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75+ Deer-Resistant Plants: Flowers, Shrubs, and Plants Deer Won’t Eat

Image Credit:
Pixabay
Written By: Catherine Boeckmann Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener

Are deer eating your garden plants? Choosing deer-resistant plants is one of the best ways to protect your flowers, shrubs, and landscaping. While no plant is completely deer-proof, many plants—such as salvia, lavender, poppies, snapdragons, and sweet alyssum—are far less appealing to hungry deer.

In this guide, we share the best deer-resistant plants, flowers deer avoid, and tips to keep deer out of your garden all season long.

Are Any Plants Truly Deer-Proof?

Let’s be honest: no plant is 100% deer-proof. When food is scarce—especially from October through February—deer will eat almost anything.

However, deer prefer tender, fertilized, and easy-to-digest plants like:

Think of it this way: if deer have access to their favorite foods, they usually leave tougher, bitter, or fragrant plants alone.

The goal is simple: plant what deer dislike so they walk past your garden.

Young roe deer munching on pink mallow flowers in a residential garden
Deer love munching on mallow plants!

According to researchers from the University of Rhode Island, who have studied white-tailed deer damage to nurseries, deer seem to prefer plants that have been fertilized to those that haven’t.

Why Deer Avoid Certain Plants

Deer tend to avoid plants with these characteristics:

  • Strong scents (lavender, sage, rosemary)
  • Toxic leaves (daffodils, foxglove)
  • Fuzzy or prickly textures (lamb’s ear)
  • Bitter taste (herbs and aromatic plants)
  • Tough or leathery foliage

These natural defenses help protect your garden without chemicals or fencing.

Most Deer-Resistant Plants (Quick List)

Some of the most reliable deer-resistant plants include:

These are excellent choices for beginner gardeners dealing with deer problems.

lavender flowers, deer-resistant plant
Deer tend to steer clear of lavender flowers.

Deer-Resistant Plants for Shade

If your garden has limited sunlight, these plants perform well in shade and resist deer browsing:

These plants add color and texture to shaded areas while discouraging deer.

coreopsis and echinacea, deer resistant plants
Coreopsis and Echinacea purpurea

Deer-Resistant Plants for Sun

For sunny gardens, consider these reliable options:

Many of these also attract butterflies and pollinators.

Deer-Resistant Herbs

Herbs are some of the best natural deer deterrents due to their strong scent.

Planting herbs along garden edges can help protect other plants.

Deer-Resistant Shrubs and Trees

For landscaping and structure, try:

These shrubs provide long-term protection and visual appeal.

75+ Deer-Resistant Plants

Below is a complete list of deer-resistant plants, including flowers, herbs, shrubs, and trees. Use this chart to quickly find plants that work best for your garden. Again, keep in mind that the first rule in deer-proofing is that there are no completely deer-proof plants.

