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Plant Guide

Best Plants for Portland, Oregon

📍 Portland, OR 🌡️ USDA Zone 8b 🌱 336+ compatible plants

Gardening in Portland

Portland falls in USDA Hardiness Zone 8b, which means your plants need to survive winters with minimum temperatures in the 10°F to 20°F range. The 336+ plants below are proven performers for your zone — including deer-resistant varieties, pet-friendly options, and pollinator-attracting species.

Top Plant Picks for Portland

Tall Fescue
Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea
The most adaptable cool-season lawn grass. Tolerates heat, drought, shade, and clay soil better than most. Deep roots make it resilient and low-maintenance.
Zone 4–8🐾 Pet-Friendly†
Sourwood
Sourwood
Oxydendrum arboreum
Delight in the Sourwood's fragrant white blooms that light up summer with delicate charm and vibrant fall foliage in zones 5-9. This low-maintenance tree is drought-tolerant and attracts pollinators, adding year-round interest to your garden.
Zone 5–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Japanese Cherry
Japanese Cherry
Prunus serrulata Kwanzan
Striking double pink blossoms burst in spring, creating a stunning floral display that brightens any landscape. This low-maintenance tree thrives in USDA zones 5-8 and is moderately deer resistant.
Zone 5–9🐝 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
Coreopsis
Coreopsis
Coreopsis grandiflora
Bright yellow, daisy-like blooms light up gardens from early summer to fall with a cheerful, long-lasting display. Thrives in USDA zones 4-9, offering low maintenance and attracting pollinators with ease.
Zone 4–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Scaevola Fan Flower
Scaevola Fan Flower
Scaevola aemula
Delightful fan-shaped pink and white blooms fill the garden from June to September, adding vibrant summer color. This low-maintenance, pollinator-attracting annual thrives in full sun across USDA zones 4-9.
Zone 4–9🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
June Hosta
June Hosta
Hosta 'June'
Lush, variegated leaves with creamy yellow centers brighten shady gardens from spring to summer. This low-maintenance perennial thrives in USDA zones 3-9 and is deer resistant.
Zone 3–9🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Rugosa Rose
Rugosa Rose
Rosa rugosa
Fragrant, vibrant pink blooms light up summer with a charming, old-fashioned appeal. Rugosa Rose thrives in USDA zones 3-7, offering deer resistance and salt tolerance.
Zone 2–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator
Amsonia
Amsonia
Amsonia tabernaemontana
Sky-blue star-shaped blooms brighten late spring gardens with a soft, airy appeal. This drought-tolerant, deer-resistant beauty thrives in USDA zones 3-9 and attracts pollinators.
Zone 3–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Rainier Cherry Tree
Rainier Cherry Tree
Prunus avium 'Rainier'
Showy pink and white blooms appear in spring, adding a stunning splash of color and attracting pollinators from April to May. This medium-maintenance tree thrives in USDA zones 4-9 and grows 4-8 ft tall in full sun.
Zone 4–9🐝 Pollinator
Gatsby Gal Oakleaf Hydrangea
Gatsby Gal Oakleaf Hydrangea
Hydrangea quercifolia 'Gatsby Gal'
Showcasing stunning pink and white blooms from June to September, this Oakleaf Hydrangea adds vibrant color and texture to your garden. Low-maintenance and deer resistant, it attracts pollinators and thrives in USDA zones 4-9.
Zone 4–9🐝 Pollinator
Shagbark Hickory
Shagbark Hickory
Carya ovata
Greenish-yellow blooms appear in late spring, adding subtle beauty to this majestic native tree. Attracting pollinators and thriving in zones 4-9, it’s low maintenance and pet-friendly.
Zone 4–9🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator

Get a Personalized Plant List for Portland

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 8b.

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Other Cities in Zone 8b

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Browse All 336+ Plants for Zone 8b

The 12 picks above are a sample. Use the full directory to filter by sun, water, deer resistance, and more.

View All Zone 8 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.