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Plant Guide

Best Plants for Omaha, Nebraska

📍 Omaha, NE 🌡️ USDA Zone 5b 🌱 320+ compatible plants

Gardening in Omaha

Omaha 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 Omaha

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
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Petunia
Petunia
Petunia × atkinsiana
Vibrant, trumpet-shaped blooms in shades of pink, purple, and white brighten summer gardens with nonstop color. Thrives in USDA zones 9-11 and attracts pollinators while requiring minimal care.
Zone 2–11🐝 Pollinator
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Sweet Potato Vine
Sweet Potato Vine
Ipomoea batatas
Vibrant pink and white blooms brighten summer gardens from June to September, adding cheerful color and texture. Low-maintenance and pollinator-friendly, this dog- and cat-safe vine thrives in zones 4-9 with medium water needs.
Zone 4–9🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
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Sum and Substance Hosta
Sum and Substance Hosta
Hosta 'Sum and Substance'
Massive chartreuse leaves create a stunning, bold presence from late spring through summer. This shade-tolerant giant thrives in USDA zones 3-9 and resists deer damage effortlessly.
Zone 3–9🐝 Pollinator
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Yarrow
Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
Clusters of vibrant yellow, white, pink, or red blooms brighten your garden from June to September with long-lasting color. This deer-resistant native attracts pollinators and thrives in full sun across USDA zones 3-9.
Zone 3–9🦌 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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Virginia Creeper
Virginia Creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Vibrant red foliage in fall transforms this vigorous vine into a stunning seasonal spectacle. Deer resistant and hardy in USDA zones 3-9, it thrives with minimal care.
Zone 3–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†
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Camellia
Camellia
Camellia japonica
Showcasing stunning pink, white, or red blooms from fall to spring, this evergreen shrub brightens gardens in USDA zones 4-9. Low maintenance and pet-friendly, it thrives in part shade while attracting valuable pollinators.
Zone 4–9🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
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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
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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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Marigold
Marigold
Tagetes patula
Bright orange and yellow blooms light up gardens from summer to fall, adding vibrant color and cheer. This low-maintenance, deer-resistant flower thrives in USDA zones 2-11 and attracts pollinators.
Zone 2–11🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator
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Russian Sage
Russian Sage
Perovskia atriplicifolia
Sky-blue blooms from July to October create airy, vibrant spikes that brighten any full sun garden. This deer-resistant beauty thrives in zones 4-9 and attracts buzzing pollinators all season long.
Zone 4–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
View care guide →

Get a Personalized Plant List for Omaha

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

Milwaukee, WI 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.