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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

Goat's Beard
Goat's Beard
Aruncus dioicus
Feathery white plumes bloom in early summer, adding airy elegance to shady garden spots. This deer-resistant perennial thrives in USDA zones 3-8 and attracts pollinators effortlessly.
Zone 3–7🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
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Veronica Speedwell
Veronica Speedwell
Veronica spicata
Vibrant spikes of blue to purple blooms light up summer gardens with long-lasting color. This low-maintenance perennial, hardy in USDA zones 3-8, attracts pollinators and resists deer.
Zone 3–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
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Ceanothus
Ceanothus
Ceanothus thyrsiflorus
Vibrant blue blossoms burst in spring on this evergreen shrub, creating a stunning coastal display. Deer resistant and drought tolerant, it thrives in USDA zones 7-10.
Zone 7–10🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
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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†
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Penstemon
Penstemon
Penstemon digitalis
Showy white tubular blooms brighten late spring to early summer, creating a stunning display in any garden. This drought-tolerant perennial attracts pollinators and thrives in USDA zones 3-8.
Zone 3–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
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Wild Lupine
Wild Lupine
Lupinus perennis
Vibrant blue-purple blooms light up spring gardens with a splash of color that attracts butterflies and bees. Thrives in USDA zones 3-8, this low-maintenance native is drought-tolerant and deer resistant.
Zone 3–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator
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Pachysandra
Pachysandra
Pachysandra terminalis
Evergreen Pachysandra features glossy green leaves that brighten shady spots year-round with subtle white spring blooms. This low-maintenance groundcover thrives in USDA zones 4-8 and is deer resistant.
Zone 4–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†
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Eupatorium
Eupatorium
Eupatorium maculatum
Vibrant clusters of pink to purple blooms light up late summer gardens, attracting butterflies and hummingbirds. This deer-resistant perennial thrives in USDA zones 4-9 with minimal care.
Zone 4–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
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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
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Tall Garden Phlox
Tall Garden Phlox
Phlox paniculata
Clusters of fragrant, vibrant pink to purple blooms light up summer gardens with dazzling color. This deer-resistant beauty thrives in USDA zones 4-8 and attracts pollinators all season long.
Zone 4–8🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
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Limelight Panicle Hydrangea
Limelight Panicle Hydrangea
Hydrangea paniculata 'Limelight'
Showcasing stunning white to pink blooms from June to September, this shrub brightens gardens with its long-lasting color. Low-maintenance and deer resistant, it thrives in USDA zones 4-9 while attracting pollinators.
Zone 4–9🐝 Pollinator
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Pieris Mountain Fire
Pieris Mountain Fire
Pieris japonica Mountain Fire
Vibrant red new leaves burst into glossy green foliage with white spring blooms, adding year-round interest. This deer-resistant shrub thrives in USDA zones 5-8 and requires low maintenance.
Zone 5–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator
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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.

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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 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.