, alpine plants, mosses, and lichens, which can survive freezing temperatures and limited sunlight.
Because of the climate, most gardening in Zone 1 is done using greenhouses, raised beds, or containers that can be easily moved or protected. Gardeners rely on season extension techniques such as frost covers, cold frames, and indoor seed starting to make the most of the short summer.
Trees For USDA Zone 1
Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides)
This tree exhibits a very fast growth rate for Zone 1, often exceeding 2 feet per year when young, and can reach a mature height of 20 to 50 feet. Its key characteristic is its rounded leaves that “quake” in the breeze, showcasing brilliant yellow fall color. It often forms extensive colonies by spreading root suckers.
Quaking Aspen is a quintessential pioneer species, incredibly cold-hardy and one of the first to recolonize disturbed land. Its ability to form dense groves quickly makes it ideal for naturalizing and providing immediate windbreaks and wildlife cover in the most challenging conditions.
Balsam Poplar (Populus balsamifera)
Balsam Poplar is one of the fastest-growing northern trees, capable of growing over 2 feet per year, reaching 50 to 80 feet tall. It is known for its large, glossy dark green leaves with silvery undersides and its fragrant, resinous spring buds that smell like balsam.
This tree is native to the boreal forests of Alaska and Canada, making it perfectly adapted to Zone 1’s deep cold and short seasons. Its rapid vertical growth is excellent for quickly establishing a high canopy for shelter and shade.
Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera)
Paper Birch grows at a fast pace of 1.5 to 2 feet per year, maturing to a height of 50 to 70 feet. It is most famous for its stunning white, papery bark that peels in sheets, providing year-round visual interest, especially in the stark winter landscape.
As a cornerstone of the northern forest, its cold tolerance is exceptional. It’s a sun-loving pioneer species that grows quickly to establish new wooded areas, and its bright bark is a beloved feature in the winter garden.
Tamarack (Larix laricina)
With a medium-fast growth rate of 1 to 2 feet per year, Tamarack can reach 40 to 80 feet tall. Its key characteristic is being a deciduous conifer; it has soft needles that turn a vibrant golden-yellow in autumn before dropping to the ground.
Tamarack is one of the most cold-hardy trees on the continent. It thrives in wet, poorly drained soils that would kill many other trees, making it a crucial choice for challenging, soggy sites in Zone 1.
Feltleaf Willow (Salix alaxensis)
This willow species exhibits an extremely fast growth rate, often growing 3-4 feet in a single season, and can become a large shrub or small tree up to 25 feet tall. Its leaves have fuzzy white undersides (giving it the “feltleaf” name), and it has attractive catkins in spring.
As a native of Arctic and subarctic regions, it is built for the coldest zones. Its explosive growth provides immediate dense, shrubby cover for wildlife and erosion control, and it can be pruned hard to encourage even thicker growth.
Black Spruce (Picea mariana)
While slow when very young, it is considered a medium-fast grower in the context of Zone 1 evergreens, eventually reaching 20-50 feet. It has short, blue-green needles and a narrow, conical shape that often becomes somewhat irregular or “club-topped” with age.
This is a foundational species of the boreal forest. It provides critical year-round evergreen shelter from wind and snow and is exceptionally tolerant of acidic, wet soils, forming the backbone of many northern landscapes.
Siberian Crabapple (Malus baccata)
This tree has a medium-fast growth rate of 1-2 feet per year, forming a rounded crown 20-40 feet tall and wide. It is renowned for its profusion of fragrant white flowers in spring and small, yellow or red crabapples that persist into winter.
Selected hardy cultivars like ‘Dolgo’ are among the few ornamental flowering trees reliable in Zone 1. It provides vital food for birds through its persistent fruit and much-needed spring beauty after a long winter.
Green Alder (Alnus viridis)
Green Alder is a very fast-growing large shrub or small tree, typically reaching 10-20 feet. It is characterized by its glossy, green leaves and attractive yellow catkins (catkins). Like other alders, it fixes nitrogen in the soil, improving fertility for surrounding plants.
