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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

Hard Fescue
Hard Fescue
Festuca brevipila
Hard Fescue is the ultra-low-maintenance cool-season grass for poor, dry soils and slopes. Once established, it can go unmowed for a naturalistic meadow look or mowed infrequently for a tidy lawn.
Zone 3–7🐾 Pet-Friendly†
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Goat's Beard
Goat's Beard
Aruncus dioicus
Feathery white plumes bloom in early summer, adding airy elegance to shady garden spots. This deer-resistant perennial thrives in USDA zones 3-8 and attracts pollinators effortlessly.
Zone 3–7🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
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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
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Pansy
Pansy
Viola × wittrockiana
Vibrant pansy blooms burst in cool spring and fall, showcasing cheerful purples, yellows, and blues that brighten any garden. Hardy in USDA zones 6-9, they thrive in sun to partial shade and attract pollinators while being low maintenance.
Zone 4–10🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
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Viburnum Blue Muffin
Viburnum Blue Muffin
Viburnum dentatum Blue Muffin
Clusters of fragrant white blooms in spring give way to vibrant blue berries that attract birds in fall. This deer-resistant shrub thrives in USDA zones 3-8 and requires low maintenance.
Zone 3–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator
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Rodgersia
Rodgersia
Rodgersia pinnata
Bold clusters of coppery-pink blooms burst in summer, creating a stunning focal point with lush, textured foliage. Thrives in shade, is deer resistant, and grows well in USDA zones 4-8.
Zone 3–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator
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Agastache
Agastache
Agastache foeniculum
Vibrant spikes of lavender-purple blooms light up summer gardens with a delightful minty fragrance that attracts hummingbirds and butterflies. This drought-tolerant, deer-resistant perennial thrives in USDA zones 5-10, making it a low-maintenance pollinator magnet.
Zone 4–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
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Japanese Forest Grass
Japanese Forest Grass
Hakonechloa macra
Graceful, cascading lime-green blades of Japanese Forest Grass brighten shady spots with a soft, flowing texture all season long. This low-maintenance, shade-tolerant grass thrives in USDA zones 5-9 and resists deer browsing.
Zone 5–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†
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Prairie Dropseed
Prairie Dropseed
Sporobolus heterolepis
Delicate, airy golden seed heads dance above fine-textured foliage, creating stunning fall interest from summer to autumn. This low-maintenance, drought-tolerant grass thrives in USDA zones 4-9 and attracts pollinators while resisting deer.
Zone 3–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
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Scentsation Honeysuckle
Scentsation Honeysuckle
Lonicera periclymenum 'Scentsation'
Fragrant pink and white blooms from June to September fill the air with sweetness, adding vibrant charm to any garden space. This low-maintenance vine attracts pollinators, thrives in zones 4-9, and is both dog- and cat-friendly.
Zone 4–9🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
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Pacific Wax Myrtle
Pacific Wax Myrtle
Morella californica
Fragrant evergreen foliage and small white berries add year-round interest to landscapes from USDA zones 7-10. This drought-tolerant shrub is deer resistant and attracts beneficial wildlife.
Zone 7–10🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†
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Shagbark Hickory
Shagbark Hickory
Carya ovata
Greenish-yellow blooms appear in late spring, adding subtle beauty to this majestic native tree. Attracting pollinators and thriving in zones 4-9, it’s low maintenance and pet-friendly.
Zone 4–9🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
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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.