🌿 PlantWise
Plant Guide

Best Plants for Raleigh, North Carolina

📍 Raleigh, NC 🌡️ USDA Zone 7b 🌱 348+ compatible plants

Gardening in Raleigh

Raleigh falls in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b, which means your plants need to survive winters with minimum temperatures in the 0°F to 10°F range. The 348+ plants below are proven performers for your zone — including deer-resistant varieties, pet-friendly options, and pollinator-attracting species.

Top Plant Picks for Raleigh

Juniper Blue Star
Juniper Blue Star
Juniperus squamata Blue Star
Silvery-blue, star-shaped foliage adds striking color and texture year-round to any landscape. This low-maintenance, deer-resistant shrub thrives in USDA zones 4-8.
Zone 4–8🦌 Deer-Resistant
View care guide →
Crape Myrtle
Crape Myrtle
Lagerstroemia indica
Vibrant pink and white blooms light up summer from June to September, creating stunning color in any garden. This low-maintenance tree attracts pollinators, thrives in full sun, and grows well in USDA zones 4-9.
Zone 6–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
View care guide →
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†
View care guide →
Creeping Jenny
Creeping Jenny
Lysimachia nummularia
Vibrant chartreuse leaves create a bright, trailing carpet that shines from spring through summer. This low-maintenance groundcover thrives in USDA zones 3-9 and is deer resistant.
Zone 3–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†
View care guide →
Calibrachoa (Million Bells)
Calibrachoa (Million Bells)
Calibrachoa × hybrida
Vibrant, trumpet-shaped blooms in shades of pink, purple, and red brighten gardens from spring through fall. This low-maintenance beauty thrives in USDA zones 9-11 and attracts pollinators effortlessly.
Zone 2–11🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
View care guide →
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
View care guide →
Blue Grama Grass
Blue Grama Grass
Bouteloua gracilis
Delicate, sky-blue seed heads crown slender stems, adding graceful movement and color from summer to fall. This drought-tolerant, low-maintenance grass thrives in USDA zones 4-9 and resists deer browsing.
Zone 3–10🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†
View care guide →
Bigleaf Hydrangea
Bigleaf Hydrangea
Hydrangea macrophylla
Showy clusters of pink and white blooms brighten gardens from June to September, adding vibrant color through summer. This low-maintenance shrub thrives in part sun, attracts pollinators, and grows well in USDA zones 4-9.
Zone 4–9🐝 Pollinator
View care guide →
Mimosa Tree
Mimosa Tree
Albizia julibrissin
Delicate pink and white blooms light up summer from June to September, creating a stunning, airy display. This low-maintenance tree attracts pollinators and thrives in USDA zones 4-9 with full sun.
Zone 4–9🐝 Pollinator
View care guide →
Gaillardia (Blanket Flower)
Gaillardia (Blanket Flower)
Gaillardia × grandiflora
Vibrant red and yellow blooms light up summer through fall, adding a cheerful splash of color to any garden. This drought-tolerant, deer-resistant beauty thrives in USDA zones 3-10 and attracts pollinators effortlessly.
Zone 3–10🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
View care guide →
False Indigo
False Indigo
Baptisia australis
Striking deep blue blooms light up late spring with a showy, long-lasting display. This drought-tolerant native thrives in USDA zones 3-9 and resists deer browsing.
Zone 3–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
View care guide →
Saucer Magnolia
Saucer Magnolia
Magnolia x soulangeana
Showy, large pink to white blooms burst forth in early spring, creating a stunning floral display before the leaves emerge. Hardy in USDA zones 4-9, this tree thrives with minimal care and attracts early pollinators.
Zone 4–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
View care guide →

Get a Personalized Plant List for Raleigh

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 7b.

Start the Plant Advisor →

Other Cities in Zone 7b

New York, NY Philadelphia, PA Nashville, TN Oklahoma City, OK Washington, DC Memphis, TN Baltimore, MD Albuquerque, NM Tulsa, OK

Browse All 348+ Plants for Zone 7b

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.