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Plant Guide

Best Plants for Nashville, Tennessee

📍 Nashville, TN 🌡️ USDA Zone 7a 🌱 348+ 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 348+ plants below are proven performers for your zone — including deer-resistant varieties, pet-friendly options, and pollinator-attracting species.

Top Plant Picks for Nashville

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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Blue Fescue
Blue Fescue
Festuca glauca
Silvery-blue, fine-textured foliage adds striking color and texture year-round, especially vibrant in spring and summer. This low-maintenance, drought-tolerant grass thrives in USDA zones 4-8 and resists deer browsing.
Zone 4–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†
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Ceanothus
Ceanothus
Ceanothus thyrsiflorus
Vibrant blue blossoms burst in spring on this evergreen shrub, creating a stunning coastal display. Deer resistant and drought tolerant, it thrives in USDA zones 7-10.
Zone 7–10🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
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Impatiens
Impatiens
Impatiens walleriana
Vibrant blooms in shades of pink, red, and white brighten shady spots from spring to fall with nonstop color. This low-maintenance favorite thrives in USDA zones 10-11 and is deer resistant.
Zone 2–11🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
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Ginkgo
Ginkgo
Ginkgo biloba
Brilliant yellow blooms in spring create a stunning display that brightens any landscape from zones 4-9. This low-maintenance tree is deer resistant and attracts pollinators, thriving in full sun with medium water needs.
Zone 4–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator
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Carefree Wonder Rose
Carefree Wonder Rose
Rosa Carefree Wonder
Vibrant pink blooms burst from late spring to fall, bringing long-lasting color to your garden. This hardy rose thrives in USDA zones 4-9 and is exceptionally disease resistant.
Zone 4–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator
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Fothergilla
Fothergilla
Fothergilla major
Fragrant white bottlebrush blooms light up spring with a delightful floral display and vibrant fall foliage. This low-maintenance shrub thrives in USDA zones 5-8 and attracts pollinators while resisting deer.
Zone 4–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
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Crape Myrtle
Crape Myrtle
Lagerstroemia indica
Vibrant pink and white blooms light up summer from June to September, creating stunning color in any garden. This low-maintenance tree attracts pollinators, thrives in full sun, and grows well in USDA zones 4-9.
Zone 6–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
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Pagoda Dogwood
Pagoda Dogwood
Cornus alternifolia
Delicate white blooms cascade in late spring, creating a stunning layered effect with elegant horizontal branches. This shade-tolerant tree thrives in USDA zones 3-8 and attracts pollinators while resisting deer damage.
Zone 3–7🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
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Armeria Sea Thrift
Armeria Sea Thrift
Armeria maritima
Delight in vibrant pink blooms that carpet gardens from spring to early summer, adding cheerful color to any landscape. This low-maintenance, drought-tolerant perennial thrives in USDA zones 3-9 and attracts beneficial pollinators.
Zone 4–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
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Swamp White Oak
Swamp White Oak
Quercus bicolor
Bright green leaves turn stunning golden-yellow in fall, adding seasonal interest from spring through autumn. This hardy oak thrives in USDA zones 3-9, tolerates wet soils, and resists deer damage.
Zone 4–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator
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Forsythia
Forsythia
Forsythia x intermedia 'Lynwood Gold'
Bright golden-yellow blooms burst in early spring, creating a stunning display that signals the season’s arrival. This hardy shrub thrives in USDA zones 5-8, offering low-maintenance growth and reliable deer resistance.
Zone 5–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
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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 348+ 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.