Deer resistant plants are a great option for those of us who have to deal with these destructive pests. If you’re looking for plants that deer won’t eat, then this post is for you!
Below you’ll find a list of the best deer resistant annual flowers, shrubs, perennials, vegetables, and herbs to grow in your garden.
If you’ve ever discovered deer eating the plants in your garden, you know first hand just how destructive they can be.
This drives many gardeners to go on a mission to find plants that deer hate, so they can stop the damage once and for all!
Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a deer proof plant. Deer will graze on anything if they’re hungry enough, especially during the winter.
Don’t get discouraged! There are lots of different deer resistant plants they eat less often. Many times they’ll skip over these plants for more appetizing options.
Below I will give you tons of ideas for deer resistant plants, plus some tips for keeping these furry pests out of your garden.
But first, let’s talk about some plants deer like to eat, so you know which ones to avoid.
Plants Deer Love To Eat
The first question most people have when they spot deer grazing near their garden is, “what plants do deer eat?“. So I thought it would be a good idea to start with a list of plants that deer like to eat the most.
This is not an exhaustive list of course, but these are some of their favorites. So, if you have deer in your yard, then you’ll definitely want to avoid planting these, or take steps to protect them. Your list may be different depending on where you live.
- Hostas
- Arborvitae
- Lilies
- Beans
- Broccoli
- Brussel sprouts
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Collard greens
- Hops
- Kale
- Lettuce
- Peas
- Spinach
- Swiss chard
- Tulips
- Asiatic lilies
- Hibiscus
- Pansies
- Phlox
Plants That Deer Do Not Like To Eat
Now that you know what deer like to eat, let’s talk about the plants they don’t favor. I hope you’re not feeling discouraged, because there are plenty of plants to choose from in the lists below.
There is no way I could even attempt to list every single deer resistant plant there is though. So, to make it easy to go shopping, you should understand all of the traits that make plants resistant to deer.
What Makes Plants Resistant To Deer?
In general, deer don’t like eating plants that have a strong odor or flavor. They also tend to avoid plants that are prickly or furry, ones that are toxic to them, and those they can’t get to.
So look for these traits when you’re shopping for the best deer resistant plants and flowers…
- Look for plants that repel deer – Since there are lots of smells deer don’t like, they tend to avoid plants that have a strong odor. Many times these types of plants can even work to repel deer from your garden. So look for highly fragrant plants like onions, garlic, fennel, peonies, tansy, yarrow, and Russian sage, for example.
- Buy plants deer don’t like to eat – In addition to odors, they also don’t like eating plants that have a strong flavor. Some good examples are herbs like cilantro, lavender, mint, rosemary, basil, and oregano. This wildflower mix contains several plants that deer don’t like the taste of.
- Select plants rarely eaten deer – Deer don’t like plants that have unappealing textures, like furry leaves or prickly stems. Squash, cacti, lambs ear, barberry, yucca, and artichoke are a few examples of plants deer dislike because of their texture.
- Choose plants that are poisonous to deer – Some plants are toxic to deer, so they will usually stay way from eating them. Anything in the nightshade family (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant…etc), and rhubarb are examples of plants deer avoid because of their toxicity.
- Grow plants deer can’t eat – Obviously if the deer can’t get to a plant, then they won’t be able to eat it. This is true of vegetables that grow underground, like beets, radishes, carrots, and other root crops. However deer sometimes do like to graze on the tops of these plants, so you may need to protect them.
List Of Deer Resistant Plants
Below I have organized my list of the top deer resistant plants into four groups: perennials and shrubs, annuals, vegetables, and herbs. This should make it easy for you to find exactly what you’re looking for.
Deer Resistant Shrubs & Perennials
- Bleeding hearts
- Yarrow
- Silver mound
- Jack-in-the-pulpit
- Aster
- Astilbe
- Barberry
- Coneflowers
- Spurge
- Bee balm
- Fern
- Tansy
- Yucca
- Columbine
- Shasta daisy
- Lupine
- Coreopsis
- Black eyed Susan
- Boxwood
- Anemone
- Deadnettle
- Edgeworthia
- Mandivilla
- Peonies
- Weigela
- Bearded iris
- Russian sage
- Foxglove
- Daffodils
- Poppies
- Lambs ear
- Prickly pear cactus
Deer Resistant Annuals
- Snapdragon
- Dusty miller
- Sweet alyssum
- Zinnia
- Straw flower
- Bachelor buttons
- Larkspur
- Verbena
- Marigold
- Vinca
- Spider flower
- Ageratum
- Flowering tobacco
- Forget-me-not
- Heliotrope
- Sunflower
Deer Resistant Vegetables
- Garlic
- Onions
- Scallions
- Leeks
- Squash
- Zucchini
- Pumpkins
- Cucumbers
- Artichoke
- Rhubarb
- Tomatoes
- Peppers
- Eggplants
- Carrots
- Beets
- Radishes
- Potatoes
- Asparagus
- Okra
- Parsnips
Deer Resistant Herbs
- Fennel
- Chives
- Garlic chives
- Mint
- Dill
- Rosemary
- Chamomile
- Basil
- Oregano
- Parsley
- Thyme
- Sage
- Lemon balm
- Lavender
- Cilantro
- Marjoram
- Lemongrass
If you’re looking for even more ideas, then I recommend the book “50 Beautiful Annuals, Perennials, Bulbs, and Shrubs that Deer Don’t Eat“. It’s a great reference, with tips for deer resistant garden design, and of course a list of plants.
