Deer Resistant Plants
Plants to Avoid
Deer prefer to feed on the flowers, stems and leafy green foliage of taller plants. This is why well-tended home gardens are so tempting during the dry summer and frozen winter months. Deer are adaptive feeders, but they particularly enjoy:
- Tender Plants & Shrubs: Azaleas, Elderberry, Geraniums, Holly, Hosta, Tulips and Roses.
- Nut Bearing Plants: Acorns, Beechnuts, Hickory nuts and Pecans.
- Fruit Bearing Plants: Apples, Blackberries, Blueberries, Cherries, Figs, Grapes, Pears, Persimmons and Strawberries.
- Vegetable Crops: Beans, Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Lettuce and even Potato plants.
In harsh winters, large groups of deer will eat almost any plant they can find, so there is no plant that is completely deer-proof. You can reduce damage by choosing plants deer tend to avoid and steering clear of their favorites. Below is a list of plants that are generally considered more deer-resistant.
Deer-Resistant Plants
ANNUALS
Ageratum houstonianum (Blue Ageratum)
Anethum graveolens (Dill)
Antirrhunum majus (Snapdragon)
Euphorbia spp. (Spurge)
Lobularia maritime (Sweet Alyssum)
Nicotiana sylvestris (Flowering Tobacco)
Pelargonium graveolens (Scented Geranium)
Salvia spp.
Tagetes spp. (Marigold)
Tropaeolum majus (Nasturtium)
PERENNIALS
Achillea millefolium (Yarrow)
Aconitum spp. (Monkshood)
Anemone hupehensis (Japanese Anemone)
Aquilegia spp. (Columbine)
Arabis spp. (Rock Cress)
Arisaema triphyollum (Jack-in-the-Pulpit)
Monarda spp. (Bee Balm)
Bergenia crassifolia
Ceratostigma plumbagnoides (Plumbago)
Convallaria majalis (Lily of the Valley)
Coreopsis verticillata (Threadleaf Coreopsis)
Dicentra spectabilis (Bleeding Heart)
Digitalis purpurea (Foxglove)
Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower)
Epimedium × rubrum (Barrenwort)
Euphorbia spp. (Spurge)
Fritillaria spp.
Helleborus orientalis (Lenten Rose)
Hesperis matronalis (Dame’s Rocket)
Lamium maculatum (Deadnettle)
Lavandula angustifolia (Lavender)
Linaria vulgaris (Toadflax)
Lychnis coronaria (Rose Campion)
Papaver orientale (Oriental Poppy)
Perovskia atriplicifolia (Russian Sage)
Pulmonaria spp. (Lungwort)
Rheum rhabarbarum (Rhubarb)
Rudbeckia hirta (Black-eyed Susan)
Santolina chamaecyparissus (Lavender-cotton)
Salvia officinalis (Common Sage)
Stachys byzantina (Lamb’s Ear)
Tanacetum vulgare (Common Tansy)
Thymus spp.(Thyme)
Tiarella cordifolia (Foam Flower)
TREES
Chamaecyparis pisifera (Japanese False Cypress)
Cryptomeria japonica (Japanese Cedar)
Elaeagnus angustifolia (Russian Olive)
Picea pungens glauca (Colorado Blue Spruce)
Sambucus canadensis (American Elderberry)
SHRUBS
Amelanchier canadensis (Shadbush Serviceberry)
Amelanchier laevis (Allegheny Serviceberry)
Arctostaphyllos uva-ursi (Bearberry)
Berberis spp. (Barberry)
Buxus spp. (Boxwood)
Caryopteris x clandonensis 'Blue Mist' (Blue Beard)
Cephalotaxus harringtonia (Japanese plum Yew)
Cephalotaxus var. koreana (Japanese Plum Yew)
Daphne odora (Winter Daphne)
Gaultheria procumbens (American Wintergreen)
Gaultheria shallon
Hibiscus syriacus (Rose of Sharon)
Ilex × koehneana ‘San Jose’ (San Jose Holly)
Ilex opaca (American Holly)
Juniperus spp. (Junipers)
Leucothoe spp. (Doghobble)
Ligustrum vulgare (Common or European Privet)
Pieris japonica (Japanese Andromeda)
Sarcococca hookeriana (Himalayan Sweetbox)
Nandina domestica (Heavenly Bamboo)