Plants Deer Don’t Like

By Larry Hodgson

Throughout North America, white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) are causing more and more damage to gardens, not only in the countryside, but increasingly also in the suburbs. And when a deer eats, it can empty a flowerbed or vegetable garden in just one evening, especially as it often comes with a group of friends.

There are several ways to deter deer – repellents such human hair or coyote urine, lure crops, motion-activated sound or spray devices, deer fencing, etc. – but it is also possible to grow plants that deer simply don’t like or at least, aren’t too attracted to.

This group includes :
• Poisonous plants or ones with milky sap;
• Plants with prickly stems and leaves;
• Plants with leaves that are very aromatic or have a strong taste;
• Plants with hairy leaves.

List of Deer-resistant Plants

The following list is not cast in stone. On one hand, deer have widely varying tastes from one region to the next and it is very possible that in some they learn to eat things they don’t eat elsewhere. Even more important, though, deer will eat almost anything when they are starving, as sometimes happens at the end of a very hard winter.

That said, if the bulk of your garden is planted with the following varieties, you’ll be creating a landscape that simply won’t interest deer… and that should ensure you an essentially deer-free garden experience!

1. Alyssum, sweet (Lobularia maritima) annual
2. Andromeda, Japanese (Pieris japonica) shrub, zone 5b
3. Anemone (Anemone spp.) perennial or bulb, zones 3-6
4. Anemone, rue (Anemonella thalictroides) perennial, zone 4
5. Angelica tree (Aralia elata) shrub, zone 5
6. Angelonia (Angelonia angustifolia) annual
7. Anise (Pimpinella anisum) annual herb
8. Anise hyssop (Agastache spp.) perennial, zones 3-10 depending on the species
9. Ash (Fraxinus spp.) tree, zones 2b 7
10. Asparagus (Asparagus spp.) hardy vegetable, perennial or climbing plant, zones 3-10 depending on the species
11. Aster, Japanese (Kalimeris pinnatifida) perennial, zone 4
12. Astilbe (Astilbe spp.) perennial, zone 4
13. Baneberry (Actaea rubra and others) perennial, zone 2
14. Baptisia (Baptisia spp.) perennial, zone 3
15. Barberry (Berberis thunbergii) shrub, zone 4
16. Basket of gold (Aurinia saxatilis) perennial, zone 3
17. Bayberry (Myrica pennsylvanica) shrub, zone 4b
18. Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) shrub, zone 2
19. Beard grass (Andropogon spp.) ornamental grass, zone 3
20. Beautybush (Kolkwitizia amabilis) shrub, zone 4
21. Beebalm (Monarda spp.) perennial, zone 3
22. Beech, American (Fagus grandifolia) tree, zone 4
23. Beech, European (Fagus sylvatica) tree, zone 6
24. Bergenia (Bergenia spp.) perennial, zone 3
25. Betony (Stachys spp.) perennial, zones 3-8 depending on the species
26. Birch, paper (Betula papyrifera) tree, zone 2
27. Birch, river (Betula nigra) tree, zone 3
28. Birch, weeping (Betula pendula) tree, zone 2
29. Bittersweet (Celastrus spp.) climbing plant, zone 3
30. Bleeding heart (Dicentra spp. and Lamprocapnos spectabilis) perennial, zone 3
31. Blue hair grass (Koeleria glauca) ornamental grass, zone 4
32. Blue oat grass (Helictotrichon sempervirens) ornamental grass, zone 4
33. Blue thistle (Echinops spp.) perennial, zone 3
34. Bluebeard (Caryopteris spp) shrub, zones 5-8 depending on the species
35. Bluebell (Hyacinthoides spp.) hardy bulb, zone 4
36. Bluestar (Amsonia spp.) perennial, zone 4
37. Bluestem, little (Schizachyrium scoparium) ornamental grass, zone 3
38. Borage (Borago officinalis) annual herb
39. Boxwood (Buxus spp.) shrub, zones 4-9
