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Plant Guide

Best Plants for Baltimore, Maryland

📍 Baltimore, MD 🌡️ USDA Zone 7a 🌱 347+ 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 347+ plants below are proven performers for your zone — including deer-resistant varieties, pet-friendly options, and pollinator-attracting species.

Top Plant Picks for Baltimore

Snapdragon
Snapdragon
Antirrhinum majus
Vibrant snapdragons burst with colorful blooms from spring through fall, adding cheerful charm to any garden space. These low-maintenance beauties attract pollinators and thrive in USDA zones 7-10.
Zone 4–10🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Creeping Red Fescue
Creeping Red Fescue
Festuca rubra
The shadiest lawn grass available, Creeping Red Fescue is the standard solution for lawns under trees and in north-facing areas. Forms a fine-textured, low-maintenance turf in part shade to full shade.
Zone 3–7🐾 Pet-Friendly†
Ceanothus
Ceanothus
Ceanothus thyrsiflorus
Vibrant blue blossoms burst in spring on this evergreen shrub, creating a stunning coastal display. Deer resistant and drought tolerant, it thrives in USDA zones 7-10.
Zone 7–10🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Creeping Jenny
Creeping Jenny
Lysimachia nummularia
Vibrant chartreuse leaves create a bright, trailing carpet that shines from spring through summer. This low-maintenance groundcover thrives in USDA zones 3-9 and is deer resistant.
Zone 3–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†
Tulip Poplar
Tulip Poplar
Liriodendron tulipifera
Showcasing stunning tulip-shaped yellow-green blooms in late spring, this tree adds vibrant seasonal interest to any landscape. Thriving in USDA zones 4-9, it’s fast-growing and deer resistant, making it a low-maintenance shade provider.
Zone 4–9🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Crape Myrtle
Crape Myrtle
Lagerstroemia indica
Vibrant pink and white blooms light up summer from June to September, creating stunning color in any garden. This low-maintenance tree attracts pollinators, thrives in full sun, and grows well in USDA zones 4-9.
Zone 6–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Chewings Fescue
Chewings Fescue
Festuca rubra subsp. commutata
Chewings Fescue is a fine-bladed, shade-tolerant cool-season grass commonly used in no-mow and low-maintenance lawn mixes. Forms a dense, attractive turf in part shade with minimal inputs.
Zone 3–7🐾 Pet-Friendly†
Japanese Tree Lilac
Japanese Tree Lilac
Syringa reticulata
Showcasing large clusters of creamy white flowers in early summer, this tree lilac brightens landscapes with its elegant bloom display. Hardy in USDA zones 3-7, it’s low maintenance and deer resistant, making it a reliable choice for diverse gardens.
Zone 3–7🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Dusty Miller
Dusty Miller
Senecio cineraria
Silvery, velvety foliage with bright yellow blooms from June to September adds striking contrast and seasonal interest. This low-maintenance annual attracts pollinators and thrives in full sun across USDA zones 4-9.
Zone 4–9🐝 Pollinator
Sweet Potato Vine
Sweet Potato Vine
Ipomoea batatas
Vibrant pink and white blooms brighten summer gardens from June to September, adding cheerful color and texture. Low-maintenance and pollinator-friendly, this dog- and cat-safe vine thrives in zones 4-9 with medium water needs.
Zone 4–9🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Portulaca
Portulaca
Portulaca grandiflora
Vibrant blooms in pink, white, yellow, red, and orange light up gardens from June to September with nonstop color. This low-maintenance annual thrives in full sun, attracts pollinators, and grows well in USDA zones 4-9.
Zone 4–9🐝 Pollinator
Paper Birch
Paper Birch
Betula papyrifera
Striking white bark peels beautifully in spring and summer, adding year-round interest to landscapes. This low-maintenance tree thrives in USDA zones 2-6 and resists deer browsing.
Zone 2–7🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 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 347+ 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.