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Pest-Resistant Plants & More Plant Advice | The Old Farmer's Almanac

Pest-Resistant Plants and Flowers

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Lavender photo by Pixabay
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Choosing flowers that rabbits and deer don't love to eat

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Do you have trouble with deer and rabbits in your garden? Here’s a list of pest-resistant plants that these common garden pests won’t touch, plus a few favorite low-maintenance and extra-hardy options.

The trick is finding plants that these critters avoid. I like flowers that I don’t have to deadhead, too. A confession: I’m really a lazy gardener!

Pest-Resistant Plants List

Most munchers usually avoid plants with thorny or fuzzy foliage and those with strong aromas, like lavender. To save your most valued flowers, situate them in the center of beds closest to the house or against the house. Why? Deer and rabbits nibble on the outside edges of plantings furthest away from buildings.

Rabbits

Rabbits avoid calendulas, chrysanthemums, columbines, four o’clocks, foxglove, gladiolus, hollyhocks, impatiens, iris, larkspur, morning glories, nicotiana, snapdragons, sweet peas, and verbena.

Deer

Deer steer clear of ageratum, begonias, chrysanthemums, columbines, coreopsis, cosmos, foxglove, iris, lavender, monarda, purple coneflower, rudbeckia, salvia, Shasta daisies, verbena, vinca, yarrow, zinnias. See more deer-resistant plants.


Surround your favorite blooms with ones deer and rabbits hate to protect them. Photo courtesy of the National Garden Bureau.

No or Low Maintenance Plants

Begonia, ageratum, lobelia, coleus, and alyssum need no deadheading. Neither do Flower Carpet and Knock-Out roses.

“Pow Wow” echinacea or coneflower is a tough, reliable bloomer in almost every climate. Photo courtesty of Ball Seed Co.

Plants That Grow in Any Climate

Cleome, impatiens, petunias, marigolds, and zinnias are annuals that perform well everywhere. Perennials that are guaranteed to bloom all over the country include ‘Autumn Joy’ sedum, coneflowers, coreopsis, rudbeckia, and yarrow.

Two of my favorite flowers also grow everywhere and are tough. ‘Silver Tidal Wave’ petunia is one of the first in the Tidal Waves series. Its lavender-white flowers deadhead themselves, they need no pinching to grow lushly, and the plants spread themselves. Stems grow a couple of inches each day, creating three-foot-tall hedges ablaze with blooms. 

My favorite perennial is ‘Mardi Gras’ helenium, a plant-and-forget perennial covered with orange flowers from July until frost. Hummingbirds, butterflies, and yellow finches love this punch of powerful color.

Do you have any favorite pest-resistant plants? Let us know in the comments below!

About The Author

Doreen G. Howard

Doreen Howard, an award-winning author, is the former garden editor at Woman’s Day. She has gardened in every climate zone from California to Texas to Oklahoma to the Midwest. She’s especially fond of unusual houseplants and heirloom edibles. Read More from Doreen G. Howard

2023 Gardening Club