🌿 PlantWise
Plant Guide

Best Plants for Atlanta, Georgia

📍 Atlanta, GA 🌡️ USDA Zone 7b/8a 🌱 336+ compatible plants

Gardening in Atlanta

Atlanta falls in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b/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 Atlanta

Seashore Paspalum
Seashore Paspalum
Paspalum vaginatum
The go-to grass for coastal lawns, golf courses, and salt-spray environments. Seashore Paspalum tolerates salt water, brackish irrigation, and coastal conditions that would kill most other grasses.
Zone 8–11🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†
Arbequina Olive Tree
Arbequina Olive Tree
Olea europaea 'Arbequina'
Delightful pink and white blooms from June to September add charm to this evergreen tree, thriving in zones 8-10. Low-maintenance and pet-friendly, it attracts pollinators while requiring medium water.
Zone 8–10🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Knockout Rose
Knockout Rose
Rosa Knockout
Vibrant red blooms burst from spring to frost, adding nonstop color and charm to any garden. This hardy shrub thrives in USDA zones 5-11 and resists deer and disease with minimal care.
Zone 5–11🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator
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
Gaillardia (Blanket Flower)
Gaillardia (Blanket Flower)
Gaillardia × grandiflora
Vibrant red and yellow blooms light up summer through fall, adding a cheerful splash of color to any garden. This drought-tolerant, deer-resistant beauty thrives in USDA zones 3-10 and attracts pollinators effortlessly.
Zone 3–10🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Fremontodendron
Fremontodendron
Fremontodendron californicum
Bright yellow, fragrant blooms light up late spring and summer, creating a stunning display in any garden. This drought-tolerant, deer-resistant shrub thrives in USDA zones 7-10 with minimal care.
Zone 7–10🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Amsonia
Amsonia
Amsonia tabernaemontana
Sky-blue star-shaped blooms brighten late spring gardens with a soft, airy appeal. This drought-tolerant, deer-resistant beauty thrives in USDA zones 3-9 and attracts pollinators.
Zone 3–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Liriope (Lilyturf)
Liriope (Lilyturf)
Liriope muscari
Vibrant purple flower spikes bloom late summer, adding a pop of color to shady spots. This tough, deer-resistant groundcover thrives in USDA zones 5-10 with minimal care.
Zone 5–10🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†
Goldenrod
Goldenrod
Solidago canadensis
Bright golden-yellow blooms light up late summer gardens, adding vibrant color as other flowers fade. This hardy, deer-resistant perennial thrives in USDA zones 3-9 and attracts valuable pollinators.
Zone 3–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Ninebark
Ninebark
Physocarpus opulifolius Diablo
Striking deep burgundy foliage contrasts beautifully with creamy white spring blooms, adding vibrant color from spring through fall. This hardy shrub thrives in USDA zones 2-7, is drought-tolerant, and deer resistant, making it a low-maintenance landscape standout.
Zone 3–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Calibrachoa (Million Bells)
Calibrachoa (Million Bells)
Calibrachoa × hybrida
Vibrant, trumpet-shaped blooms in shades of pink, purple, and red brighten gardens from spring through fall. This low-maintenance beauty thrives in USDA zones 9-11 and attracts pollinators effortlessly.
Zone 2–11🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Imperata Red Baron Grass
Imperata Red Baron Grass
Imperata cylindrica 'Red Baron'
Striking pink and white blooms from June to September add vibrant color to any garden with this graceful grass. Low-maintenance, deer-resistant, and pollinator-friendly, it thrives in zones 4-9 under full sun.
Zone 4–9🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator

Get a Personalized Plant List for Atlanta

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 7b/8a.

Start the Plant Advisor →

Other Cities in Zone 7b/8a

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

Browse All 336+ Plants for Zone 7b/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.