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Plant Guide

Best Plants for Arlington, Texas

📍 Arlington, TX 🌡️ USDA Zone 8a 🌱 337+ 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 337+ plants below are proven performers for your zone — including deer-resistant varieties, pet-friendly options, and pollinator-attracting species.

Top Plant Picks for Arlington

Bald Cypress
Bald Cypress
Taxodium distichum
Feathery, soft foliage turns stunning shades of pink and white from June to September, adding vibrant color to summer landscapes. This low-maintenance, pollinator-friendly tree thrives in full sun across USDA zones 4-9 and is safe for pets.
Zone 4–9🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
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Chaste Tree
Chaste Tree
Vitex agnus-castus
Lavender-blue blooms crown this Chaste Tree in summer, creating a stunning, fragrant display. Deer resistant and drought tolerant, it thrives in USDA zones 6-9 while attracting pollinators.
Zone 5–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator
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Invincibelle Spirit Smooth Hydrangea
Invincibelle Spirit Smooth Hydrangea
Hydrangea arborescens 'Invincibelle Spirit'
Showy pink-to-white blooms from June to September light up gardens with vibrant color and texture. This low-maintenance shrub attracts pollinators, thrives in zones 4-9, and tolerates full sun to part shade.
Zone 4–9🐝 Pollinator
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Crabapple
Crabapple
Malus Prairifire
Vibrant red blossoms burst in spring, followed by fiery orange-red fruit that brightens fall landscapes. This crabapple is deer resistant and thrives in USDA zones 4-8, attracting pollinators year-round.
Zone 4–8🐝 Pollinator
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Salvia May Night
Salvia May Night
Salvia nemorosa May Night
Vibrant deep violet-blue blooms burst from late spring to summer, creating a stunning garden display. Deer resistant and drought tolerant, it thrives in USDA zones 4-8 while attracting pollinators.
Zone 4–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator
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Spirea
Spirea
Spiraea japonica
Bright pink blooms burst from late spring to summer, creating a vibrant splash of color in any garden. This hardy shrub thrives in USDA zones 4-9 and is low maintenance and deer resistant.
Zone 4–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
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Muhly Grass
Muhly Grass
Muhlenbergia capillaris
Delicate pink-purple blooms create a stunning airy cloud in fall, adding vibrant seasonal interest. This drought-tolerant grass thrives in USDA zones 5-9 and requires minimal care.
Zone 5–10🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†
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Bottlebrush Grass
Bottlebrush Grass
Elymus hystrix
Distinctive bottlebrush-shaped seed heads on upright stems make this native woodland grass a standout in shaded gardens. Thrives in dry shade where few grasses survive.
Zone 3–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†
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Leucothoe Rainbow
Leucothoe Rainbow
Leucothoe fontanesiana Rainbow
Vibrant red, orange, and pink foliage in spring and fall adds stunning seasonal color to any garden. This shade-tolerant shrub thrives in USDA zones 5-8 and resists deer damage.
Zone 5–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator
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Brunnera
Brunnera
Brunnera macrophylla
Delightful heart-shaped leaves and vibrant blue spring blooms brighten shady spots with a splash of color. This low-maintenance, shade-tolerant beauty thrives in USDA zones 3-8.
Zone 3–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator
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Ligularia
Ligularia
Ligularia dentata
Bold, golden-yellow blooms brighten late summer gardens with striking, large purple-green foliage. This shade-tolerant, moisture-loving perennial thrives in USDA zones 4-8 and resists deer.
Zone 3–8🐝 Pollinator
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Bigleaf Hydrangea
Bigleaf Hydrangea
Hydrangea macrophylla
Showy clusters of pink and white blooms brighten gardens from June to September, adding vibrant color through summer. This low-maintenance shrub thrives in part sun, attracts pollinators, and grows well in USDA zones 4-9.
Zone 4–9🐝 Pollinator
View care guide →

Get a Personalized Plant List for Arlington

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 8a.

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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 337+ 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.