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Plant Guide

Best Plants for Milwaukee, Wisconsin

📍 Milwaukee, WI 🌡️ USDA Zone 5b 🌱 320+ compatible plants

Gardening in Milwaukee

Milwaukee falls in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b, which means your plants need to survive winters with minimum temperatures in the −20°F to −10°F range. The 320+ plants below are proven performers for your zone — including deer-resistant varieties, pet-friendly options, and pollinator-attracting species.

Top Plant Picks for Milwaukee

Trumpet Vine
Trumpet Vine
Campsis radicans
Vibrant orange-red trumpet-shaped blooms dazzle from summer to fall, attracting hummingbirds with their fiery display. This vigorous climber is deer resistant and thrives in USDA zones 4-9 with minimal care.
Zone 4–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
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Bayberry
Bayberry
Myrica pensylvanica
Fragrant silver-green foliage and soft, waxy berries add year-round interest and texture to your garden. This low-maintenance, deer-resistant shrub thrives in USDA zones 3-7 and attracts beneficial wildlife.
Zone 3–7🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
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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
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Clematis
Clematis
Clematis spp.
Vibrant, star-shaped blooms in shades of purple, pink, and white light up summer and fall gardens with stunning color. This vigorous climber thrives in USDA zones 4-9 and attracts pollinators while being deer resistant.
Zone 3–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator
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Globe Thistle
Globe Thistle
Echinops ritro
Striking globe-shaped blue blooms dazzle from mid to late summer, adding vibrant texture to any garden. This drought-tolerant, deer-resistant perennial thrives in USDA zones 3-9 and attracts pollinators with ease.
Zone 3–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
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Zinnia
Zinnia
Zinnia elegans
Vibrant, daisy-like blooms in shades of red, pink, yellow, and orange brighten summer gardens with nonstop color. Thriving in USDA zones 3-10, zinnias attract pollinators and require minimal care.
Zone 2–11🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
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Coleus
Coleus
Plectranthus scutellarioides
Vibrant, multicolored foliage brightens summer gardens with shades of red, green, and purple that last through USDA zones 10-11. This low-maintenance, shade-tolerant plant adds striking color without attracting deer.
Zone 2–11🦌 Deer-Resistant
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Begonia (Wax)
Begonia (Wax)
Begonia × semperflorens-cultorum
Bright, glossy leaves and vibrant pink, red, or white blooms brighten summer gardens with nonstop color. This low-maintenance beauty thrives in shade and is deer resistant, USDA zones 10-11.
Zone 2–11🦌 Deer-Resistant
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Salvia Nemorosa
Salvia Nemorosa
Salvia nemorosa
Woodland sage (Salvia nemorosa) is a compact, deer-resistant perennial prized for its tall spikes of violet-purple flowers from late spring through summer. A magnet for bees and butterflies, it thrives in full sun with minimal water and is not listed as toxic to dogs, cats, or rabbits.
Zone 4–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
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Camassia
Camassia
Camassia leichtlinii
Striking spikes of star-shaped blue flowers bloom in late spring, creating a stunning display from USDA zones 4-9. This low-maintenance bulb attracts pollinators and thrives in moist, well-drained soil.
Zone 4–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
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Sugar Maple
Sugar Maple
Acer saccharum
Brilliant orange and red foliage lights up fall, creating stunning seasonal color from late September to October. This hardy tree thrives in USDA zones 3-8 and provides shade while being low maintenance and deer resistant.
Zone 3–8🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
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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
View care guide →

Get a Personalized Plant List for Milwaukee

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 5b.

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Other Cities in Zone 5b

Omaha, NE Colorado Springs, CO Aurora, CO

Browse All 320+ Plants for Zone 5b

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

View All Zone 5 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.