Deer-Resistant Plants

If there's one thing we have in common as gardeners, it's the need to ward off unwelcome wildlife. For many, that means deer. If the best defense is a good offense, then it makes sense to start by choosing deer resistant plants.

Plants Deer Like to Eat

• Deer love narrow-leaf evergreens, especially arborvitae and fir, and show a preference for hostas, daylilies, and English ivy.
• The heaviest garden browsing is from October through February.
• Many growers note that deer seem to prefer plants that have been fertilized.

Plants Deer Do Not Like to Eat (Usually)
Bear in mind that the first rule of deer-proofing is that there are really no plants that are completely deer-proof. Nevertheless, here are plants that deer (usually) do not like to eat:

• Deer tend to stay away from poisonous plants. Daffodils, foxgloves, and poppies are common flowers that have a toxicity that deer avoid.
• Deer turn their noses up at fragrant plants with strong scents. Herbs such as sages, ornamental salvias, lavenders, peonies, and bearded irises are among these “stinky” plants.
• Deer do not like plants that are prickly (unless they’re desperate), such as lamb’s ear.
  Bleeding hearts are popular with us, but not deer.
• French Marigold
• Alyssum
  
• Bear's Breeches
• Dusty Miller
• Butterfly Weed
• Flowering Tobacco
• Rosemary
• Caryopteris
• Lantana
• Mint
• Chrysanthemum
• Snapdragon
• Crape Myrtle
• Crocosmia
• Strawflower
• African Lily
• Dianthus
  
• Fountain Grass
• Epimedium
• Heather
• Goldenrod
• Yucca
• Joe Pye Weed
• Zinnia
• New Zeland Flax
• Aster
• Brunnera
• Red-Hot Poker
• Wisteria
• Astible
• Russian Sage
• Asparagus
  
• Sea Holly
• Verbena
• Sweet Woodruff
• Catmint
• Lily of the Valley
• Lily of the Nile
• Bee Balm
• Lungwort
• Yarrow
• Monkshood
• Onion
• Horseradish
• Tarragon
• Silver Mound
• Wild Ginger
• Barberry
• Dusty Miller
• Wood Fern