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Plant Guide

Best Plants for St. Louis, Missouri

📍 St. Louis, MO 🌡️ USDA Zone 6a 🌱 331+ 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 331+ 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

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
Smooth Hydrangea Annabelle
Smooth Hydrangea Annabelle
Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle'
Showy white blooms from June to September create a stunning display on this smooth hydrangea. Low-maintenance and deer-resistant, it attracts pollinators and thrives in USDA zones 4-9.
Zone 4–9🐝 Pollinator
Catmint
Catmint
Nepeta x faassenii
Blue-purple blooms brighten gardens from May to September, adding a long-lasting splash of color. This deer-resistant, pollinator-attracting perennial thrives in USDA zones 3-8 with low maintenance.
Zone 3–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 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
Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemum x morifolium
Vibrant blooms in shades of yellow, pink, and white brighten late summer to fall gardens with lasting color. Deer resistant and thriving in USDA zones 5-9, this low-maintenance beauty attracts pollinators.
Zone 5–9🐝 Pollinator
Boltonia
Boltonia
Boltonia asteroides
Delicate daisy-like white blooms light up late summer through fall, adding graceful elegance to any garden. This deer-resistant perennial thrives in USDA zones 3-9 and attracts butterflies with ease.
Zone 4–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Contender Peach Tree
Contender Peach Tree
Prunus persica 'Contender'
Vibrant pink blossoms burst in early spring, heralding juicy, sweet peaches by mid-summer. This cold-hardy tree thrives in USDA zones 5-9 and resists many common pests.
Zone 4–8🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Creeping Bentgrass
Creeping Bentgrass
Agrostis stolonifera
The ultra-fine-bladed grass of championship golf greens. Creeping Bentgrass forms a velvety, dense carpet when mowed very low, but requires intensive maintenance and can escape into natural areas.
Zone 3–8🐾 Pet-Friendly†
Smokebush
Smokebush
Cotinus coggygria Royal Purple
Rich, deep purple foliage and airy pink flower plumes create a stunning summer display that lasts into fall. This low-maintenance shrub thrives in USDA zones 4-8 and is drought tolerant.
Zone 5–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Coleus
Coleus
Plectranthus scutellarioides
Vibrant, multicolored foliage brightens summer gardens with shades of red, green, and purple that last through USDA zones 10-11. This low-maintenance, shade-tolerant plant adds striking color without attracting deer.
Zone 2–11🦌 Deer-Resistant
American Hornbeam
American Hornbeam
Carpinus caroliniana
Delicate blue-green leaves turn vibrant orange and red in fall, adding stunning seasonal color. This shade-tolerant tree thrives in USDA zones 3-9 and is deer resistant.
Zone 3–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Gatsby Gal Oakleaf Hydrangea
Gatsby Gal Oakleaf Hydrangea
Hydrangea quercifolia 'Gatsby Gal'
Showcasing stunning pink and white blooms from June to September, this Oakleaf Hydrangea adds vibrant color and texture to your garden. Low-maintenance and deer resistant, it attracts pollinators and thrives in USDA zones 4-9.
Zone 4–9🐝 Pollinator

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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 331+ 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.