40. Brugmansia (Brugmansia spp.) annual or shrub, zone 10
41. Brunnera (Brunnera macrophylla) perennial, zone 3
42. Buckeye, bottlebrush (Aesculus parviflora) shrub, zone 4
43. Bugbane (Cimicifuga spp.) perennial, zone 4
44. Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans) perennial, zone 3
45. Buttercup (Ranunculus spp.) perennial, zones 2-8 depending on the species
46. Butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii) shrub, zone 6b
47. Cacti (various genera) perennial or shrub, zones 4-11 depending on the species
48. Calamint (Calamintha spp.) perennial, zone 3
49. California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) annual
50. Calla (Zantedeschia spp.) tender bulb
51. Campion (Lychnis spp. and Silene spp.) perennial, zones 2-6 depending on the species
52. Canna (Canna spp.) tender bulb, zone 8
53. Castor bean (Ricinus communis) annual or tropical shrub, zone 10
54. Catnip (Nepeta spp.) perennial, zone 4
55. Chamomile, German (Matricaria recutita) annual herb
56. Chamomile, Roman (Chamaemelum nobile) medicinal herb, zone 5
57. Chastetree (Vitex spp.) shrub or tree, zones 6-10 depending on the species
58. Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) herb, zone 2
59. Cinquefoil (Potentilla spp.) perennial, zones 2-5 depending on the species
60. Cinquefoil, shrubby (Dasiphora fruticosa, syn. Potentilla fruticosa) shrub, zone 2
61. Clematis (Clematis spp.) climbing plant, zones 2-9
62. Cleome (Cleome spp.) annual
63. Cobra lily (Arisaema spp.) perennial, zones 3-8 depending on the species
64. Colchicum (Colchicum spp.) hardy bulb, zones 3-7 depending on the species
65. Columbine (Aquilegia spp.) perennial, zone 3
66. Coreopsis (Coreopsis spp.) annual or perennial, zones 3-6 depending on the species
67. Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus) annual
68. Corydalis (Corydalis spp. and Pseudofumaria spp.) perennial or bulb, zones 3-7 depending on the species
69. Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster spp.) shrub, zones 3-9 depending on the species
70. Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia) perennial, zone 3
71. Crocosmia (Crocosmia spp.) bulb, zones 4-8 depending on the species
72. Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) vegetable
73. Culver’s root (Veronicastrum spp.) perennial, zone 3
74. Cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum) perennial, zone 4
75. Currants (Ribes spp.) small fruit, zone 3
76. Daffodil, narcissus or jonquil (Narcissus spp.) hardy bulb, zones 3-7 depending on the species
77. Dame’s rocket (Hesperis matronalis) perennial, zone 4
78. Daphne (Daphne spp.) shrub, zones 3-8 depending on the species
79. Delphinium (Delphinium spp.) annual or perennial, zone 3
80. Dogwood (Cornus spp.) shrub or tree, zones 3 to 7 depending on species
81. Dropseed, prairie (Sporobolus heterolepsis) grass, zone 4
82. Dune grass (Leymus arenaria ‘Glauca’) ornamental grass, zone 4
83. Dusty miller (Centaurea cineraria and Senecio bicolor) annual
84. Elder, American (Sambucus canadensis) shrub, zone 3
85. Elder, red (Sambucus racemosa) shrub, zone 4b
86. Elephant ear (Alocasia spp., Colocasia spp. and Caladium spp.) tender bulb, zone 10
87. Elm (Ulmus spp.) tree, zones 2-5 depending on the species
88. Enkianthus (Enkianthus spp.) shrub, zones 5b-9 depending on the species
89. Epimedium (Epimedium spp.) perennial, zone 3
90. Euonymus (Euonymus spp.) climbing plant or shrub, zones 4-7
91. Euphorbia (Euphorbia spp.) annual or perennial, zones 3-10 depending on the species
92. Everlasting (Xerochrysum bracteatum) annual
