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Plant Guide

Best Plants for Raleigh, North Carolina

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

Top Plant Picks for Raleigh

Bartlett Pear Tree
Bartlett Pear Tree
Pyrus communis 'Bartlett'
Showcasing fragrant white blossoms in spring and juicy, sweet fruit in late summer, this tree brightens any landscape. Hardy in USDA zones 4-9, it’s low maintenance and attracts pollinators.
Zone 5–7🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Dahlia
Dahlia
Dahlia pinnata
Vibrant pink and white blooms dazzle from June to September, adding long-lasting color to sunny gardens. Low-maintenance and pollinator-friendly, this Dahlia thrives in USDA zones 4-9 with medium water needs.
Zone 4–9🐝 Pollinator
Creeping Thyme
Creeping Thyme
Thymus serpyllum
Delightful pink and white blooms carpet the ground from June to September, adding vibrant color and texture to sunny spots. This low-maintenance, pollinator-attracting groundcover thrives in USDA zones 4-9 and is both dog- and cat-friendly.
Zone 4–9🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 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
Apache Plume
Apache Plume
Fallugia paradoxa
Delicate white blooms give way to feathery pink plumes that add airy texture from late spring through fall. This low-maintenance, drought-tolerant shrub thrives in USDA zones 5-9 and resists deer browsing.
Zone 5–10🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Daylily
Daylily
Hemerocallis fulva
Vibrant orange, yellow, red, and pink blooms light up your garden from June to August, adding cheerful summer color. Hardy in zones 3-9, this low-maintenance perennial thrives in sun to part shade and resists deer damage.
Zone 3–9🐾 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
Bayberry
Bayberry
Myrica pensylvanica
Fragrant silver-green foliage and soft, waxy berries add year-round interest and texture to your garden. This low-maintenance, deer-resistant shrub thrives in USDA zones 3-7 and attracts beneficial wildlife.
Zone 3–7🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
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
Dusty Miller
Dusty Miller
Senecio cineraria
Silvery, velvety foliage with bright yellow blooms from June to September adds striking contrast and seasonal interest. This low-maintenance annual attracts pollinators and thrives in full sun across USDA zones 4-9.
Zone 4–9🐝 Pollinator
California Poppy
California Poppy
Eschscholzia californica
Vibrant orange blooms light up spring and summer gardens with a cheerful glow. This low-maintenance, drought-tolerant beauty thrives in USDA zones 6-10 and attracts pollinators.
Zone 6–10🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator
Ninebark
Ninebark
Physocarpus opulifolius Diablo
Striking deep burgundy foliage contrasts beautifully with creamy white spring blooms, adding vibrant color from spring through fall. This hardy shrub thrives in USDA zones 2-7, is drought-tolerant, and deer resistant, making it a low-maintenance landscape standout.
Zone 3–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator

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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 347+ 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.