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Plant Guide

Best Plants for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

📍 Philadelphia, PA 🌡️ USDA Zone 7a 🌱 346+ compatible plants

Gardening in Philadelphia

Philadelphia 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 346+ plants below are proven performers for your zone — including deer-resistant varieties, pet-friendly options, and pollinator-attracting species.

Top Plant Picks for Philadelphia

Yellowwood
Yellowwood
Cladrastis kentukea
Showy clusters of fragrant white blooms appear in late spring, lighting up landscapes with their elegance. This low-maintenance tree thrives in USDA zones 4-8 and is highly deer resistant.
Zone 4–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Japanese Forest Grass
Japanese Forest Grass
Hakonechloa macra
Graceful, cascading lime-green blades of Japanese Forest Grass brighten shady spots with a soft, flowing texture all season long. This low-maintenance, shade-tolerant grass thrives in USDA zones 5-9 and resists deer browsing.
Zone 5–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†
Pennisetum Fountain Grass
Pennisetum Fountain Grass
Pennisetum alopecuroides
Graceful plumes of pink and white bloom from June to September, adding elegant movement and color to any garden. This low-maintenance, pollinator-friendly grass thrives in full sun across USDA zones 4-9.
Zone 4–9🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Imperata Red Baron Grass
Imperata Red Baron Grass
Imperata cylindrica 'Red Baron'
Striking pink and white blooms from June to September add vibrant color to any garden with this graceful grass. Low-maintenance, deer-resistant, and pollinator-friendly, it thrives in zones 4-9 under full sun.
Zone 4–9🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Skip Laurel
Skip Laurel
Prunus laurocerasus 'Skip Laurel'
Showy pink and white blooms from June to September add vibrant color and attract pollinators to your garden. This low-maintenance shrub thrives in USDA zones 4-9 and tolerates full sun to part shade.
Zone 4–9🐝 Pollinator
Loropetalum
Loropetalum
Loropetalum chinense
Vibrant pink and white blooms light up this evergreen shrub in early spring, adding a splash of color from zones 7-10. Low-maintenance and pollinator-friendly, it thrives in full sun to part shade while being safe for pets.
Zone 7–10🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Italian Cypress
Italian Cypress
Cupressus sempervirens
Slender Italian Cypress dazzles with its tall, elegant evergreen form, adding vertical interest year-round in zones 4-9. This low-maintenance, deer-resistant tree thrives in full sun and attracts beneficial pollinators.
Zone 4–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Matteuccia Ostrich Fern
Matteuccia Ostrich Fern
Matteuccia struthiopteris
Lush, feathery fronds of Matteuccia Ostrich Fern add vibrant green texture to shady garden spots from spring through summer. This low-maintenance perennial thrives in USDA zones 4-9, attracting pollinators while being safe for pets.
Zone 4–9🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
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†
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
Dianthus
Dianthus
Dianthus deltoides
Vibrant pink blooms with a sweet fragrance light up late spring gardens, adding charm and color. This low-maintenance perennial thrives in USDA zones 3-9 and attracts pollinators.
Zone 3–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator
Leucothoe
Leucothoe
Leucothoe fontanesiana
Glossy, arching leaves turn fiery red in fall, adding vibrant seasonal color to your garden. This shade-tolerant, deer-resistant shrub thrives in USDA zones 5-8 with minimal care.
Zone 5–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator

Get a Personalized Plant List for Philadelphia

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

Browse All 346+ 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.