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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

Great Blue Lobelia
Great Blue Lobelia
Lobelia siphilitica
Striking spikes of vibrant blue flowers bloom from late summer to fall, adding bold color to any garden. This deer-resistant, moisture-loving perennial thrives in USDA zones 3-9 and attracts pollinators.
Zone 4–9🐝 Pollinator
Hard Fescue
Hard Fescue
Festuca brevipila
Hard Fescue is the ultra-low-maintenance cool-season grass for poor, dry soils and slopes. Once established, it can go unmowed for a naturalistic meadow look or mowed infrequently for a tidy lawn.
Zone 3–7🐾 Pet-Friendly†
Knockout Rose
Knockout Rose
Rosa Knockout
Vibrant red blooms burst from spring to frost, adding nonstop color and charm to any garden. This hardy shrub thrives in USDA zones 5-11 and resists deer and disease with minimal care.
Zone 5–11🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator
Cimicifuga Bugbane
Cimicifuga Bugbane
Actaea racemosa
Tall spikes of fragrant pink and white blooms light up shady gardens from June to September, adding elegant vertical interest. This low-maintenance perennial thrives in USDA zones 4-9 and attracts pollinators while tolerating part shade.
Zone 4–9🐝 Pollinator
Salvia
Salvia
Salvia nemorosa
Vibrant blue, purple, and red blooms dazzle from May to October, adding long-lasting color to any sunny spot. This deer-resistant Salvia thrives in USDA zones 4-9 and attracts pollinators all season.
Zone 4–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Bing Cherry Tree
Bing Cherry Tree
Prunus avium 'Bing'
Stunning white blooms light up this tree in April-May, attracting a host of pollinators with their delicate beauty. Thriving in USDA zones 4-9, it offers medium maintenance and vibrant fruit in full sun.
Zone 4–9🐝 Pollinator
Smokebush
Smokebush
Cotinus coggygria Royal Purple
Rich, deep purple foliage and airy pink flower plumes create a stunning summer display that lasts into fall. This low-maintenance shrub thrives in USDA zones 4-8 and is drought tolerant.
Zone 5–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Siberian Iris
Siberian Iris
Iris sibirica
Vibrant blue-purple blooms brighten late spring gardens with graceful, grass-like foliage adding elegant texture. This hardy perennial thrives in USDA zones 3-9 and attracts pollinators while being deer resistant.
Zone 3–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator
Salvia Nemorosa
Salvia Nemorosa
Salvia nemorosa
Woodland sage (Salvia nemorosa) is a compact, deer-resistant perennial prized for its tall spikes of violet-purple flowers from late spring through summer. A magnet for bees and butterflies, it thrives in full sun with minimal water and is not listed as toxic to dogs, cats, or rabbits.
Zone 4–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Scentsation Honeysuckle
Scentsation Honeysuckle
Lonicera periclymenum 'Scentsation'
Fragrant pink and white blooms from June to September fill the air with sweetness, adding vibrant charm to any garden space. This low-maintenance vine attracts pollinators, thrives in zones 4-9, and is both dog- and cat-friendly.
Zone 4–9🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Lilac
Lilac
Syringa vulgaris
Fragrant clusters of lavender-purple blooms burst in spring, filling the air with sweet, nostalgic scents. Hardy in USDA zones 3-7, lilacs attract pollinators and thrive with minimal care.
Zone 3–7🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Northern Catalpa
Northern Catalpa
Catalpa speciosa
Showy white and pink blooms grace this tree from June to September, adding vibrant summer color and attracting pollinators. Thriving in zones 4-9, it’s a low-maintenance, dog- and cat-friendly tree that tolerates full sun to part shade.
Zone 4–9🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator

Get a Personalized Plant List for Philadelphia

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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.