Common NameBotanical NamePlant TypeSun/Shade
AchilleaAchillea filipendulinaPerennialSun
AgeratumAgeratum houstonianumAnnualSun
AlliumAllium sp.PerennialSun
Allegheny ServiceberryAmelanchier laevisShrub/TreeSun/Shade
AnisePimpinella anisumAnnual/HerbSun
Autumn CrocusColchicum sp.PerennialSun/Shade
Baby’s BreathGypsophila sp.PerennialSun
BasilOcimum basilicumAnnual/HerbSun
BayberryMyrica pensylvanicaShrubSun
Bearded IrisIris sp.PerennialSun/Shade
Bee BalmMonarda didymaPerennialSun
Black-Eyed SusanRudbeckia sp.PerennialSun
Blue FescueFestuca glaucaPerennialSun
Blue Mist ShrubCaryopteris clandonensisShrubSun
BluebellEndymion sp.PerennialShade
Bleeding HeartLamprocapnos spectabilisPerennialShade
BorageBorage officinalisAnnualSun
BoxwoodBuxus sempervirensShrubSun/Shade
BroomCytisus sp.ShrubSun
Butterfly BushBuddleia sp.ShrubSun
CalendulaCalendula sp.AnnualSun
CatmintNepeta sp.PerennialSun
CleomeCleome sp.AnnualSun
Common FoxgloveDigitalis purpureaPerennialShade
Common LilacSyringa vulgarisShrubSun
CoreopsisCoreopsis verticillataPerennialSun
CorydalisCorydalis sp.PerennialShade
Crown ImperialFritillaria imperialisPerennialSun
DaffodilNarcissus sp.PerennialSun/Shade
DaphneDaphne sp.ShrubSun/Shade
EchinaceaEchinacea purpureaPerennialSun
EndymionEndymion sp.PerennialShade
FernOsmundaPerennialShade
Forget-Me-NotMyosotis sp.Annual/PerennialShade
FoxgloveDigitalis purpureaPerennialShade
GarlicAllium sp.PerennialSun
Garden SageSalvia officinalisPerennial/HerbSun
GlobemallowEchinops ritroPerennialSun
HeliotropeHeliorope arborescensPerennialSun
HorehoundMarrubium vulgarePerennial/HerbSun
HyssopHyssopus officinalisPerennial/HerbSun
Jack-in-the-PulpitArisaema triphylumPerennialShade
JuniperJuniperusShrub/TreeSun
LantanaLantana sp.Perennial/ShrubSun
LavenderLavandula sp.Perennial/HerbSun
Lemon BalmMelissa officinalisPerennial/HerbSun/Shade
Leucanthemum DaisyLeucanthemum x superbum ‘Becky’PerennialSun
Lily of the ValleyConvallaris majalisPerennialShade
Russian SagePerovskia atriplicifoliaPerennialSun
SalviaSalvia x sylvestrisPerennialSun
SnapdragonAntirrhinum majusAnnual/PerennialSun
Snow-on-the-MountainEuphorbia marginataAnnualSun
SnowdropsGalanthus nivalisPerennialShade
Spider FlowerCleome sp.AnnualSun
StaticeLimonium latifoliumPerennialSun
Sweet AlyssumLobularia maritimaAnnualSun
ThymeThymus sp.Perennial/HerbSun
TulipTulipa sp.PerennialSun
Winter AconiteEranthus hyemalisPerennialShade
Winterberry HollyIlex verticillataShrubSun/Shade
Wood FernDryopteris marginalisPerennialShade
Wood SageSalvia x sylvestrisPerennialSun
YuccaYuccaPerennialSun
ZinniaZinniaAnnualSun

Credit: Outwitting Deer by Bill Adler Jr.

Note: Even “resistant” varieties can be vulnerable in the first few weeks after planting when their leaf tissue is especially nitrogen-rich. If you have major deer problems, we recommend spraying new plants with a deer repellent for 3 to 4 weeks after planting to prevent them from being nibbled on and damaged. Even if they are feasted on, as long as the root systems of the plants are not damaged, the plants should survive.

How to Design a Deer-Resistant Garden

  • Plant herbs around borders
  • Avoid hostas
  • Use shrubs as barriers
  • Group resistant plants
  • Protect new plants

Final Gardening Tip: Choosing deer-resistant plants is one of the easiest ways to protect your garden naturally. By planting fragrant herbs, tough perennials, and unpalatable flowers, you can enjoy beautiful blooms without worrying about deer damage.

Want more ways to keep deer out of your garden? Click to read more tips on how to deter deer in the garden!

What are your favorite deer-resistant plants?

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What plants are most deer-resistant?

    Lavender, salvia, daffodils, boxwood, and Russian sage are among the most deer-resistant plants.

  • What flowers do deer hate the most?

    Deer tend to avoid strongly scented or toxic flowers like foxglove, poppies, lavender, and daffodils.

  • Are there any deer-proof plants?

    No plant is completely deer-proof, but many are highly resistant.

  • Do deer eat hostas?

    Yes, hostas are one of deer’s favorite plants.

  • What smells keep deer away?

    Strong scents like lavender, sage, rosemary, and mint often deter deer.

  • Will deer eat plants in winter?

    Yes, deer browse more heavily from October to February, when food is scarce.

Garden Pests

About The Author

Catherine Boeckmann

Catherine Boeckmann

Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener

Catherine Boeckmann loves nature, stargazing, and gardening, so it’s not surprising that she and The Old Farmer’s Almanac found each other. She leads digital content for the Almanac website and is also a certified master gardener in the state of Indiana.