93. Everlasting, perennial (Anaphalis margaritacea) perennial, zone 3
94. False indigo (Baptisia spp.) perennial, zone 3
95. Fargesia (Fargesia spp.) bamboo zone 4
96. Ferns (most species) zones 1-10 depending on the species
97. Fescue, blue (Festuca glauca) ornamental grass, zone 4
98. Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) perennial, zone 3
99. Flag (Iris spp.) perennial, zones 3-8 depending on the species
100. Flossflower (Ageratum houstonianum) annual
101. Flowering onion (Allium spp.) hardy bulb, zones 2-8
102. Foamflower (Tiarella spp.) perennial, zone 3
103. Forget-me-not (Myosotis spp.) biennial or perennial, zones 3-4 depending on the species
104. Forsythia (Forsythia spp.) shrub, zones 4-7 depending on the species
105. Fountain grass (Pennisetum) ornamental grass, zones 5b-10 depending on the species
106. Foxglove (Digitalis spp.) perennial or biennial, zone 4
107. Fritillary (Fritillaria spp.) hardy bulb, zones 3-7 depending on the species
108. Fumitory (Corydalis spp. and Pseudofumaria spp.) perennial or bulb, zones 3-7 depending on the species
109. Gas plant (Dictamnus albus) perennial, zone 3
110. Gaura (Gaura lindheimeri) annual or perennial, zone 6
111. Geranium, bigroot (Geranium macrorrhizum) perennial, zone 3
112. Giant fleeceflower (Persicaria polymorpha) perennial, zone 3
113. Globe amaranth (Gomphrena spp.) annual
114. Golden marguerite (Anthemis tinctoria) perennial, zone 3
115. Gooseberry (Ribes spp.) small fruit, zone 3
116. Goutweed (Aegopodium podagaria) perennial, zone 3
117. Grape hyacinth (Muscari spp.) hardy bulb, zones 2-6 depending on the species
118. Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) tree, zones 3-6 depending on the species
119. Hazel (Corylus spp.), small fruit, zones 2-6 depending on the species
120. Heath, spring (Erica carnea) shrub, zone 5b
121. Heather, common (Calluna vulgaris) shrub, zone 4
122. Heliotrope (Heliotropium arborescens) annual or shrub, zone 10
123. Hellebore (Helleborus spp.) perennial, zone 5
124. Hen and chicks (Sempervivum spp.) perennial, zone 3
125. Heuchera (Heuchera spp.) perennial, zone 4
126. Holly (varieties with prickly leaves) (Ilex spp.) shrub, zones 4b-9 depending on the species
127. Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana) herb, zone 3
128. Houseleek (Sempervivum spp.) perennial, zone 3
129. Hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis) hardy bulb, zone 4
130. Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis) herb, zone 4
131. Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) ornamental grass, zone 4
132. Iris (Iris spp.) perennial, zones 3-8 depending on the species
133. Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) perennial, zone 3
134. Jacob’s ladder (Polemonium spp.) perennial, zone 3
135. Japanese blood grass (Imperata cylindrica ‘Red Baron’) ornamental grass, zone 5
136. Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra) ornamental grass, zone 4
137. Jerusalem sage (Phlomis spp.) perennial, zones 3-8 depending on the species
138. Juniper (Juniperus spp.) conifer, zones 1-7
139. Katsura (Cercidiphyllum japonicum) tree, zone 5
140. Kerria (Kerria japonica) shrub, zone 5b
141. Laburnum (Cytisus spp.) shrub, zones 2-9 depending on the species
142. Lady’s mantle (Alchemilla mollis) perennial, zone 3
143. Lamb’s ear (Stachys byzantina) perennial, zone 4
144. Lamium (Lamium maculatum) perennial, zone 2
145. Lantana (Lanata camara) annual or tropical shrub, zone 9
146. Larkspur (Consolida ambigua) annual
147. Lavender (Lavandula spp.) herb, zones 5-8 depending on the species
148. Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) herb, zone 3
