Deer-Resistant Plants
Published on
March 22, 2023 at 2:07:08 PM PDT March 22, 2023 at 2:07:08 PM PDTnd, March 22, 2023 at 2:07:08 PM PDT
Nothing is more frustrating than having the plants in your landscape being eaten by hungry deer. Bear in mind that no plant is completely deer-proof. If deer are hungry and they’ve exhausted all the desirable food in the area, they may look to your yard.
If the best defense is a good offense, then it makes sense to start by tackling the challenge and choosing deer-resistant plants.
Here are our suggestions for plants that are less favored by deer.
Trees & Shrubs
Barberry (compact types)
Full Sun
2' tall, 2' wide
Orange-red foliage
Low maintenance
Slow growth rate
Forsythia
Full Sun
5' tall, 4' wide
Early spring blooms
Prune to shape after flowering
Moderate growth rate
Honeylocust Tree
Full Sun
40-50' tall, 30-35' wide
Excellent shade tree
Tough, hard wood
Golden-yellow fall color
Medium-fast growth rate
Juniper Blue Star
Full Sun
2-3' tall, 3' wide (varies by type)
Short-needled evergreen
Silvery-blue foliage
Tolerates dry conditions
Slow growth rate
Lilac
Full Sun
4-5' tall, 5' wide (varies by type)
Fragrant blooms
Spring through Summer blooms
Medium growth rate
Spirea Little Princess
Full Sun
24-30" tall, 36" wide
Top Customer Pick
Pink summer flowers
Low-growing shrub
Fast growth rate
Perennials
Astilbe Fanal Red
Part Sun to Full Sun
2' tall, 2' wide
Feathery plume flowers
Red summer flowers
Medium-fast growth rate
Bee Balm
Full Sun
10-12" tall, 8-10" wide
Showy flowers late spring to early summer
Mint-basil scented foliage
Moderate growth rate
Bleeding Heart
Part Shade to Full Shade
3' tall, 3' wide
Bloom early to late spring
Pink / red flowers
Moderate growth rate
Coneflower, Cheyenne Spirit
Full Sun to Part Shade
18-30" tall, 18-24" wide
Summer to fall blooms
Variety of flower colors
Medium growth rate
Coreopsis Moonbeam
Full Sun
12-18" tall, 12-18" wide
Yellow summer blooms
Medium growth rate
Daffolids
Full Sun
16-18" tall
Bloom mid-spring
Large flower on one stem
Plant large clusters in fall
Foxglove
Full Sun to Part Sun
24-48" tall, 12-18" wide
Blooms late spring to summer
Needs regular watering
Moderate growth rate
Iris
Full Sun
2' tall
Blooms in spring
Fragrant, showy flowers
Clumping growth habit
Moderate growth rate
Lavender
Full Sun
Summer blooms
Fragrant flowers
Great for hot, dry slopes
Moderate growth rate
Liatris
Full Sun
2' tall, 1' wide
Midwest Native Plant
Long-lasting summer bloom
Divide every 2-3 years
Moderate growth rate
Daylily Happy Returns
Full Sun to Part Shade
15-18" tall, 18-24" wide
Summer to fall blooms
Yellow flowers
Medium growth rate
Salvia Cardonna
Full Sun
18-24" tall, 18-24" wide
Summer to fall blooms
Purple flowers
Fast growth rate
Annuals
Begonia
Sun or Shade
12-24" tall, 18-24" wide
Blooms spring through fall
Heat-tolerant rebloomer
Easy maintenance
Dahlia
Full Sun
12-18" tall, 12-18" wide
Blooms spring to fall
Repeat flowering
Moderate growth rate
Geranium
Full Sun
14-16" tall, 16-20" wide
Blooms all season until frost
Variety of colors - white, red, pink
Moderate growth rate
Marigold
Full Sun
10-12" tall, 6-8" wide
Blooms spring through fall
Easy maintenance
Fast growth rate
Parsely
Full Sun
14-16" tall, 16-20" wide
Grows best in moist soil
Leaves produce intense flavor
Slow germination
Sweet Basil
Full Sun
24-30" tall
Grows best in hot, dry conditions
Best variety for pesto