🌿 PlantWise
Plant Guide

Best Plants for Washington, DC

📍 Washington, DC 🌡️ USDA Zone 7a 🌱 346+ compatible plants

Gardening in Washington

Washington falls in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a, which means your plants need to survive winters with minimum temperatures in the 0°F to 10°F range. The 346+ plants below are proven performers for your zone — including deer-resistant varieties, pet-friendly options, and pollinator-attracting species.

Top Plant Picks for Washington

Stanley Plum Tree
Stanley Plum Tree
Prunus domestica 'Stanley'
Rich purple-blue plums ripen in late summer, adding vibrant color and delicious fruit to your garden. This hardy tree thrives in USDA zones 4-9 and offers low-maintenance growth with excellent disease resistance.
Zone 5–7🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Prairie Blazing Star
Prairie Blazing Star
Liatris pycnostachya
Vibrant purple flower spikes burst into bloom in late summer, creating a stunning vertical accent in any garden. This prairie native thrives in USDA zones 3-9, attracts pollinators, and is deer resistant.
Zone 3–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Bobo Panicle Hydrangea
Bobo Panicle Hydrangea
Hydrangea paniculata 'Bobo'
Showy pink and white blooms brighten summer from June to September, adding vibrant color to any garden. This low-maintenance shrub thrives in zones 4-9 and attracts pollinators while tolerating full sun to part shade.
Zone 4–9🐝 Pollinator
Zoysia Grass
Zoysia Grass
Zoysia japonica
A dense, slow-growing warm-season grass that forms a thick carpet resistant to weeds, drought, and foot traffic. Excellent for families with dogs.
Zone 6–11🐾 Pet-Friendly†
Pacific Wax Myrtle
Pacific Wax Myrtle
Morella californica
Fragrant evergreen foliage and small white berries add year-round interest to landscapes from USDA zones 7-10. This drought-tolerant shrub is deer resistant and attracts beneficial wildlife.
Zone 7–10🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†
Gala Apple Tree
Gala Apple Tree
Malus domestica 'Gala'
Showcasing fragrant white blossoms in spring, the Gala Apple Tree delights with its vibrant red and yellow fruit in early fall. Hardy in USDA zones 4-8, it offers low-maintenance growth and attracts pollinators to your garden.
Zone 5–8🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Quaking Aspen
Quaking Aspen
Populus tremuloides
Delicate yellow-green blooms in spring add a shimmering beauty to landscapes from zones 4-9. This low-maintenance, medium-water tree attracts pollinators and thrives in full sun.
Zone 4–9🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
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
Torenia Wishbone Flower
Torenia Wishbone Flower
Torenia fournieri
Delightful blooms in pink, white, purple, and blue brighten shady spots from June to September with vibrant color. This low-maintenance annual attracts pollinators and thrives in USDA zones 4-9.
Zone 4–9🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Red Maple
Red Maple
Acer rubrum
Vibrant red blooms and fiery fall foliage make this tree a stunning seasonal highlight from spring through autumn. Hardy in USDA zones 3-9, it thrives with low maintenance and attracts pollinators.
Zone 3–9🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Virginia Bluebells
Virginia Bluebells
Mertensia virginica
Delicate clusters of sky-blue, bell-shaped flowers bloom in early spring, brightening woodland gardens with vibrant color. This deer-resistant perennial thrives in USDA zones 3-8 and attracts early pollinators while tolerating shade.
Zone 3–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Camassia
Camassia
Camassia leichtlinii
Striking spikes of star-shaped blue flowers bloom in late spring, creating a stunning display from USDA zones 4-9. This low-maintenance bulb attracts pollinators and thrives in moist, well-drained soil.
Zone 4–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator

Get a Personalized Plant List for Washington

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 7a.

Start the Plant Advisor →

Other Cities in Zone 7a

New York, NY Philadelphia, PA Nashville, TN Oklahoma City, OK Memphis, TN Baltimore, MD Albuquerque, NM Raleigh, NC Tulsa, OK

Browse All 346+ Plants for Zone 7a

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.