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Plant Guide

Best Plants for Charlotte, North Carolina

📍 Charlotte, NC 🌡️ USDA Zone 7b/8a 🌱 336+ compatible plants

Gardening in Charlotte

Charlotte falls in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b/8a, 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 Charlotte

Canna Lily
Canna Lily
Canna indica
Vibrant blooms in pink, red, orange, yellow, and white light up gardens from June to September with tropical flair. Thriving in USDA zones 4-9, this low-maintenance, pollinator-attracting beauty is both dog- and cat-friendly.
Zone 4–9🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Seashore Paspalum
Seashore Paspalum
Paspalum vaginatum
The go-to grass for coastal lawns, golf courses, and salt-spray environments. Seashore Paspalum tolerates salt water, brackish irrigation, and coastal conditions that would kill most other grasses.
Zone 8–11🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†
Black Gum
Black Gum
Nyssa sylvatica
Brilliant scarlet and orange foliage lights up fall, creating stunning seasonal color. This low-maintenance tree thrives in USDA zones 4-9 and attracts vital pollinators.
Zone 4–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Bing Cherry Tree
Bing Cherry Tree
Prunus avium 'Bing'
Stunning white blooms light up this tree in April-May, attracting a host of pollinators with their delicate beauty. Thriving in USDA zones 4-9, it offers medium maintenance and vibrant fruit in full sun.
Zone 4–9🐝 Pollinator
Lamium
Lamium
Lamium maculatum
Silver-marbled leaves and delicate pink to purple blooms brighten shady spots from spring to early summer. This low-maintenance, deer-resistant groundcover thrives in USDA zones 3-8 and attracts pollinators.
Zone 3–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Ornamental Kale
Ornamental Kale
Brassica oleracea var. acephala
Vibrant pink and white blooms from June to September add stunning seasonal color to any garden. This low-maintenance annual thrives in full sun, attracts pollinators, and grows well in USDA zones 4-9.
Zone 4–9🐝 Pollinator
White Oak
White Oak
Quercus alba
Majestic white oak dazzles with its broad, lobed leaves that turn vibrant red and orange in fall, lighting up landscapes from spring through autumn. This long-lived tree thrives in USDA zones 3-9, offering excellent shade and deer resistance while supporting local wildlife.
Zone 3–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator
Endless Summer Hydrangea
Endless Summer Hydrangea
Hydrangea macrophylla 'Endless Summer'
Vibrant pink and white blooms grace this shrub from June to September, adding long-lasting color to your garden. Low-maintenance and pollinator-friendly, it thrives in USDA zones 4-9 with full sun to part shade.
Zone 4–9🐝 Pollinator
Zoysia Grass
Zoysia Grass
Zoysia japonica
A dense, slow-growing warm-season grass that forms a thick carpet resistant to weeds, drought, and foot traffic. Excellent for families with dogs.
Zone 6–11🐾 Pet-Friendly†
Smoke Tree
Smoke Tree
Cotinus coggygria
Fluffy, smoky pink-purple blooms in summer create a stunning, cloud-like effect that captivates any garden. This drought-tolerant shrub thrives in USDA zones 4-8 and is deer resistant.
Zone 5–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator
Black-eyed Susan
Black-eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
Bright yellow blooms light up gardens from June to October, adding vibrant summer and fall color. Deer resistant and a magnet for pollinators, it thrives in USDA zones 3-9 with full sun.
Zone 3–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Solomon's Seal
Solomon's Seal
Polygonatum odoratum
Graceful arching stems showcase creamy white, bell-shaped blooms in spring, adding elegant charm to shaded gardens. This shade-tolerant perennial is deer resistant and thrives in USDA zones 3-9.
Zone 3–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator

Get a Personalized Plant List for Charlotte

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 7b/8a.

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Other Cities in Zone 7b/8a

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Browse All 336+ Plants for Zone 7b/8a

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.