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Plant Guide

Best Plants for Arlington, Texas

📍 Arlington, TX 🌡️ USDA Zone 8a 🌱 336+ compatible plants

Gardening in Arlington

Arlington falls in USDA Hardiness Zone 8a, which means your plants need to survive winters with minimum temperatures in the 10°F to 20°F range. The 336+ plants below are proven performers for your zone — including deer-resistant varieties, pet-friendly options, and pollinator-attracting species.

Top Plant Picks for Arlington

Deutzia
Deutzia
Deutzia spp.
Delightful pink and white blooms from June to September brighten gardens with a long-lasting display. This low-maintenance shrub attracts pollinators, thrives in zones 4-9, and is both dog- and cat-friendly.
Zone 4–9🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Salvia Nemorosa
Salvia Nemorosa
Salvia nemorosa
Woodland sage (Salvia nemorosa) is a compact, deer-resistant perennial prized for its tall spikes of violet-purple flowers from late spring through summer. A magnet for bees and butterflies, it thrives in full sun with minimal water and is not listed as toxic to dogs, cats, or rabbits.
Zone 4–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Allium Purple Sensation
Allium Purple Sensation
Allium aflatunense
Vibrant, globe-shaped purple blooms burst in late spring, creating stunning garden focal points. Deer resistant and hardy in USDA zones 4-8, it attracts pollinators with ease.
Zone 4–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator
Granny Smith Apple Tree
Granny Smith Apple Tree
Malus domestica 'Granny Smith'
Vibrant green apples ripen in late summer, adding a crisp splash of color and flavor to your garden. Hardy in USDA zones 5-9, this tree offers low-maintenance fruit with excellent disease resistance.
Zone 5–9🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Swamp White Oak
Swamp White Oak
Quercus bicolor
Bright green leaves turn stunning golden-yellow in fall, adding seasonal interest from spring through autumn. This hardy oak thrives in USDA zones 3-9, tolerates wet soils, and resists deer damage.
Zone 4–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator
Limelight Panicle Hydrangea
Limelight Panicle Hydrangea
Hydrangea paniculata 'Limelight'
Showcasing stunning white to pink blooms from June to September, this shrub brightens gardens with its long-lasting color. Low-maintenance and deer resistant, it thrives in USDA zones 4-9 while attracting pollinators.
Zone 4–9🐝 Pollinator
Tall Garden Phlox
Tall Garden Phlox
Phlox paniculata
Clusters of fragrant, vibrant pink to purple blooms light up summer gardens with dazzling color. This deer-resistant beauty thrives in USDA zones 4-8 and attracts pollinators all season long.
Zone 4–8🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Hayscented Fern
Hayscented Fern
Dennstaedtia punctilobula
Delicate, bright green fronds of this native fern add a soft, airy texture to shaded gardens from spring through fall. Thriving in USDA zones 4-9, it’s low maintenance, deer resistant, and attracts pollinators.
Zone 4–9🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Chicago Hardy Fig Tree
Chicago Hardy Fig Tree
Ficus carica 'Chicago Hardy'
Vibrant green leaves and sweet, edible figs ripen late summer to fall on this hardy tree. Thrives in USDA zones 5-9, it's cold-tolerant and low maintenance.
Zone 5–10🐾 Pet-Friendly†
Aster
Aster
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
Vibrant purple blooms light up late summer and fall gardens with a stunning splash of color. This hardy, pollinator-friendly perennial thrives in USDA zones 3-8 and is low maintenance.
Zone 3–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Azalea Encore
Azalea Encore
Rhododendron Encore series
Vibrant blooms in shades of pink, red, and white brighten spring through fall, offering nonstop color in your garden. This low-maintenance, deer-resistant shrub thrives in USDA zones 6-9 and attracts pollinators.
Zone 6–10🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator
California Poppy
California Poppy
Eschscholzia californica
Vibrant orange blooms light up spring and summer gardens with a cheerful glow. This low-maintenance, drought-tolerant beauty thrives in USDA zones 6-10 and attracts pollinators.
Zone 6–10🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator

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Other Cities in Zone 8a

Dallas, TX Austin, TX Fort Worth, TX Charlotte, NC Seattle, WA El Paso, TX Portland, OR Atlanta, GA

Browse All 336+ Plants for Zone 8a

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

View All Zone 8 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.