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Plant Guide

Best Plants for Baltimore, Maryland

📍 Baltimore, MD 🌡️ USDA Zone 7a 🌱 348+ compatible plants

Gardening in Baltimore

Baltimore falls in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a, which means your plants need to survive winters with minimum temperatures in the 0°F to 10°F range. The 348+ plants below are proven performers for your zone — including deer-resistant varieties, pet-friendly options, and pollinator-attracting species.

Top Plant Picks for Baltimore

Ajuga
Ajuga
Ajuga reptans
Vibrant blue-purple blooms carpet the ground in spring, creating a stunning, low-growing display. This deer-resistant groundcover thrives in USDA zones 3-10 and attracts pollinators while requiring minimal care.
Zone 3–10🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Pachysandra
Pachysandra
Pachysandra terminalis
Evergreen Pachysandra features glossy green leaves that brighten shady spots year-round with subtle white spring blooms. This low-maintenance groundcover thrives in USDA zones 4-8 and is deer resistant.
Zone 4–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†
Blue Oat Grass
Blue Oat Grass
Helictotrichon sempervirens
Striking silvery-blue foliage adds year-round texture and color to any garden, especially vibrant in USDA zones 4-9. This low-maintenance, drought-tolerant grass thrives in full sun and resists deer, making it a hassle-free ornamental choice.
Zone 4–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†
Jane Magnolia
Jane Magnolia
Magnolia x 'Jane'
Showcasing stunning pink and white blooms from June to September, this tree brightens any garden with its long-lasting floral display. Thriving in USDA zones 4-9, it attracts pollinators while being low maintenance and pet-friendly.
Zone 4–9🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 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
Hollyhock
Hollyhock
Alcea rosea
Towering spikes burst with vibrant pink, red, or white blooms from mid-summer to early fall, adding classic cottage charm. This hardy biennial thrives in USDA zones 3-9 and attracts pollinators while tolerating heat and drought.
Zone 3–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator
Nandina
Nandina
Nandina domestica
Delicate clusters of white to pink blooms in spring add year-round interest with vibrant red foliage in fall. This deer-resistant shrub thrives in USDA zones 6-9 and requires minimal care.
Zone 6–10🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator
Virginia Sweetspire
Virginia Sweetspire
Itea virginica Henry's Garnet
Fragrant, deep red blooms light up late spring through summer, creating stunning color and texture in any garden. This low-maintenance shrub thrives in USDA zones 5-9 and attracts pollinators while resisting deer.
Zone 5–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Clematis
Clematis
Clematis spp.
Vibrant, star-shaped blooms in shades of purple, pink, and white light up summer and fall gardens with stunning color. This vigorous climber thrives in USDA zones 4-9 and attracts pollinators while being deer resistant.
Zone 3–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator
Euonymus
Euonymus
Euonymus alatus Compactus
Striking red foliage in fall adds vibrant color to any landscape, creating a fiery seasonal display. This low-maintenance shrub is deer resistant and thrives in USDA zones 4-8.
Zone 4–8🐝 Pollinator
Rainier Cherry Tree
Rainier Cherry Tree
Prunus avium 'Rainier'
Showy pink and white blooms appear in spring, adding a stunning splash of color and attracting pollinators from April to May. This medium-maintenance tree thrives in USDA zones 4-9 and grows 4-8 ft tall in full sun.
Zone 4–9🐝 Pollinator
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

Get a Personalized Plant List for Baltimore

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 7a.

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Other Cities in Zone 7a

New York, NY Philadelphia, PA Nashville, TN Oklahoma City, OK Washington, DC Memphis, TN Albuquerque, NM Raleigh, NC Tulsa, OK

Browse All 348+ Plants for Zone 7a

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

View All Zone 7 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.