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Plant Guide

Best Plants for Austin, Texas

📍 Austin, TX 🌡️ USDA Zone 8b 🌱 336+ compatible plants

Gardening in Austin

Austin falls in USDA Hardiness Zone 8b, 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 Austin

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
Quaking Aspen
Quaking Aspen
Populus tremuloides
Delicate yellow-green blooms in spring add a shimmering beauty to landscapes from zones 4-9. This low-maintenance, medium-water tree attracts pollinators and thrives in full sun.
Zone 4–9🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Candytuft
Candytuft
Iberis sempervirens
Bright white blooms burst in spring, creating a stunning carpet of color that lasts for weeks. This evergreen perennial thrives in USDA zones 3-9 and attracts pollinators while staying low maintenance.
Zone 3–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Flowering Dogwood
Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida
Showy white blossoms bloom in spring, creating a stunning display that brightens any landscape. This low-maintenance tree thrives in USDA zones 5-9 and is deer resistant.
Zone 5–9🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Itea (Virginia Sweetspire)
Itea (Virginia Sweetspire)
Itea virginica
Fragrant white blooms cascade in late spring, creating a stunning display that transitions to vibrant red fall foliage. This deer-resistant shrub thrives in zones 3-9 and attracts pollinators while tolerating shade and wet soils.
Zone 5–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Pampas Grass
Pampas Grass
Cortaderia selloana
Dramatic feathery plumes on 8-10 ft stalks make Pampas Grass a bold landscape statement. However, it is banned in California, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii due to its invasive spread into wildlands.
Zone 7–11🦌 Deer-Resistant
Athyrium Lady Fern
Athyrium Lady Fern
Athyrium filix-femina
Delicate, lacy fronds of the Lady Fern bring soft texture and vibrant green color to shady garden spots from spring through fall. This low-maintenance perennial thrives in USDA zones 4-9, attracting pollinators while being both dog- and cat-friendly.
Zone 4–9🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Elephant Ear
Elephant Ear
Colocasia esculenta
Striking large leaves and delicate pink and white blooms from June to September make this Elephant Ear a standout in any garden. Thriving in zones 4-9 with low maintenance needs, it attracts pollinators and grows well in full sun to part shade.
Zone 4–9🐝 Pollinator
Yucca
Yucca
Yucca filamentosa
Striking white, bell-shaped blooms appear in summer, creating a dramatic focal point with spiky, architectural foliage. Extremely drought-tolerant and deer resistant, this tough beauty thrives in USDA zones 4-10.
Zone 4–11🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator
Aucuba
Aucuba
Aucuba japonica
Glossy, deep green leaves speckled with bright yellow add year-round interest to shady spots. This low-maintenance, deer-resistant shrub thrives in USDA zones 7-10.
Zone 7–10🦌 Deer-Resistant
Creeping Thyme
Creeping Thyme
Thymus serpyllum
Delightful pink and white blooms carpet the ground from June to September, adding vibrant color and texture to sunny spots. This low-maintenance, pollinator-attracting groundcover thrives in USDA zones 4-9 and is both dog- and cat-friendly.
Zone 4–9🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Matilija Poppy
Matilija Poppy
Romneya coulteri
Dazzling white blooms with bright yellow centers appear from late spring to summer, creating a stunning, fragrant display. This drought-tolerant beauty thrives in USDA zones 7-10 and resists deer while attracting pollinators.
Zone 7–10🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator

Get a Personalized Plant List for Austin

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 8b.

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Other Cities in Zone 8b

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

Browse All 336+ Plants for Zone 8b

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.