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Plant Guide

Best Plants for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

📍 Philadelphia, PA 🌡️ USDA Zone 7a 🌱 347+ 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 347+ plants below are proven performers for your zone — including deer-resistant varieties, pet-friendly options, and pollinator-attracting species.

Top Plant Picks for Philadelphia

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
Pacific Wax Myrtle
Pacific Wax Myrtle
Morella californica
Fragrant evergreen foliage and small white berries add year-round interest to landscapes from USDA zones 7-10. This drought-tolerant shrub is deer resistant and attracts beneficial wildlife.
Zone 7–10🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†
Japanese Silver Grass
Japanese Silver Grass
Miscanthus sinensis
One of the most ornamental grasses available, Japanese Silver Grass offers stunning fall plumes and winter interest. Choose sterile cultivars to minimize invasive spread in the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest.
Zone 5–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Oakleaf Hydrangea
Oakleaf Hydrangea
Hydrangea quercifolia
Showy pink and white blooms from June to September make this shrub a stunning summer standout. Low-maintenance and deer resistant, it thrives in zones 4-9 while attracting pollinators.
Zone 4–9🐝 Pollinator
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
Pin Oak
Pin Oak
Quercus palustris
Striking red leaves in fall make this Pin Oak a seasonal showstopper from spring through autumn. Its sturdy, fast-growing nature and adaptability to USDA zones 4-8 make it low maintenance and urban tolerant.
Zone 4–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator
Fire Light Tidbit Panicle Hydrangea
Fire Light Tidbit Panicle Hydrangea
Hydrangea paniculata 'Fire Light Tidbit'
Bright pink and white panicle blooms light up your garden from June to September with vibrant, long-lasting color. This low-maintenance shrub attracts pollinators and thrives in zones 4-9 with medium water needs.
Zone 4–9🐝 Pollinator
Flowering Dogwood
Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida
Showy white blossoms bloom in spring, creating a stunning display that brightens any landscape. This low-maintenance tree thrives in USDA zones 5-9 and is deer resistant.
Zone 5–9🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Coneflower Magnus
Coneflower Magnus
Echinacea purpurea Magnus
Vibrant magenta blooms light up summer gardens with long-lasting color and a classic daisy shape. Deer resistant and hardy in USDA zones 3-9, it attracts pollinators effortlessly.
Zone 3–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Persimmon
Persimmon
Diospyros virginiana
Bright orange persimmon fruits ripen in fall, adding vibrant color and edible appeal to your landscape. This low-maintenance tree thrives in USDA zones 4-9 and attracts wildlife while being deer resistant.
Zone 4–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Baptisia White Wild Indigo
Baptisia White Wild Indigo
Baptisia alba
Elegant white blooms light up late spring with a graceful, airy display that brightens any garden space. This low-maintenance, drought-tolerant perennial thrives in USDA zones 3-9 and attracts pollinators while resisting deer.
Zone 3–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator
Compass Plant
Compass Plant
Silphium laciniatum
Bright yellow, daisy-like blooms light up late summer gardens with bold, upright stalks reaching up to 10 feet. This drought-tolerant prairie native thrives in USDA zones 4-9 and attracts pollinators while resisting deer.
Zone 3–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 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 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.