Zone 8 is a versatile USDA Plant Hardiness Zone with average minimum winter temperatures ranging from 10 to 20°F (-12 to -7°C). It has a mild climate compared to colder regions, but still experiences some frost and occasional freezes. This balance of cool winters and warm summers makes it suitable for a wide range of plants, from hardy perennials to fruit trees.
The growing season in Zone 8 is long, typically lasting from early spring into late fall. Gardeners enjoy the ability to grow cool-season crops like lettuce, broccoli, and peas in spring and fall, as well as warm-season crops like tomatoes, peppers, and melons through summer. Flowering plants, shrubs, and trees also thrive thanks to the moderate climate.
Zone 8 covers a large portion of the United States, stretching across both coasts and the southern interior. It includes much of the Pacific Northwest (like parts of Oregon and Washington), the interior South (Texas, Georgia, Alabama, and parts of the Carolinas), and areas of the Mid-Atlantic. This wide coverage makes it one of the most common gardening zones.
While Zone 8’s climate is generally favorable, gardeners must be mindful of occasional cold snaps and varying rainfall patterns. In some regions, winters can bring unexpected freezes, while in others, dry summers may require irrigation. Choosing regionally adapted plants helps balance these local challenges.
Plants and Flowers for Growing In Zone 8 Gardens
Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
This cheerful perennial produces golden-yellow, daisy-like flowers with dark centers. It thrives in full sun, tolerates heat, and provides long-lasting blooms from summer into fall.
Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
Coneflowers are hardy perennials with daisy-shaped blooms in purple, pink, white, and other colors. They tolerate drought well and attract butterflies, bees, and songbirds.
Daylilies (Hemerocallis spp.)
Daylilies are tough, low-maintenance perennials that thrive in Zone 8. They offer a rainbow of colors, with each bloom lasting a day, but flowering stems produce continuous waves of blossoms in summer.
Lavender (Lavandula spp.)
Lavender thrives in sunny, well-drained locations and brings fragrance, beauty, and pollinator appeal. Its silvery foliage and purple flower spikes add charm to borders and herb gardens.
Peonies (Paeonia spp.)
Peonies are long-lived perennials with large, showy blooms in late spring to early summer. They love the cool winters Zone 8 provides and reward gardeners with stunning flowers year after year.
Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla & paniculata)
Hydrangeas flourish in Zone 8, producing big, ball-shaped blooms in shades of pink, blue, and white. They prefer partial shade and moist, well-drained soil.
Camellia (Camellia japonica & sasanqua)
Camellias bloom from fall through spring, depending on the variety. Their glossy evergreen leaves and rose-like flowers make them standout shrubs in Zone 8 gardens.
Hostas (Hosta spp.)
Perfect for shaded areas, hostas add lush foliage in shades of green, blue, and variegated patterns. They also produce delicate summer blooms on tall stalks.
Coreopsis (Coreopsis spp.)
Coreopsis, also known as tickseed, is a sun-loving perennial that produces bright, daisy-like flowers in yellow, red, and bi-color varieties. It’s hardy, low-maintenance, and blooms for long stretches.
Salvia (Salvia nemorosa & others)
Salvias thrive in sunny Zone 8 gardens, producing spikes of blue, purple, red, or pink flowers. They’re drought-tolerant and attract hummingbirds and bees.
Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum × superbum)
Shasta daisies bring classic white petals with yellow centers to summer gardens. They’re hardy, easy to grow, and make excellent cut flowers.
Bearded Iris (Iris germanica)
Bearded irises provide dramatic, ruffled flowers in a wide range of colors. They thrive in Zone 8’s temperate climate and are known for their reliability and elegance.
Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia)
Russian sage thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. With its silvery foliage and airy lavender-blue flower spikes, it adds a soft, elegant touch to Zone 8 landscapes and tolerates drought well.
Butterfly Bush (Buddleja davidii)
Known for its long, fragrant flower clusters, butterfly bush is a magnet for butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. In Zone 8, it blooms from summer through fall in shades of purple, pink, white, and yellow.
Blanket Flower (Gaillardia × grandiflora)
Blanket flower produces daisy-like blooms in fiery shades of red, orange, and yellow. It thrives in sunny, dry spots, making it a tough perennial that adds bold color to Zone 8 gardens.
Sedum (Sedum spectabile & other varieties)
Sedums, or stonecrops, are succulents that flourish in dry, sunny locations. Their fleshy leaves and clusters of late-summer flowers provide texture, color, and pollinator appeal.
Phlox (Phlox paniculata & subulata)
Garden phlox offers fragrant summer flowers in pink, purple, red, or white, while creeping phlox carpets the ground with spring color. Both types thrive in Zone 8 with proper sunlight.
Baptisia (Baptisia australis)
Also called false indigo, Baptisia is a hardy perennial with pea-like flowers in blue, yellow, or purple. Its deep roots make it drought-tolerant and long-lived in Zone 8 gardens.
Catmint (Nepeta spp.)
Catmint produces soft gray-green foliage and long-lasting lavender-blue blooms. It’s heat- and drought-tolerant, easy to grow, and a reliable pollinator plant in Zone 8.
Columbine (Aquilegia spp.)
Columbines are delicate spring bloomers with nodding, spurred flowers in a range of colors. They do well in the cooler parts of Zone 8, especially in shaded or woodland gardens.
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Yarrow thrives in sunny, dry soils and produces flat clusters of flowers in white, yellow, red, or pink. It’s drought-resistant, easy to grow, and excellent for attracting pollinators.
Hellebores (Helleborus spp.)
Also called Lenten roses, hellebores are shade-loving perennials that bloom in late winter to early spring. Their nodding flowers and evergreen foliage brighten Zone 8 gardens when little else is blooming.
Japanese Anemone (Anemone hupehensis)
Japanese anemones bloom in late summer and fall, producing elegant pink or white flowers on tall stems. They thrive in partial shade and moist soil, adding charm to Zone 8 borders.
Clematis (Clematis spp.)
Clematis is a versatile climbing vine with large, star-shaped flowers in many colors. It does well in Zone 8, especially when its roots are kept cool and moist while the vines bask in sunlight.