Truth be told, there is no such thing as a deer-proof plant. If they are hungry enough, they will eat any plant they can. Fortunately, deer tend to turn their noses up at plants that are strongly scented or prickly textured. Here is a list of deer-resistant plants you can use in your garden. You can find a printable version of this list here. We also recommend Everguard, a non-toxic spray treatment that is safe for people, pets, and the environment, as an additional precaution.
DEER RESISTANT TREES
Cornus kousa Dogwood
Fagus Beech
Ginko
Picea Spruce
Pinus Pine
Thuja plicata Arborvitae
DEER RESISTANT SHRUBS
Buddlea Butterfly Bush
Buxus Boxwood
Calycanthus Sweet Gum
Chamaecyperis Cypress
~ thyoides
~ nookatensis
Cornus Dogwood
Deutzia
Enkianthus
Forsythia
Leucothoe
Lonicera Honeysuckle
Juniperis Juniper
Myrica Bayberry
Parthenocissus Virginia Creeper
Pieris Andromeda
Potentilla
Rosa Rugosa Beach Rose
Spirea
Syringa Lilac
Viburnum
Weigela
Wisteria
DEER RESISTANT PERENNIALS
Achillea Yarrow
Aconitum Monkshood
Ajuga Bugleweed
Alchemilla Lady’s Mantle
Allium x tuberosum Ornamental Onion
Amsonia Blue Star Flower
Angelica Purple Parsnip
Aquilgia Columbine
Artemisia Wormwood
Aruncus Goat’s Beard
Asclepius Milk Weed
Aster
Astilbe False Spirea
Berginia Pig Squeak
Boltonia Bolton’s Aster
Calluna Heather
Campanula Bellflower
Centurea Bachelor Button
Chelone Turtlehead
Cimicifuga – Actea Bugbane
Coreopsis Tickseed
Dicentra Bleeding Heart
Delphinium Larkspur
Dianthus Pinks
Dictamnus Gas Plant
Echinacea Coneflower
Echinops Globe Thistle
Epimedium Barrenwort
Euphorbia Cushion Spurge
DEER RESISTANT PERENNIALS (Continued…)
Geranium Cranesbill
Grasses
Hellebore Lenten Rose
Iberis Candy Tuft
Iris
Lamium Dead Nettle
Lavandula Lavender
Limonium Statice
Lupinus Lupine
Macleaya cordata Plume Poppy
Mornarda didyma Bee Blam
Myosotis Forget-Me-Not
Nepeta Catmint
Origanum Ornamental Oregeno
Penstemon Beard Tongue
Perovskia Russian Sage
Phlox subulata Creeping Phlox
Rudbeckia Black-eyed Susan
Salvia Meadow Sage
Scabiosa Pin Cushion Flower
Stachys Lamb’s Ear
Thymus Thyme
GROUNDCOVERS
Most OK