Read more from Catherine Boeckmann

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Comments

<span>Sam</span> Sun, 02/02/2020 - 09:21
You list, deer won't eat lilacs. Well, I'm watching deer eating my lilacs right now & they keep coming back. And it has not been a bad winter. It's been warm & hardly any snow. But here they come to eat my lilacs and my Holly bushes too, another one you say they don't eat, well yes they do, they eat the Holly bush but spit out the red berries!
<span>Robert Riegler</span> Mon, 11/04/2019 - 07:08
I have maintained a small ornamental conifer nursery in Northern Vermont for the past 35 years and the only unfriendly deer product that hands down deer avoid is Leadnus Vulgare. I have found one ounce slugs work best with #9 shot. You are wasting your time with any of the plant matter discussed.
<span>Mary</span> Sat, 09/28/2019 - 03:47
I wonder how many of us consider that the biggest problem is that we keep pushing our remaining wildlife into smaller and smaller areas where they cannot forage enough? Mesnwhile we continue to expand and consume without thought to the other species we share the planet with. No matter, at the present spiralling extinction rate they will soon be gone....and then so will we.
<span>Cheryl</span> Mon, 08/05/2019 - 13:06
I have to agree that there are certain plants they do seem to avoid but there are numerous ones on this list that they have a particular liking for. American Holly...yup...they feasted on it like it was a delicacy. They also love barberry, boxwood, bachelors buttons, pachysandra , yucca and Black-eyed Susans. Don’t even get me started on all those “ fuzzy-leaved” plants they’re supposed to avoid...like hollyhocks. They attack them until there is nothing but a green, leafless and flowerless stalk left. Maybe this list is okay in a more urban setting??....but in a rural area....not so much.
<span>Bebe</span> Thu, 07/25/2019 - 11:43
Even though I'm more of a perennial gal, I've always planted zinnias in the summer because they added pop to my garden and the deer never touched them--until this year. All the zinnia flower buds were chomped off within a few days after I planted them. Same with my salvia and bee balm--deer never touched them before but this year they've eaten the tops of them off. I've had to put them behind a deer fence or spray them. Something eats my echinacea every year but I'm beginning to suspect its rabbits since they aren't eaten once they manage to get past a certain height...
<span>Kk</span> Mon, 07/15/2019 - 18:04
I am figuring out that "deer resistant" means it's not their first choice of meal. I planted a landscape that was listed on this site for 3 seasons blooming. I used bee balm instead of a listed perennial and that was the first thing they went after, flower, leaves and stem. They also love Bleeding Heart, Weigela, Delphinium, Black Eyed Susan, apple tree leaves, cherry tree leaves. The good news is, they haven't touched my Black Lace Elderberry, Coral Bells (yet). Maybe we just have mutant deer that don't know they're eating deer resistant plants but it's very disheartening not to mention expensive.
<span>Jo Gaydos</span> Sun, 05/12/2019 - 21:58
Do deer eat Mandeville plants?
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Tue, 05/14/2019 - 09:36

Unfortunately, many varieties of mandevilla are not deer-resistant.  "Mandevilla laxa" is considered deer-resistant, though not deer-proof. The leaves are smaller and less succulent than Mandevilla sanderi which is less deer-resistant.

 <span>Jan</span> Thu, 04/04/2019 - 23:23
I used to be able to grow Hollyhocks, Petunias, Pansies, and numerous other flowers without deer ever touching any of them UNTIL our neighbors started feeding them. Ever since then, I haven't been able to keep deer out of my garden, and I NEVER fed them! It really irritates me how inconsiderate some people can be of their neighbors who put a lot of time and work, not to mention money, into their gardens. Some folks don't realize that once they start feeding deer, they are forever attracted to every garden in the area. Other neighbors do know this, and simply don't care. They do what they want to do, regardless of the consequences for anyone else. Very, very selfish and insensitive!
<span>Jan</span> Thu, 04/04/2019 - 22:55
You have Zinnia listed at the last plant on your list that deer (supposedly) rarely eat. I have news for you. They eat, eat, eat Zinnias! I grew Zinnias from seed in last year's garden, and deer ate every last one that came up, before it ever had a chance to bud or bloom. You have also listed coneflower among their typical leave-alones. Not so! When I grew coneflower, deer kept eating off the buds and blossoms. This didn't just happen once in awhile. It happened regularly. These two plants are NOT deer resistant, in the least. Just thought you should know.