Deer Resistant Plants 101

The most common question we get asked by customers in our store is “What deer resistant plants do you have?” Nothing can be more frustrating than spending countless amounts of time and money on your landscape then having it all get destroyed by deer. Being ‘deer resistant’ is not a trait that is black and white with plants. Many factors influence whether or not your plant will become a deer snack including what time of year it is and what else the deer can find to eat. Ultimately, if they’re hungry, they will eat what they can find but there are some general rules that tend to hold true with things that deer don’t usually mess with:

Attributes in plants that deer generally aren’t attracted to:

• a strong aroma 

• unappealing texture (sharp needles, thorny, fuzzy) 

• bitter, toxic or milky sap

• grasses and ornamental grasses

• native perennials (most but not all) are typically deer resistant because they have evolved with the deer

• gray or silver foliage because they’re hairy or aromatic

Pro Tip: Use a mix of these plants in your garden borders or as deterrents around more deer-prone species. Also, planting densely and eliminating easy pathways can discourage deer from browsing.

Need more specifics? Here’s some examples of plants that deer tend to stay away from. 

Perennials: lavender, Salvia, Echinacea, Yarrow, Russian Sage, Coreopsis

Annuals: Snapdragons, Marigolds, Dusty Miller, Lantana, Ageratum

Groundcovers: Lamb’s Ear, Sweet Woodruff, Creeping Thyme, Bugleweed

Shrubs: Boxwood, butterfly bush, Spirea, Barberry, Juniper

Trees: Ginkgo, some Japanese Maple varieties, Spruce 

Herbs: Thyme, Oregano, Rosemary, Chives, Mint

You can always check out what we have in stock by clicking our inventory page here.

For a more thorough list of what deer resistant plants we have, ask for a list when you visit us in store!