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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

Chokeberry
Chokeberry
Aronia arbutifolia
Brilliant clusters of white spring blooms turn to vibrant red berries and fiery fall foliage, lighting up the garden from USDA zones 3-8. This low-maintenance shrub is deer resistant and attracts pollinators, enhancing wildlife habitat effortlessly.
Zone 3–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
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Hellebore
Hellebore
Helleborus orientalis
Early spring brings stunning, nodding blooms in shades of white, pink, and purple that brighten shady spots. This deer-resistant perennial thrives in USDA zones 4-9 and requires minimal care.
Zone 4–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator
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Andromeda
Andromeda
Pieris floribunda
Clusters of delicate white to pink blooms brighten early spring with stunning color. This deer-resistant shrub thrives in USDA zones 5-8 and attracts pollinators while requiring minimal care.
Zone 5–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator
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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
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Pachysandra
Pachysandra
Pachysandra terminalis
Evergreen Pachysandra features glossy green leaves that brighten shady spots year-round with subtle white spring blooms. This low-maintenance groundcover thrives in USDA zones 4-8 and is deer resistant.
Zone 4–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†
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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
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Abelia
Abelia
Abelia × grandiflora
Delightful pink and white blooms grace this shrub from June to September, adding vibrant color to your garden. Low maintenance, deer resistant, and a magnet for pollinators, it thrives in zones 4-9.
Zone 4–9🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
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Sedum Dragon's Blood
Sedum Dragon's Blood
Sedum spurium 'Dragon's Blood'
Vibrant pink and white blooms from June to September add striking color to any sunny garden with evergreen foliage year-round. This low-maintenance, drought-tolerant groundcover attracts pollinators and thrives in USDA zones 4-9.
Zone 4–9🐾 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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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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False Indigo
False Indigo
Baptisia australis
Striking deep blue blooms light up late spring with a showy, long-lasting display. This drought-tolerant native thrives in USDA zones 3-9 and resists deer browsing.
Zone 3–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
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Knautia
Knautia
Knautia macedonica
Vibrant red-purple blooms dazzle from early summer to fall, adding long-lasting color to any garden. Deer resistant and thriving in USDA zones 5-9, it attracts pollinators with ease.
Zone 5–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
View care guide →

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.