Best plants for Pennsylvania
These species reliably perform in Pennsylvania's climate — a blend of regionally-adapted ornamentals and native plants that don't need babying once established. Start with this short list, then expand once you know your specific microclimate (slope, shade, drainage).
- Apple
- Tomato
- Sweet corn
- Peony
- Mountain laurel
- Hydrangea
- Crepe myrtle (southeast)
- Hosta
- Daylily
Native plants of Pennsylvania
Natives evolved alongside Pennsylvania's soils, pollinators, and weather patterns, so they need almost no supplemental water or fertilizer once established. Mixing 30-50% natives into a garden dramatically improves its drought resilience and its value to local birds and pollinators.
- Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia, state flower)
- Eastern hemlock (state tree)
- Pennsylvania sedge
- Wild ginger
- Black cohosh
For zone-specific timing and a fuller plant palette, see the gardening guide for USDA zone 5.
Your plant advisor can filter the full database to species suited to your Pennsylvania zone.
Frost dates and timing in Pennsylvania
Average last spring frost: mid-April (Philly) to mid-May (mountains). Average first fall frost: early October (mountains) to early November (Philly). Growing season runs about 150-200 days. As always, average dates are starting points — set seedlings out a week or two later than the average last-frost for high-value crops like tomatoes and peppers, and have row cover or frost blankets ready for an unseasonable late freeze.
Use the fall planting schedule by zone to plan your second crop, and the vegetable garden planting schedule for week-by-week spring timing.
Soils and amendment in Pennsylvania
Glacial-till loams in the north and west, rich Lancaster County limestone loams in the southeast, and rocky Appalachian soils in the center.
Challenges specific to Pennsylvania
Heavy deer pressure statewide, late spring frosts in the mountains, lake-effect snow off Erie, and emerald ash borer plus spotted lanternfly outbreaks.
For drought-prone parts of Pennsylvania, see the drought-tolerant garden design guide. If your yard sits low and stays wet, the drainage fix without regrading guide covers raised beds, French drains, and bog-tolerant planting palettes.
Design your Pennsylvania garden in 3D
Sketch your beds, place plants to scale, and see the whole design in 3D before you buy a single one-gallon pot. The free designer filters plants by USDA zone, so anything you place is already suited to the climate in Pennsylvania.
Design your Pennsylvania garden in 3D
Free, no signup required. Filter plants by USDA zone 5b-7b and see your design rendered to scale before you buy.
Open the free 3D garden designerFrequently asked about gardening in Pennsylvania
›What USDA hardiness zones is Pennsylvania in?
Pennsylvania spans USDA zones 5b-7b. The Allegheny high country runs zone 5b-6a, central Pennsylvania sits in zone 6, Philadelphia and the southeast reach 7a-7b. Match plant cold-hardiness ratings to your local zone — pushing into warmer-rated species is a gamble against the next hard winter.
›When is the last spring frost in Pennsylvania?
Average last spring frost in Pennsylvania is around mid-April (Philly) to mid-May (mountains), and the first fall frost typically arrives early October (mountains) to early November (Philly). That gives a typical growing season of 150-200 days. Average dates are starting points — set seedlings out a week or two later than the average for safety.
›What plants grow well in Pennsylvania?
Reliable choices for Pennsylvania include Apple, Tomato, Sweet corn, Peony. These species are matched to Pennsylvania's climate and soils — a blend of regionally-adapted ornamentals and natives that perform without babying once established.
›What plants are native to Pennsylvania?
Native plants in Pennsylvania include Mountain laurel, Eastern hemlock, Pennsylvania sedge. Natives evolved alongside local soils, pollinators, and weather, so they typically need no supplemental water or fertilizer once established — and they support local birds and pollinators in ways non-native ornamentals can't.
›What's distinctive about gardening in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania's Lancaster County limestone soils support Plain Sect farming communities that have produced the country's most productive non-irrigated farmland for over 200 years. Heavy deer pressure statewide, late spring frosts in the mountains, lake-effect snow off Erie, and emerald ash borer plus spotted lanternfly outbreaks.