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Plant Guide

Best Plants for Nashville, Tennessee

📍 Nashville, TN 🌡️ USDA Zone 7a 🌱 347+ compatible plants

Gardening in Nashville

Nashville 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 347+ plants below are proven performers for your zone — including deer-resistant varieties, pet-friendly options, and pollinator-attracting species.

Top Plant Picks for Nashville

Contender Peach Tree
Contender Peach Tree
Prunus persica 'Contender'
Vibrant pink blossoms burst in early spring, heralding juicy, sweet peaches by mid-summer. This cold-hardy tree thrives in USDA zones 5-9 and resists many common pests.
Zone 4–8🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Bur Oak
Bur Oak
Quercus macrocarpa
Massive, rugged leaves and striking acorn cups make Bur Oak a standout in fall with golden hues. This drought-tolerant giant thrives in USDA zones 2-8 and resists deer browsing.
Zone 3–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator
Sweetbay Magnolia
Sweetbay Magnolia
Magnolia virginiana
Fragrant creamy white blooms grace this Sweetbay Magnolia from spring to summer, adding elegance and a fresh scent to your garden. Hardy in USDA zones 5-9, it’s deer resistant and thrives in moist, acidic soils.
Zone 5–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 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
Nandina
Nandina
Nandina domestica
Delicate clusters of white to pink blooms in spring add year-round interest with vibrant red foliage in fall. This deer-resistant shrub thrives in USDA zones 6-9 and requires minimal care.
Zone 6–10🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator
Crabapple
Crabapple
Malus Prairifire
Vibrant red blossoms burst in spring, followed by fiery orange-red fruit that brightens fall landscapes. This crabapple is deer resistant and thrives in USDA zones 4-8, attracting pollinators year-round.
Zone 4–8🐝 Pollinator
Arborvitae Emerald Green
Arborvitae Emerald Green
Thuja occidentalis Emerald Green
Vibrant emerald-green foliage provides year-round color and a sleek, narrow silhouette that brightens any landscape. This low-maintenance, deer-resistant evergreen thrives in USDA zones 3-7.
Zone 3–7🐾 Pet-Friendly†
Frances Williams Hosta
Frances Williams Hosta
Hosta sieboldiana 'Frances Williams'
Striking blue-green leaves edged in creamy white create a stunning summer display in shades of green. This shade-tolerant, low-maintenance perennial thrives in USDA zones 3-9.
Zone 3–9🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Oriental Poppy
Oriental Poppy
Papaver orientale
Vibrant scarlet blooms burst in late spring, creating a stunning focal point with their silky petals. This hardy perennial thrives in USDA zones 3-7 and is low maintenance and deer resistant.
Zone 3–7🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator
Japanese Maple
Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum
Vibrant red to orange foliage in fall makes this tree a stunning seasonal showstopper. Thrives in USDA zones 5-8 and offers low-maintenance, shade-tolerant beauty.
Zone 5–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†
Pennsylvania Sedge
Pennsylvania Sedge
Carex pensylvanica
The best native lawn alternative for dry shade. Pennsylvania Sedge forms a fine-textured, low-growing carpet under trees where traditional lawn grasses fail. Rarely needs mowing and tolerates foot traffic.
Zone 3–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†
Drift Rose
Drift Rose
Rosa Drift
Vibrant blooms in shades of pink, red, and coral brighten summer through fall with nonstop color and charm. This low-maintenance, disease-resistant shrub thrives in USDA zones 4-9 and resists deer browsing.
Zone 4–11🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator

Get a Personalized Plant List for Nashville

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 Oklahoma City, OK Washington, DC Memphis, TN Baltimore, MD Albuquerque, NM Raleigh, NC Tulsa, OK

Browse All 347+ 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.