This species is exceptionally cold-tolerant and thrives in poor soils. Its rapid, dense growth and nitrogen-fixing ability make it perfect for reclaiming difficult sites, controlling erosion, and creating quick, hardy hedges.
Jack Pine (Pinus banksiana)
Jack Pine grows at a medium to fast rate for a conifer in the north, about 1-2 feet per year, reaching 35-50 feet tall. It has an often irregular shape with twisted needles and distinctive, sharp-curved cones that can remain closed on the tree for years.
This is an extremely hardy and adaptable pine, thriving on well-drained, sandy, and infertile soils where other trees struggle. Its toughness and relatively quick growth make it a top choice for a low-maintenance evergreen screen.
Mountain Ash (Sorbus americana or S. decora)
With a moderate to fast growth rate of 1-2 feet per year, Mountain Ash matures to 15-30 feet tall. Its key features are showy white spring flower clusters and brilliant clusters of orange-red berries in late summer that persist into winter.
Both American (S. americana) and Showy (S. decora) Mountain Ash are very cold-hardy. They are smaller stature trees that provide multi-season interest and are a crucial food source for birds, all while withstanding Zone 1 winters.
Siberian Larch (Larix sibirica)
Similar to the native Tamarack, Siberian Larch is a deciduous conifer with a medium-fast growth rate, reaching 50-80 feet. It has a more upright and formal pyramidal habit than the Tamarack, with stunning golden-yellow fall color.
As the name implies, this tree is native to Siberia and is built for extreme continental climates. It is an excellent alternative to the native Tamarack, offering a slightly different form and exceptional speed and hardiness for a conifer.
Peachleaf Willow (Salix amygdaloides)
This is one of the larger, fast-growing native willows, capable of adding over 2 feet per year and reaching 30-50 feet tall. It is distinguished by its slender, peach-like leaves that flutter gracefully in the wind.
While it prefers moist sites, it is more drought-tolerant than many willows once established and is fully hardy to Zone 1. Its very rapid growth provides quick shade and a mature tree form faster than almost any other option in this climate.
Bebb Willow (Salix bebbiana)
Bebb Willow is a very fast-growing large shrub or small tree, typically reaching 10 to 25 feet tall. It is characterized by its multi-stemmed form, lance-shaped leaves with a distinctive wrinkled (rugose) texture, and prominent catkins that provide early spring interest.
This native willow is exceptionally hardy and thrives in wet, poor-quality soils. Its rapid, dense growth makes it ideal for erosion control on difficult sites, providing excellent wildlife cover and can be coppiced to encourage thick, shrubby growth for windbreaks.
American Mountain-Alder (Alnus incana ssp. rugosa)
This alder is a fast-growing, multi-stemmed shrub that can reach 15 to 25 feet in height. It features smooth, light gray bark, serrated leaves that are often shiny green, and distinctive woody cone-like strobiles that persist through winter.
Incredibly cold-tolerant, it thrives in wet soils and is a nitrogen-fixing species, improving soil fertility for other plants. Its rapid growth and ability to form dense thickets make it perfect for naturalizing wet, disturbed areas and providing quick shelter.
Siberian Pea Tree (Caragana arborescens)
Growing at a medium-fast rate of 1-2 feet per year, this large, hardy shrub can be trained as a small tree, reaching 15-20 feet tall. It is recognized by its compound leaves, bright yellow pea-like flowers in spring, and seed pods that form later in the season.
This is one of the toughest ornamental plants available, thriving in poor, dry, alkaline, and windy sites where little else will grow. It is an extremely cold and wind-hardy nitrogen-fixer, making it an excellent choice for a hardy, low-maintenance screen or windbreak.
Boxelder (Acer negundo)
Boxelder is a very fast-growing tree, often adding over 2 feet per year, and can reach 30-50 feet tall. It has compound leaves (unusual for a maple), a broad, irregular crown, and greenish-yellow flowers in spring that attract pollinators.
While often considered a “weed tree” in milder zones, its extreme toughness, adaptability to both wet and dry soils, and unparalleled speed of growth make it a practical, if not premium, choice for quick shelterbelts in the most challenging Zone 1 conditions.
Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana)
Chokecherry is a fast-growing large shrub or small tree, reaching 20-30 feet tall. It produces elongated clusters (racemes) of fragrant white flowers in spring, followed by astringent dark purple berries that are excellent for wildlife and jellies.
This native species is widespread across northern North America and is fully hardy to Zone 1. It provides crucial food for birds and pollinators and spreads by root suckers to form dense thickets, ideal for naturalizing and creating wildlife habitat quickly.
Thunderchild Crabapple (Malus ‘Thunderchild’)
This ornamental cultivar has a medium-fast growth rate, reaching about 20 feet tall and wide with a rounded, upright form. It is prized for its deep purple-red foliage, vibrant pink blossoms in spring, and small, dark red persistent fruit.
Bred for extreme cold hardiness, ‘Thunderchild’ is a proven performer in Zone 1. It offers exceptional ornamental value with its colorful leaves and flowers, a rare trait for trees that can survive temperatures below -50°F, making it a standout landscape choice.
Showy Mountain Ash (Sorbus decora)
With a moderate to fast growth rate, Showy Mountain Ash reaches 20-30 feet tall. It features attractive compound leaves, showy clusters of white flowers in spring, and large, brilliant orange-red berry clusters that are highly attractive to birds.
This native is even more ornamental than the American Mountain Ash and is equally cold-hardy. It is a fantastic smaller tree for providing multi-season interest and a vital food source for wildlife in northern climates, thriving where many other ornamentals cannot.
Siberian Elm (Ulmus pumila)
Siberian Elm is a very fast-growing tree, capable of growing over 3 feet per year, reaching 50-70 feet tall. It has small, dark green leaves and a broad, open crown. It is often one of the first trees to leaf out in spring.
Its primary advantage is its incredible toughness; it is extremely cold, drought, and wind tolerant. While it can be invasive and weak-wooded in warmer zones, its ability to establish and grow rapidly in the poorest Zone 1 soils makes it a common shelterbelt tree.
Pin Cherry (Prunus pensylvanica)
Pin Cherry is a very fast-growing, short-lived pioneer species, reaching 20-30 feet tall. It is easily identified by its shiny, reddish bark with horizontal lenticels, bright red cherries on long stems, and its tendency to form dense, temporary thickets.
This native tree is a classic colonizer of burned or cleared land in the boreal forest. Its exceptional speed of growth provides quick cover for birds and animals, and its fruit is an important food source, making it ideal for naturalizing large, tough areas.
Manchurian Alder (Alnus hirsuta)
This tree exhibits a fast growth rate, reaching 40-60 feet tall in its native range. It has a broad, pyramidal form, large, rounded leaves that are hairy underneath, and the characteristic woody catkins of the alder family.
Also known as Alnus sibirica, this alder is renowned for its extreme cold tolerance. It is another excellent nitrogen-fixing species that thrives in moist soils, making it a great candidate for rapid reforestation, erosion control, and improving soil quality on difficult sites.
Hoary Willow (Salix candida)
This is a fast-growing, smaller willow, typically forming a dense shrub 3-6 feet tall but capable of reaching 10 feet. Its most striking feature is its leaves, which are covered in dense, silky white hairs (hoar), giving the whole plant a silvery-gray appearance.
A specialist of cold, calcareous wetlands like fens, it is built for some of the most specific and challenging habitats within Zone 1. Its unique foliage, rapid growth, and extreme hardiness make it a superb choice for wetland restoration and ornamental interest in wet, alkaline soils.
Lodgepole Pine (Pinus contorta var. latifolia)
This pine has a medium to fast growth rate for a conifer, growing 1-2 feet per year and reaching 40-80 feet tall with a tall, straight, narrow crown. It has yellowish-green needles and sharp-barbed cones that often require fire to open and release seeds.
While more common in western boreal forests, its hardiness extends into Zone 1. It is a tough, adaptable pine that grows well on a variety of soils and is known for its ability to form dense, pure stands quickly after a disturbance, providing a fast-evergreen screen.