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Plant Guide

Best Plants for Kansas City, Missouri

📍 Kansas City, MO 🌡️ USDA Zone 6a 🌱 328+ compatible plants

Gardening in Kansas City

Kansas City falls in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a, which means your plants need to survive winters with minimum temperatures in the −10°F to 0°F range. The 328+ plants below are proven performers for your zone — including deer-resistant varieties, pet-friendly options, and pollinator-attracting species.

Top Plant Picks for Kansas City

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
Deutzia
Deutzia
Deutzia spp.
Delightful pink and white blooms from June to September brighten gardens with a long-lasting display. This low-maintenance shrub attracts pollinators, thrives in zones 4-9, and is both dog- and cat-friendly.
Zone 4–9🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Salvia greggii
Salvia greggii
Salvia greggii
Vibrant red to pink blooms burst from spring through fall, adding long-lasting color to any garden. This drought-tolerant, pollinator-attracting shrub thrives in USDA zones 7-10.
Zone 6–10🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Summersweet
Summersweet
Clethra alnifolia
Fragrant white to pink blooms light up late summer, filling gardens with sweet, spicy scent. This deer-resistant shrub thrives in USDA zones 3-9 and attracts pollinators.
Zone 3–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Elephant Ear
Elephant Ear
Colocasia esculenta
Striking large leaves and delicate pink and white blooms from June to September make this Elephant Ear a standout in any garden. Thriving in zones 4-9 with low maintenance needs, it attracts pollinators and grows well in full sun to part shade.
Zone 4–9🐝 Pollinator
Nepeta Walker's Low
Nepeta Walker's Low
Nepeta x faassenii Walker's Low
Lavender-blue blooms burst from spring to fall, adding vibrant color and fragrance to any garden. This low-maintenance, deer-resistant perennial thrives in USDA zones 4-8 and attracts pollinators.
Zone 3–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
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
Astilbe
Astilbe
Astilbe x arendsii
Feathery plumes of pink, red, white, or purple bloom from June to August, brightening shady garden spots with vibrant color. Thriving in USDA zones 3-8, this low-maintenance beauty is shade tolerant and attracts pollinators.
Zone 4–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
David Austin Shrub Rose
David Austin Shrub Rose
Rosa Graham Thomas
Vibrant golden-yellow blooms brighten summer to fall, radiating a rich, classic rose fragrance. This hardy shrub thrives in USDA zones 5-9 and resists deer while attracting pollinators.
Zone 5–10🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator
Stewartia
Stewartia
Stewartia pseudocamellia
Showcasing stunning white camellia-like blooms in summer, Stewartia pseudocamellia adds year-round interest with its exfoliating bark and vibrant fall color. This low-maintenance tree thrives in USDA zones 5-8 and is highly resistant to deer, making it a reliable landscape standout.
Zone 5–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
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
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†

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Other Cities in Zone 6a

Chicago, IL Columbus, OH Indianapolis, IN Denver, CO Louisville, KY Cleveland, OH Wichita, KS St. Louis, MO

Browse All 328+ Plants for Zone 6a

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

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† "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.