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Plant Guide

Best Plants for St. Louis, Missouri

📍 St. Louis, MO 🌡️ USDA Zone 6a 🌱 328+ compatible plants

Gardening in St. Louis

St. Louis falls in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a, which means your plants need to survive winters with minimum temperatures in the −10°F to 0°F range. The 328+ plants below are proven performers for your zone — including deer-resistant varieties, pet-friendly options, and pollinator-attracting species.

Top Plant Picks for St. Louis

Paper Birch
Paper Birch
Betula papyrifera
Striking white bark peels beautifully in spring and summer, adding year-round interest to landscapes. This low-maintenance tree thrives in USDA zones 2-6 and resists deer browsing.
Zone 2–7🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Gaura
Gaura
Oenothera lindheimeri
Delicate pink and white blooms dance from June to September, adding airy beauty to any garden space. This low-maintenance perennial thrives in USDA zones 4-9 and attracts pollinators while being dog- and cat-friendly.
Zone 4–9🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Trumpet Vine
Trumpet Vine
Campsis radicans
Vibrant orange-red trumpet-shaped blooms dazzle from summer to fall, attracting hummingbirds with their fiery display. This vigorous climber is deer resistant and thrives in USDA zones 4-9 with minimal care.
Zone 4–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Tri-Color Dappled Willow
Tri-Color Dappled Willow
Salix integra 'Hakuro Nishiki'
Vibrant pink and white foliage dazzles from June to September, adding striking color to any garden space. This low-maintenance, pollinator-attracting shrub thrives in USDA zones 4-9 and is both dog- and cat-friendly.
Zone 4–9🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Stewartia
Stewartia
Stewartia pseudocamellia
Showcasing stunning white camellia-like blooms in summer, Stewartia pseudocamellia adds year-round interest with its exfoliating bark and vibrant fall color. This low-maintenance tree thrives in USDA zones 5-8 and is highly resistant to deer, making it a reliable landscape standout.
Zone 5–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Tulip
Tulip
Tulipa spp.
Vibrant, cup-shaped blooms in shades of red, yellow, and pink herald spring with cheerful color. These bulbs thrive in USDA zones 3-8 and require minimal care for stunning garden accents.
Zone 3–8🐝 Pollinator
Leucothoe
Leucothoe
Leucothoe fontanesiana
Glossy, arching leaves turn fiery red in fall, adding vibrant seasonal color to your garden. This shade-tolerant, deer-resistant shrub thrives in USDA zones 5-8 with minimal care.
Zone 5–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator
Meadow Rue
Meadow Rue
Thalictrum aquilegiifolium
Delicate lavender-pink blooms grace airy stems from late spring to early summer, adding a soft, whimsical touch to any garden. This shade-tolerant beauty thrives in USDA zones 3-8 and attracts pollinators while remaining deer resistant.
Zone 4–7🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Sugar Maple
Sugar Maple
Acer saccharum
Brilliant orange and red foliage lights up fall, creating stunning seasonal color from late September to October. This hardy tree thrives in USDA zones 3-8 and provides shade while being low maintenance and deer resistant.
Zone 3–8🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Armeria Sea Thrift
Armeria Sea Thrift
Armeria maritima
Delight in vibrant pink blooms that carpet gardens from spring to early summer, adding cheerful color to any landscape. This low-maintenance, drought-tolerant perennial thrives in USDA zones 3-9 and attracts beneficial pollinators.
Zone 4–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
White Oak
White Oak
Quercus alba
Majestic white oak dazzles with its broad, lobed leaves that turn vibrant red and orange in fall, lighting up landscapes from spring through autumn. This long-lived tree thrives in USDA zones 3-9, offering excellent shade and deer resistance while supporting local wildlife.
Zone 3–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator
Bergenia
Bergenia
Bergenia cordifolia
Bold clusters of deep pink blooms brighten early spring, creating vibrant garden interest. This hardy, deer-resistant perennial thrives in USDA zones 3-8 with minimal care.
Zone 3–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator

Get a Personalized Plant List for St. Louis

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 6a.

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Other Cities in Zone 6a

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Browse All 328+ Plants for Zone 6a

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

View All Zone 6 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.