Alabama’s warm, humid climate and long growing season make it a great place to grow a wide variety of plants—whether you’re working with a vegetable garden, flower bed, orchard, or native landscape. The state stretches across USDA Zones 7a to 9a, which means you can grow both cold-hardy and heat-loving plants depending on where you live.
Here’s a simple guide to the best plants to grow in Alabama, organized by category:
🥬 Vegetables
Alabama’s spring and fall seasons are great for cool-weather crops, while summer supports a wide range of heat-tolerant veggies.
Cool-Season (Plant in early spring or fall)
- Collard greens
- Lettuce
- Spinach
- Cabbage
- Broccoli
- Turnips
- Carrots
- Radishes
Warm-Season (Plant after last frost, typically mid-March to April)
- Tomatoes
- Peppers
- Okra
- Sweet corn
- Green beans
- Cucumbers
- Squash
- Eggplant
- Watermelon
🌟 Pro Tip: Use raised beds or well-draining soil, and water early in the day to prevent fungal problems in Alabama’s humid climate.
🍓 Fruits
When to plant fruit trees in Alabama many fruit trees and berry bushes thrive in Alabama’s soil and sunshine.
Best Fruit Trees
- Apples (varieties like Anna and Dorsett Golden)
- Pears (Orient, Kieffer)
- Peaches (especially in central AL like Chilton County)
- Plums
- Figs (Brown Turkey, Celeste)
- Persimmons
- Pomegranates (in southern AL)
Berries
- Blueberries (rabbiteye types grow best)
- Blackberries
- Strawberries (plant in fall for spring harvest)
🐝 Planting fruit trees or berries? Add flowers nearby to attract pollinators for better yields.
🌺 Flowers
Alabama’s long growing season makes it perfect for bold blooms and colorful borders.
Annual Flowers
- Zinnias
- Marigolds
- Petunias
- Sunflowers
- Cosmos
Perennial Flowers
- Coneflowers (Echinacea)
- Black-eyed Susans
- Daylilies
- Coreopsis
- Shasta daisies
- Gaillardia (Blanket Flower)
🌼 Try native flowers for low-maintenance color and pollinator support.
🌿 Herbs
Herbs love Alabama’s sun. Many can be grown in pots or directly in the ground.
- Basil
- Oregano
- Rosemary
- Thyme
- Parsley
- Chives
- Mint (best in containers—spreads fast!)
🌳 Trees and Shrubs
Whether you’re landscaping or creating shade, Alabama offers a range of beautiful native and ornamental plants.
Native Trees
- Southern Magnolia
- Bald Cypress
- Oak (White, Live, Red)
- Dogwood
- Eastern Redbud
Shrubs
- Azaleas (especially native deciduous types)
- Camellias (bloom in fall and winter)
- Hydrangeas
- Beautyberry
- Gardenias
🐝 Native Plants for Pollinators
Using native plants not only supports bees, butterflies, and birds—it also means less work for you.
- Milkweed (Monarch butterflies love it!)
- Bee balm
- Goldenrod
- Ironweed
- Blazing star (Liatris)
- Joe Pye weed
🦋 Create a pollinator garden to support local wildlife and boost your veggie garden production!
🌾 Grasses and Groundcovers
Great for erosion control, filling gaps, and low-maintenance beds.
- Muhly grass (ornamental and drought-tolerant)
- Switchgrass
- Creeping phlox
- Ajuga
- Pachysandra
- Native sedges
🌦 Seasonal Planting Tip
- North Alabama (Zone 7): Watch for late frosts in spring and plant cold-hardy crops early.
- Central Alabama (Zone 8): Most versatile growing zone—ideal for many fruits and vegetables.
- South Alabama (Zone 9): Longer season means two rounds of warm-season veggies like tomatoes and okra.