149. Leucothoë, drooping (Leucothoe fontanesiana) shrub, zone 6
150. Ligularia (Ligularia spp.) zone 3
151. Lilac, common (Syringa vulgaris) shrub, zone 2
152. Lilac, Japanese (Syringa reticulata) tree, zone 3
153. Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) perennial, zone 1
154. Lungwort (Pulmonaria spp.) perennial, zone 3
155. Lupin (Lupinus spp.) perennial, zone 3
156. Maple, Japanese (Acer palmatum) shrub or tree, zone 6
157. Maple, Manitoba (Acer negundo) tree, zone 2
158. Maple, paperbark (Acer griseum) tree, zone 6
159. Maple, red (Acer rubrum) tree, zone 4
160. Maple, striped (Acer pensylvanicum) tree, zone 4
161. Marjoram, sweet (Origanum majorana) herb, zone 7
162. Mayapple (Podophyllum spp.) perennial, zones 4-7 depending on the species
163. Meadow saffron (Colchicum spp.) hardy bulb, zones 3-7 depending on the species
164. Meadow rue (Thalictrum spp.) perennial, zones 2-6 depending on the species
165. Milkweed (Asclepias spp.) perennial, zones 3-10 depending on the species
166. Mimosa (Albizia julibrissin) tree, zone 6b
167. Mint (Mentha spp.) culinary herb, zones 2-8 depending on the species
168. Miscanthus (Miscanthus spp.) ornamental grass, zones 4-6 depending on the species
169. Mitsuba, purple (Cryptotaenia japonica ‘Atropurpurea’), perennial, zone 4
170. Monarda (Monarda spp.) perennial, zone 3
171. Moneywort (Lysimachia nummularia) perennial, zone 3
172. Monkshood (Aconitum spp.) perennial, zone 3
173. Mugwort (Artemisia spp.) perennial or shrub, zones 2-8 depending on the species
174. Mullein (Verbascum spp.) perennial or biennial, zones 2-7
175. Nicotiana (Nicotiana spp.) annual
176. Northern sea oats (Chasmanthium latifolium) ornamental grass, zone 5b
177. Oleander (Nerium oleander) houseplant or shrub, zone 9
178. Onion (Allium cepa) vegetable
179. Oregano (Origanum vulgare) herb zone 5
180. Oregon grape (Mahonia spp.) shrub, zones 5-9 depending on the species
181. Pachysandra, Japanese (Pachysandra terminalis) perennial, zone 4
182. Pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana) ornamental grass, zone 8
183. Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) biennial herb, zone 3
184. Pawpaw (Asimina triloba) fruit tree, zone 6
185. Penstemon (Penstemon spp.) perennial, zones 2-8 depending on the species
186. Peony, herbaceous (Paeonia spp.) perennial, zone 3
187. Peony, tree (Paeonia suffruticosa) shrub, zone 4b
188. Perennial sage (Salvia spp.) perennial, zones 3-10 depending on the species
189. Periwinkle, dwarf (Vinca minor) perennial, zone 4
190. Periwinkle, Madagascar (Catharanthus rosea) annual
191. Phlomis (Phlomis spp.) perennial, zones 3-8 depending on the species
192. Pine (Pinus spp.) Conifer, zones 2-8
193. Plum yew, Japanese (Cephalotaxus harringtonia) conifer, zone 7
194. Poppy (Papaver spp.) annual, biennial or perennial, zones 3-5 depending on the species
195. Pot marigold (Calendula officinalis) annual
196. Prickly pear (Opuntia spp.) perennial, zones 3-9
197. Pumpkin (Cucurbita spp.) vegetable
198. Purple moor grass (Molinia caerulea) ornamental grass, zone 4
199. Reed grass (Calamagrostis spp.) ornamental grass, zone 3
200. Rockcress (Arabis spp.) perennial, zones 3-5 depending on the species
201. Rockcress, false (Aubretia spp.) perennial, zone 3-5 depending on the species
202. Rodgersia (Rodgersia spp.) perennial, zone 4
203. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) herb, zone 8
204. Rue (Ruta graveolens) herb, zone 5
205. Rush (Juncus spp.) ornamental grass, zones 3-7 depending on the species
206. Russian cypress (Microbiota decussata) conifer, zone 3
207. Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) tree, zone 2b
208. Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) perennial, zone 4b
209. Sage (Salvia officinalis) herb, zone 5
210. Santolina (Santolina chamaecyparissus) annual or perennial, zone 7
211. Savory (Satureja spp.), herb zone 4
212. Scabious (Scabiosa spp.) annual or perennial, zone 3
213. Sea holly (Eryngium spp.) perennial, zones 4-8 depending on the species
214. Sedge (Carex spp.) ornamental grass, zones 1-10 depending on the species
215. Sedum (Sedum spp.) perennial, zones 2-10 (Note: fall sedums [genus Hylotelephium] are more susceptible to deer browsing that other sedums)
216. Senna (Senna marilandica and S. hebecarpa), perennials, zones 4 to 9
217. Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.) shrub, zones 3-5 depending on the species
218. Silphium (Silphium spp.) perennial, zone 4
219. Skimmia, Japanese (Skimmia japonica) shrub, zone 6
220. Smoke bush (Cotinus coggyria) shrub, zone 5b
221. Snakeroot, white (Ageratina altissima ‘Chocolate’, syn. Eupatorium altissima) perennial, zone 4
222. Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus) annual
223. Sneezeweed (Helenium spp.) perennial, zone 3
224. Snowdrop (Galanthus spp.) hardy bulb, zone 3
225. Snowflake (Leucojum spp.) hardy bulb, zone 4
226. Soapwort (Saponaria spp.) perennial, zone 3
227. Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum spp.) perennial, zones 3-6 depending on the species
228. Speedwell (Veronica spp.) perennial, zones 3-5 depending on the species
229. Spiderwort (Tradescantia x andersoniana) perennial, zone 4
230. Spirea (Spiraea spp) shrub, zones 2-7 depending on the species
231. Spruce (Picea spp.) conifer, zones 1-7 depending on the species
232. Spurge (Euphorbia spp.) annual or perennial, zones 3-10 depending on the species
233. Squash (Cucurbita spp.) vegetable
234. Squill, Siberian (Scilla siberica) hardy bulb, zone 2
235. Statice (Limonium spp.), annual or perennial, zone 3
236. Sumac, fragrant (Rhus aromatica) shrub, zone 4
237. Sweet box (Sarcoccoca hookeriana) shrub, zone 6
238. Sweet flag (Acorus spp.) ornamental grass, zones 3-5 depending on the species
239. Sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum) perennial, zone 4
240. Switch grass (Panicum virgatum) ornamental grass, zone 4
241. Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) perennial or herb, zone 3
242. Taro (Colocasia spp.) tender bulb, zone 10
243. Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus) herb, zone 5
244. Thrift (Armeria spp.) perennial, zones 3-5 depending on the species
245. Thyme (Thymus spp.) perennial or herb, zones 3-8 depending on the species
246. Tobacco (Nicotiana spp.) annual
247. Tuber oat grass (Arrhenatherum elatius bulbosum ‘Variegatus), ornamental grass, zone 4
248. Valerian, red (Centranthus ruber) perennial, zone 3
249. Viburnum (Viburnum spp.) shrub, zones 2-8 depending on the species
250. Waxbells, yellow (Kirengeshoma spp.) perennial, zone 4
251. Wild ginger (Asarum spp.) perennial, zones 3-7 depending on the species
252. Winter aconite (Eranthis spp.) hardy bulb, zone 4
253. Wisteria (Wisteria spp.) climbing plant, zones 4b-9 depending on the species
254. Wolfwillow (Elaeagnus commutata) shrub, zone 1b
255. Wormwood (Artemisia spp.) perennial or shrub, zones 2-8 depending on the species
256. Yarrow (Achillea spp.) perennial, zone 3
257. Yucca (Yucca spp.) shrub, zones 3-10 depending on the species
258. Zelkova (Zelkova spp.) tree, zone 6
259. Zinnia (Zinnia spp.) annual

Article adapted from one appearing in this blog on July 7, 2015.