🌿 PlantWise
Plant Guide

Best Plants for San Francisco, California

📍 San Francisco, CA 🌡️ USDA Zone 10a 🌱 61+ compatible plants

Gardening in San Francisco

San Francisco falls in USDA Hardiness Zone 10a, which means your plants need to survive winters with minimum temperatures in the 30°F to 40°F range. The 61+ plants below are proven performers for your zone — including deer-resistant varieties, pet-friendly options, and pollinator-attracting species.

Top Plant Picks for San Francisco

Fremontodendron
Fremontodendron
Fremontodendron californicum
Bright yellow, fragrant blooms light up late spring and summer, creating a stunning display in any garden. This drought-tolerant, deer-resistant shrub thrives in USDA zones 7-10 with minimal care.
Zone 7–10🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Pansy
Pansy
Viola × wittrockiana
Vibrant pansy blooms burst in cool spring and fall, showcasing cheerful purples, yellows, and blues that brighten any garden. Hardy in USDA zones 6-9, they thrive in sun to partial shade and attract pollinators while being low maintenance.
Zone 4–10🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Petunia
Petunia
Petunia × atkinsiana
Vibrant, trumpet-shaped blooms in shades of pink, purple, and white brighten summer gardens with nonstop color. Thrives in USDA zones 9-11 and attracts pollinators while requiring minimal care.
Zone 2–11🐝 Pollinator
Cosmos
Cosmos
Cosmos bipinnatus
Delicate, daisy-like pink, white, and magenta blooms brighten summer and fall gardens with vibrant color. This low-maintenance beauty attracts pollinators and thrives in USDA zones 2-11.
Zone 2–11🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Brittlebush
Brittlebush
Encelia farinosa
Bright yellow blooms light up spring and summer with a cheerful desert vibe. This drought-tolerant shrub thrives in USDA zones 8-11 and attracts pollinators while resisting deer.
Zone 8–11🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Seashore Paspalum
Seashore Paspalum
Paspalum vaginatum
The go-to grass for coastal lawns, golf courses, and salt-spray environments. Seashore Paspalum tolerates salt water, brackish irrigation, and coastal conditions that would kill most other grasses.
Zone 8–11🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†
Purple Fountain Grass
Purple Fountain Grass
Pennisetum setaceum
Stunning burgundy-purple foliage and arching flower plumes make Purple Fountain Grass a popular ornamental. Banned in California, Arizona, and Hawaii due to catastrophic invasive spread.
Zone 9–11🦌 Deer-Resistant
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
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
Liriope (Lilyturf)
Liriope (Lilyturf)
Liriope muscari
Vibrant purple flower spikes bloom late summer, adding a pop of color to shady spots. This tough, deer-resistant groundcover thrives in USDA zones 5-10 with minimal care.
Zone 5–10🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†
Azalea Encore
Azalea Encore
Rhododendron Encore series
Vibrant blooms in shades of pink, red, and white brighten spring through fall, offering nonstop color in your garden. This low-maintenance, deer-resistant shrub thrives in USDA zones 6-9 and attracts pollinators.
Zone 6–10🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator
Obedient Plant
Obedient Plant
Physostegia virginiana
Delightful spikes of tubular pink to lavender blooms burst in late summer, adding vibrant color to your garden. This deer-resistant, pollinator-friendly perennial thrives in USDA zones 3-9 with minimal care.
Zone 3–10🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator

Get a Personalized Plant List for San Francisco

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 10a.

Start the Plant Advisor →

Other Cities in Zone 10a

Los Angeles, CA Phoenix, AZ San Diego, CA Mesa, AZ Miami, FL Anaheim, CA

Browse All 61+ Plants for Zone 10a

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

View All Zone 10 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.