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Plant Guide

Best Plants for Baltimore, Maryland

📍 Baltimore, MD 🌡️ USDA Zone 7a 🌱 346+ 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 346+ plants below are proven performers for your zone — including deer-resistant varieties, pet-friendly options, and pollinator-attracting species.

Top Plant Picks for Baltimore

Allium (Ornamental Onion)
Allium (Ornamental Onion)
Allium giganteum
Towering purple globe blooms dazzle in late spring to early summer, adding bold color and texture to any garden. Deer resistant and thriving in USDA zones 4-9, this low-maintenance Allium attracts pollinators with ease.
Zone 4–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator
Fine Fescue
Fine Fescue
Festuca rubra
The best lawn grass for shade and poor soil. Fine, delicate texture with excellent drought tolerance. Ideal for low-maintenance lawns under trees.
Zone 3–7🐾 Pet-Friendly†
Polystichum Christmas Fern
Polystichum Christmas Fern
Polystichum acrostichoides
Lush, evergreen fronds add year-round texture and vibrant green color to shaded garden spots, brightening fall and winter seasons. This low-maintenance, deer-resistant fern thrives in zones 4-9 and attracts pollinators while staying pet-friendly.
Zone 4–9🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Veronica Speedwell
Veronica Speedwell
Veronica spicata
Vibrant spikes of blue to purple blooms light up summer gardens with long-lasting color. This low-maintenance perennial, hardy in USDA zones 3-8, attracts pollinators and resists deer.
Zone 3–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Pin Oak
Pin Oak
Quercus palustris
Striking red leaves in fall make this Pin Oak a seasonal showstopper from spring through autumn. Its sturdy, fast-growing nature and adaptability to USDA zones 4-8 make it low maintenance and urban tolerant.
Zone 4–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator
Cosmos
Cosmos
Cosmos bipinnatus
Delicate, daisy-like pink, white, and magenta blooms brighten summer and fall gardens with vibrant color. This low-maintenance beauty attracts pollinators and thrives in USDA zones 2-11.
Zone 2–11🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
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
Anemone
Anemone
Anemone spp.
Delicate pink and white blooms grace the garden from June to September, adding vibrant color through summer and early fall. This low-maintenance perennial thrives in zones 4-9, attracts pollinators, and tolerates full sun to part shade.
Zone 4–9🐝 Pollinator
Osmanthus
Osmanthus
Osmanthus heterophyllus
Fragrant white blooms in late summer add a delightful scent and elegance to any garden. This evergreen shrub is deer resistant, low maintenance, and thrives in USDA zones 7-10.
Zone 7–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator
Camellia
Camellia
Camellia japonica
Showcasing stunning pink, white, or red blooms from fall to spring, this evergreen shrub brightens gardens in USDA zones 4-9. Low maintenance and pet-friendly, it thrives in part shade while attracting valuable pollinators.
Zone 4–9🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
New Jersey Tea
New Jersey Tea
Ceanothus americanus
Delicate clusters of creamy white flowers bloom in early summer, adding soft beauty and fragrance to any garden. This drought-tolerant, deer-resistant shrub thrives in USDA zones 3-8 and attracts beneficial pollinators.
Zone 4–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Sedum Dragon's Blood
Sedum Dragon's Blood
Sedum spurium 'Dragon's Blood'
Vibrant pink and white blooms from June to September add striking color to any sunny garden with evergreen foliage year-round. This low-maintenance, drought-tolerant groundcover attracts pollinators and thrives in USDA zones 4-9.
Zone 4–9🐾 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 346+ 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.