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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

Panicle Hydrangea
Panicle Hydrangea
Hydrangea paniculata
Showy panicles of pink and white blooms light up your garden from June to September with vibrant, long-lasting color. This low-maintenance shrub attracts pollinators and thrives in USDA zones 4-9 with medium water needs.
Zone 4–9🐝 Pollinator
Sedum Autumn Fire
Sedum Autumn Fire
Sedum 'Autumn Fire'
Vibrant pink and white blooms light up late summer through fall, adding fiery color to any garden from August to October. This low-maintenance perennial thrives in full sun, attracts pollinators, and is both dog- and cat-friendly (USDA zones 4-9).
Zone 4–9🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Catmint
Catmint
Nepeta x faassenii
Blue-purple blooms brighten gardens from May to September, adding a long-lasting splash of color. This deer-resistant, pollinator-attracting perennial thrives in USDA zones 3-8 with low maintenance.
Zone 3–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Esperanza
Esperanza
Tecoma stans
Vibrant golden-yellow trumpet-shaped blooms light up summer through fall, adding a burst of sunshine to any garden. This drought-tolerant shrub attracts hummingbirds and thrives in USDA zones 8-11.
Zone 8–11🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Bahia Grass
Bahia Grass
Paspalum notatum
A tough, low-maintenance warm-season grass for the Deep South. Thrives in poor sandy soil and drought conditions where other grasses fail.
Zone 8–11🐾 Pet-Friendly†
Sweet Woodruff
Sweet Woodruff
Galium odoratum
Delicate white star-shaped blooms carpet the ground in spring, filling shady spots with a sweet, vanilla-like fragrance. This low-maintenance, deer-resistant perennial thrives in USDA zones 4-8 and attracts beneficial pollinators.
Zone 4–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Leadplant
Leadplant
Amorpha canescens
Showy spikes of fragrant purple flowers bloom from late spring to summer, adding vibrant color to prairie gardens. This drought-tolerant shrub thrives in USDA zones 3-8 and attracts pollinators while resisting deer.
Zone 2–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Torenia Wishbone Flower
Torenia Wishbone Flower
Torenia fournieri
Delightful blooms in pink, white, purple, and blue brighten shady spots from June to September with vibrant color. This low-maintenance annual attracts pollinators and thrives in USDA zones 4-9.
Zone 4–9🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Cleveland Sage
Cleveland Sage
Salvia clevelandii
Fragrant silver-green leaves and vibrant purple-blue blooms light up summer gardens with a delightful scent. This drought-tolerant, deer-resistant native thrives in USDA zones 8-11 and attracts pollinators.
Zone 8–11🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Hosta
Hosta
Hosta sieboldiana
Lush, blue-green leaves contrast beautifully with delicate white to lavender blooms in midsummer, brightening shady spots. This shade-tolerant, deer-resistant perennial thrives in USDA zones 3-9 with minimal care.
Zone 3–9🐾 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†
Brown Turkey Fig Tree
Brown Turkey Fig Tree
Ficus carica 'Brown Turkey'
Sweet, reddish-brown figs ripen in late summer, offering a delicious harvest and attractive, lobed leaves. This drought-tolerant tree thrives in USDA zones 7-10 and resists deer browsing.
Zone 7–10🐾 Pet-Friendly†

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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.