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Plant Guide

Best Plants for Anaheim, California

📍 Anaheim, CA 🌡️ USDA Zone 10a 🌱 61+ compatible plants

Gardening in Anaheim

Anaheim falls in USDA Hardiness Zone 10a, which means your plants need to survive winters with minimum temperatures in the 30°F to 40°F range. The 61+ plants below are proven performers for your zone — including deer-resistant varieties, pet-friendly options, and pollinator-attracting species.

Top Plant Picks for Anaheim

Coleus
Coleus
Plectranthus scutellarioides
Vibrant, multicolored foliage brightens summer gardens with shades of red, green, and purple that last through USDA zones 10-11. This low-maintenance, shade-tolerant plant adds striking color without attracting deer.
Zone 2–11🦌 Deer-Resistant
Centipede Grass
Centipede Grass
Eremochloa ophiuroides
The "lazy man's grass" of the Southeast. Extremely low maintenance, thrives in poor acidic soil, and needs minimal fertilizer. Light apple-green color.
Zone 7–10🐾 Pet-Friendly†
Sunflower
Sunflower
Helianthus annuus
Iconic annual with large, cheerful flower heads that follow the sun. Easy to grow from seed, sunflowers provide dramatic height, vibrant color, and abundant food for pollinators and birds. Available in sizes from dwarf (2 ft) to giant (12 ft).
Zone 2–11🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Firebush
Firebush
Hamelia patens
Vibrant red-orange blooms light up summer through fall, attracting hummingbirds and butterflies with their fiery appeal. This drought-tolerant, deer-resistant shrub thrives in USDA zones 8-11.
Zone 8–11🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Blanket Flower
Blanket Flower
Gaillardia aristata
Vibrant red and yellow blooms light up gardens from early summer to fall, creating a stunning, long-lasting display. This drought-tolerant, deer-resistant beauty thrives in USDA zones 3-10 and attracts pollinators with ease.
Zone 3–10🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Zoysia Grass
Zoysia Grass
Zoysia japonica
A dense, slow-growing warm-season grass that forms a thick carpet resistant to weeds, drought, and foot traffic. Excellent for families with dogs.
Zone 6–11🐾 Pet-Friendly†
Drift Rose
Drift Rose
Rosa Drift
Vibrant blooms in shades of pink, red, and coral brighten summer through fall with nonstop color and charm. This low-maintenance, disease-resistant shrub thrives in USDA zones 4-9 and resists deer browsing.
Zone 4–11🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator
Zinnia
Zinnia
Zinnia elegans
Vibrant, daisy-like blooms in shades of red, pink, yellow, and orange brighten summer gardens with nonstop color. Thriving in USDA zones 3-10, zinnias attract pollinators and require minimal care.
Zone 2–11🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Cosmos
Cosmos
Cosmos bipinnatus
Delicate, daisy-like pink, white, and magenta blooms brighten summer and fall gardens with vibrant color. This low-maintenance beauty attracts pollinators and thrives in USDA zones 2-11.
Zone 2–11🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Marigold
Marigold
Tagetes patula
Bright orange and yellow blooms light up gardens from summer to fall, adding vibrant color and cheer. This low-maintenance, deer-resistant flower thrives in USDA zones 2-11 and attracts pollinators.
Zone 2–11🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator
Purple Fountain Grass
Purple Fountain Grass
Pennisetum setaceum
Stunning burgundy-purple foliage and arching flower plumes make Purple Fountain Grass a popular ornamental. Banned in California, Arizona, and Hawaii due to catastrophic invasive spread.
Zone 9–11🦌 Deer-Resistant
Pansy
Pansy
Viola × wittrockiana
Vibrant pansy blooms burst in cool spring and fall, showcasing cheerful purples, yellows, and blues that brighten any garden. Hardy in USDA zones 6-9, they thrive in sun to partial shade and attract pollinators while being low maintenance.
Zone 4–10🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator

Get a Personalized Plant List for Anaheim

Answer 4 quick questions about your yard — sun, soil, deer pressure, and pet situation — and get a custom list of plants that will thrive in Zone 10a.

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Other Cities in Zone 10a

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Browse All 61+ Plants for Zone 10a

The 12 picks above are a sample. Use the full directory to filter by sun, water, deer resistance, and more.

View All Zone 10 Plants →

† "Pet-friendly" means not listed as toxic by ASPCA for dogs and/or cats. Always supervise pets around plants. ASPCA Animal Poison Control: (888) 426-4435.