Shop Plant Zone 8

Both cold and warm season vegetables can grow in Zone 8 as long as you plant them accordingly. Take a look at local planting schedules through resources such as the Farmer’s Almanac. Consider these options for your veggies:

Cold Season Veggies:

• Celery

• Onions

• Radishes

• Cauliflowers

• Broccoli

• Spinach

• Swiss Chard

Warm Season Veggies:

• Rhubarb

• Asparagus

• Artichokes

• Peppers

• Squash

• Tomatoes

Fruit trees do great in Zone 8, adding not only beautiful additions to your landscaping, but a sustainable food source for you and the local wildlife such as birds! Remember to check to see if the landscaping plants you are considering work well in your specific region. Native plants are always a great option as they have already proven they can thrive in your area! For fruit trees, try:

• Apricot Trees

• Citrus Trees

• Cherry Trees

• Pear Trees

• Fig Trees

If you are looking for flowers or shrubs, remember they have to be hardy to the light freezes of the area while also handling the hot summer sun. Consider these options:

• Gardenia Veitchii (Gardenia Jasminoides ‘Veitchii’): Large, lush white blooms in mid-spring to fall are the most striking characteristic of this aromatic plant. Also known as Cape Jasmine, it grows at a maximum of four feet tall and thrives best in full sun to partial shade. Indoors this plant needs bright, indirect light. While these plants can handle a light freeze, it may get damaged to sustained cold.

• Rosemary (Rosmarinus Officinalis): Rosemary trees provide not only a cute evergreen shrub, but wonderful aromatic cooking additions as well! As long as nights stay above 10 degrees F, these plants love being outdoors in full sun. If you do bring them inside for overwintering, cut them back by one-third. They prefer high humidity, but prefer the soil to dry out entirely before rewatering. 

• Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum Jasminoides): This plant blooms in late spring with star-like flowers that are white and smell wonderful. The rest of this plant is an elegant evergreen vine that can grow up to 6 feet in a season, and loves to trellis! Plant it near a porch rail or fence to see it grow! Outdoors it prefers full sun to part sun, but if it is a very dry climate the sun may scorch the leaves with too many rays. It can handle winters in Zone 8 just fine, making it a great outdoor addition! 

• Creeping Thyme: A great lawn substitute, Creeping Thyme or Mother of Thyme is edible just like other thyme! It is a great ground cover that can survive many different Zones, and grows in dense small patches that quickly spread. Because of their pink flowers that bloom, bees also love this plant. It likes moist soil and can even survive some foot-traffic! 

Considering native plants for your indoor or outdoor space is not only smart, but crucial to the local ecosystem. These plants are proven to be hardy to your area, but they also can help prevent soil erosion and sustain local wildlife. Consider plants that are endangered in your specific area, and also those that are vital food sources for local birds, butterflies, and bees! It takes a bit of work to find out what works best in your specific area, but here are a few examples from areas across Zone 8:

• Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum Aethiopicum): Like many ferns, the delicate fronds of the Maidenhair Fern prefer moist soil, low light, and high humidity. While that may make it sound like it isn’t hardy, it absolutely is! Handling temperatures down to -10 degrees, this fern doesn’t mind the colder months at all! This fern is seen in many areas, especially within Oregon and Portland. 

• Oregon Grape (Mahonia Aquifolium, Repens, and Nervosa): Coloring the Portland landscape with coppery-red and green leaves that change depending on the season, the Oregon Grape and its multiple varieties all are great native plants! The yellow flowers that pop up in early spring are loved by both people and pollinators like bees and hummingbirds. Once the bloom is done, blue berries appear that are edible (though quite tart)! Note that the Nervosa variety is considered a noxious weed in some places, beyond Oregon! 

• Texas Wisteria: Wisterias are often used as wedding flowers, and upon seeing one you will know why! The waterfalls of beautiful flowers are absolutely striking, and the plant climbs and grows extremely fast as well! The Texas Wisteria in particular has lavender flowers that will beautify any outdoor space, just be careful as it can choke other plants out due to its fast growth! 

• Texas Red Yucca: Technically a succulent, this plant is drought-tolerant and awe-inspiring! The plant has green leaves but tall columns of scarlet blooms that are unbelievable. The leaves are evergreen, and as a succulent it requires only a little water to survive, making it great for Austin and Dallas!

Serviceberry (Amelanchier): Part of the rose family, this plant got its name due to the fact that it usually flowers around Easter. The blooms on this tree are a vibrant white, and it can grow up to 25 feet tall and 15 feet wide! The berries on this plant are edible, and the leaves can be dried for tea as well. It is a beautiful native plant to the Washington and Seattle area that can brighten up any outdoor area.