Deer Resistant Plants
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For added diversity in plant choices, select more than one species or variety from each genus.
Note:*means that they will eat this plant if starving but tend to stay away from it under normal conditions OR many lists and books continuously state these plants are deer resistant and I haven't had personal experience with them.
Every yard, every neighborhood is different and a lot depends on the deer pressure and size of the herd in your area. This list will be updated over time as we all continue to observe and learn.
Annuals
Agastache Anise Hyssop (Tender Varieties)
*Ageratum Floss flower
Artichoke
Calendula Pot Marigold
Calla Calla Lily (tender bulb)
Cleome Spider Flower
*Delphinium ajacis Larkspur
Datura, Brugmansia Angel's Trumpet
Ipomoea Morning Glory
Lantana
Leonatis leonurus Lion’s mane
*Nicotiana Flowering Tobacco
Osteospermum African Daisy
Papaver spp. Poppy
Ricinus Castor Bean
Salvia Sages, ornamental Salvias
Tagetes Marigold including Signet types (Lemon and Tangerine gems)
Bulbs
Allium Ornamental onion
Colchicum Autumn Crocus
Eranthis spp. Winter aconite
Frittilaria spp. Crown imperial
Galanthus Snowdrops
Leucojum Summer Snowflake
Muscari spp. Grape hyacinth
Narcissus Daffodils
Nectaroscordium siculum Sicilian honey garlic
All Ferns
All Ornamental Grasses
Perennials and Biennials
Achillea Yarrow
Aconitum spp. Monkshood
Actaea spp. Doll’s eyes, snakeroot, baneberry
Agastache Anise hyssop
*Alchemilla mollis Lady's Mantle
Allium ornamental spp. Summer onion
Anthemis tinctoria Perennial marguerite
*Aquilegia Columbine
Amsonia spp. Blue star
Aralia ‘Sun King’, A. racemosa
Arisima spp. Jack in the pulpit
Artemesia spp.
Asarum spp. Ginger
Asclepias pp. Milkweed, butterfly weed
Aster (Symphyotrichum) oblongifolius Aromatic aster
*Astilbe
Aurinia saxatalis Basket of gold
Baptisia False indigo
Brunnera macrophylla Perennial heartleaf forget-me-not
Calamintha spp. Calamint
Caltha palustris Marsh marigold
*Centranthus ruber Jupiter's Beard, Red Valerian
Ceratostigma Leadwort
Cerastium tomentosum Snow in Summer
Convallaria majalis Lily of the Valley
*Delphinium Delphinium
Dicentra spp. Bleeding Heart (old fashioned and dwarf)
Dianthus spp. Pinks, carnation, sweet William (Biennial)
Digitalis spp. Foxgloves (perennial and biennial forms)
Echinops Globe thistle
Epimedium Barrenwort
Erigeron pulchellus Robin’s plantain
Eryngium spp. Sea holly
Euphorbia spp. and var. Euphorbia, spurge
Gaultheria procumbens Wintergreen
Geranium macrorrhizum Cranesbill geraniums (wont eat most, this one is extra aromatic)
Geum Avens
Gilenia (Porteranthus) Bowman’s root
Helleborus spp. Christmas, Lenten rose
Heuchera Coral bells, alum root
*Hypericum calcynum St. Johnswort ground cover
Iberis sempervirens Candytuft
*Iris Iris
*Kniphofia Red Hot Poker
Lamium spp. Dead Nettles
Liatris Gayfeather
Ligularia Leopard plant
Lobelia spp. Cardinal flower
Lupinus Lupine
Lychnis coronaria Rose campion
Mitchella repens Partridge berry
*Myosotis Forget-me-not
Nepeta spp. Catmint
Origanum spp. Ornamental oreganos such as ‘Herrenhausen’
*Packera spp. Golden groundsel
Papaver orientale Oriental Poppy Contains a bitter sap
*Parthenium integrifolium Wild quinine
*Paeonia Peony
Penstemon spp. Beard tongue
Perovskia Russian Sage
Persicaria amplexicaulis Smartweed
Polemonium Jacob’s ladder
Primula spp. Primrose
Pulmonaria Lungwort
Pycnanthemum spp. Mountain mint
Trollius Globeflower
Rudbeckia subtomentosa Sweet coneflower
Rumex sanguineus var. sanguineus Ornamental Dock
Salvia spp. Ornamental sages
Silene Catchfly
Sisyrinchium spp. Blue eyed grass
Scuttelaria spp. Skullcap
Stokesia Stoke’s aster
Solidago spp. Goldenrod
Stachys spp. Lamb's Ears, betony
Tanacetum spp. Feverfew, Tansy
Tiarella spp. Foamflower
Verbascum Mullein
*Veronica Veronica
Herbs These are herbs used for ornamental value A = Annual P= Perennial B = Biennial
Agastache Anise Hyssop A or P
Alliums Chives, garlic chives P
Artemesia spp. P
Borago Borage A
Foeniculum Fennel (incl. Bronze Fennel) P
Galium odoratum Woodruff P
Hyssopus Hyssop P
Lavendula Lavender P
Ocimum basilicum Basil A
(incl. purple leaf types-very ornamental)
Origanum Oregano and marjoram P
(incl golden forms, ornamental varieties)
Perilla frutescens Beefsteak plant A
Petrosolinum Parsley B
Pycnanthemum Mountain Mint P
Ruta graveolens Rue P
Salvia Sages P
Santolina Lavender cotton P
Tanacetum vulgare Tansy P
Teucrium spp. Germander P
Tulbaghia violacea Society Garlic A
Thymus Thyme P
Trees and Shrubs
Abelia spp.
Abeliophyllum distichum White forsythia
Arctostophyllos Bearberry
Asimina triloba Paw paw
Buddleia Butterfly Bush
Buxus spp. and var. Boxwood
Callicarpa spp. Beautyberry
*Calluna Heather
Calycanthus floridus Carolina allspice
Caryopteris Blue Mist Shrub
Cephalanthus occidentalis Button bush
Chionanthus spp. Fringe tree
Clethra alnifolia Summersweet
Comptomia peregrina Sweet fern
*Corylus avellana 'Contorta' Harry Lauder's Walking Stick
Cotinus spp. Smokebush
*Cytisus Scotch Broom
Daphne spp.
Deutzia spp.
Diervilla Bush honeysuckle
Enkianthus Redvein Enkianthus
*Erica Heath
Fothergilla spp. Witch alder
Hypericum St. Johnswort
Indigofera Indigo
*Ilex opaca American holly
*Juniperus Junipers
*Kalmia Mt. Laurel
Lespedeza spp. Bush clover
Leucothoe spp. and var. Dog hobble
Magnolia spp. Magnolia
Myrica (Morella) pennsylvanica Bayberry
Picea Spruce
*Pieris Andromeda
Rosa rugosa Beach rose (other roses are often eaten by deer)
Sarcoccoca hookeriana Himalayan sweet box
Spiraea spp. Spirea (incl. spring and summer blooming forms)
Syringa spp. Lilac
*Viburnum spp. (Deer browse varies by species.)
V. carlesii, V. tomentosum very resistant
Vitex agnus-caste Chaste tree
Weigela
Yucca filamentosa Yucca
In an effort to provide horticultural information, these educational documents are written by Nancy DuBrule-Clemente and are the property of Natureworks Horticultural Services, LLC. You are granted permission to print/photocopy this educational information free of charge as long as you clearly show that these are Natureworks documents.