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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>Katia Glorget</span> Sat, 01/21/2017 - 09:44
I read deers do not like prickly plants..... ha ha ha I have an old rose with mighty thorns and deers have eaten a couple of stalks all the way to the ground. Another thing deers love is a young pear tree. Bought a sand pear tree for hubby, about 7 foot tall, they ate the whole tree all the way to the ground. Nothing left. Dogwoods, roses, but not my hydrangeas YET, they love the leaves of my purple potatoes vines and Indian Awthorn. Had to replace all my landscape in front of house. They love also the camelias, small azaleas, All bulb plants. especially agapanthers I am really sick of deers. So far they have left alone plumbago???? but I a sure they might be next. They stop at my house, I guess I have the right kind of buffet for them. The houses down the street stay intact.
<span>Lynne Maclean</span> Sat, 01/07/2017 - 11:11
I guess the truth is they will eat anything if they are hungry. I am in Eastern Ontario (not far from Ottawa) and they love hostas, hydrangea, lilacs, fir, cedar and pine trees for sure. They will even eat my rose buds just before they bloom. Never seem to touch junipers (both skyrocket and ground cover types), purple coneflower, nine bark, blue spruce, daffodils, silver mound. We are in cottage country and unfortunately some people feed the deer which only encourages them to hang around populated areas when they would do fine staying in the bush.
<span>Rima</span> Fri, 06/24/2016 - 10:48
I've tried a variety of the plants on deer-resistant lists sometimes with success and then suddenly not. I mentioned the problem to the chief horticulturalist at Mt. Vernon Mansion and told him that this year the deer chomped down on my rhododendrons. I planted some rudbekias making sure they were the cultivar on the deer-resistant lists only to have them eaten. He laughed and said, "Deer don't read those lists." He explained that some years they seem to eat one plant and other years don't touch them.
<span>Mark Landis</span> Tue, 05/24/2016 - 09:43
The deer in my neighborhood eat my Yucca plants every winter.
<span>Melissa Villarreal</span> Tue, 02/23/2016 - 13:02
I would like to know if there is list of flowers and shrubs that will grow in winters at 5 degrees and very hot summers and are also deer tolerant.
<span>Nford</span> Thu, 07/28/2016 - 07:47
Hellebores are evergreen, bloom in winter and blooms last until May, drought-tolerant, survive 100+ degree summers, poisonous to deer. But they need some shade.
<span>Leonard O. Strong</span> Thu, 01/24/2019 - 15:08
I have had deer eat them at my house in the winter.
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Wed, 02/24/2016 - 14:45

Hi Melissa,

Go to the website below to see deer resistant plants for your region.

http://emswcd.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/OSU-Deer-Resistant-Plants.pdf

 

 <span>Marya Sea-Gant</span> Tue, 10/06/2015 - 15:01
how can I rid myself of nematodes naturally?
<span>Bill14150</span> Sat, 06/20/2015 - 00:01
from Zone 6 near Buffalo, NY. We have dozens of deer, but they have never eaten the Yucca in my yard. Daylilies in the front, unfenced yard have not had the chance to bloom in many years. Buds are eaten as soon as they form. Hosta, save for the toughest leaved varieties, are eaten to the ground. Hibiscus on occasion get a bud or two eaten, but not much on them. Boxwood at present time (2015) is never touched. Spruce were never eaten until the winter of 2013 - 14. Bad winter, many trees on the street were eaten up as far as deer could reach.