Tips To Keep Deer Out Of Your Garden
Using deer resistant plants is the best first step to prevent major damage to your garden. But, that’s not necessarily going to be the end of your problem.
Deer are persistent, especially once they get comfortable in your yard. And the longer they’ve been around, the harder it’s going to be to keep them from coming back.
The good news is that there are lots of ways to prevent them from destroying your garden. Here are a few tips to keep deer away from plants…
- Use deer spray repellent – Using natural deer repellent spray works pretty well, as long as you’re diligent. Spray it directly on the plants to prevent deer from eating them, and reapply often. If you’re unsure of which kind is the best to use, Bobbex, Plantskydd, and Liquid Fence are all great organic brands.
- Create a protective perimeter – Line the perimeter of your garden with deer resistant plants to create a barrier around the ones they love to eat. This will make your garden less inviting to them, and it works for protecting both flowers and vegetables.
- Use plants to repel deer – Intermixing natural deer repellent plants strategically into your garden is another great way to keep them out. Not only does this make your garden less tempting, strong smelling plants can also mask the scent of the more appealing ones.
- Cover sensitive plants – Using a physical barrier will make it harder for the deer to eat your plants. You can encircle vulnerable plants with chicken wire or use metal fencing. You could also try using floating row covers, or use deer netting to protect plants.
- Grow vegetables deer love vertically – If you find that deer are taking bites out of the fruits of vegetables like squash and cucumbers, then try growing them vertically. An a-frame, arch, or a lean-to style trellis are all excellent choices. The vegetables will hang down on the inside of the trellis, keeping them more protected, or hiding them from the deer.
Related Post: How To Protect Grapes From Birds & Bugs
Unfortunately, there is no such thing as deer proof plants, they will eat anything when they get really hungry! But there are many types of plants that they don’t eat as often. So fill your garden with deer resistant plants and shrubs to make your life a little easier.
More About Garden Pest Control
- How To Make A Homemade DIY Fruit Fly Trap
- How To Get Rid Of Iris Borers Naturally
- All About Ladybugs & Why They’re Good For Your Garden
- How To Control Garden Pests Naturally
Share your favorite deer resistant plants, or tips for keeping deer out of your garden.
curtis morgan says
Deer happily ate all my squash last summer. I replanted and covered them with nylon mesh. They came back, trampled my mesh, and helped themselves.
Another gardener came back to my garden spot (on public property) early this Spring and planted a whole bed of leeks. They’re 2 or 3 feet tall and the deer haven’t touched them.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yep, unfortunately once the deer discover the yummy squash fruits under all of the prickly foliage, they will keep coming back for more. 🙁 There’s no such thing as a deer-proof plant. If they’re hungry enough they will eat anything. Glad to hear they aren’t touching your leeks though, that’s a big win!
Ann Matthews says
The deer ate my beautiful red roses and came back to floss their teeth on the thorns. Next day came back to eat the stems on the rosebush.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Oh no, so sorry to hear it! Yep, as I mentioned in the post, if they are hungry enough, and don’t have better options, deer will eat anything. 🙁
Maryann Rhodes says
At my Florida home the deer ate my 4′ and 5′ cacti. They chewed off a palm, ate half of it, and proceeded to continue until there wasn’t much left standing.
Isabelita says
I live in New Jersey and I love seeing those pesky deers (since there’s a group/family of them roaming around my neighborhood) but they keep feeding in my garden especially at night when everybody is sleeping. They ate my tomatoes, peppers, chayote plant and bit off the top of my zinnia plants.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Ugh, bummer the deer are causing so much damage to your garden. 🙁
ronda corkhill says
motion activated sprinkler scares them and bunnies away.
Jane Rumsey says
The deer in our woods LOVE sunflowers. We lost about 75% of 150 seedlings in our garden. They mowed them off over a couple of nights when they were about 5-7 inches high. It’s a sad sight.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Bummer, that sounds terrible! Yes, deer will eat anything if they are hungry enough, especially small plants before they fully mature. 🙁
Cole Davis says
Deer LOVE tomatoes in Colorado, definitely not deer resistant, more like an attractant!
Amy Andrychowicz says
Interesting. Do the deer eat the fruits or the foliage?
Melissa says
All of it!!! I had over forty tomato plants, different varieties. I went away for a weekend and trusted my husband and son to keep the fence closed around my garden, they didn’t. I came home to 1-2 ft of the main stem. I was so upset!!! There were tons of tomatoes just starting to turn when I left. I was heartbroken!!
Amy Andrychowicz says
Oh no, so sorry to hear that. What a huge bummer!! Darn deer. They will eat anything if they are hungry enough, that’s for sure.
Bill says
Deer love to eat pumpkins and squash… They have eaten hundreds and hundreds of mine planted in a small field. Almost none left after several nights… This is in northern Michigan.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, it’s true that deer do love eating the fruits of pumpkin and squash plants. But the stems are prickly, which is usually a pretty good deterrent. Plus, the large leaves tend to hide the immature fruits, helping to protect them. You can also try growing them vertically, which can also help to hide the fruits from the deer. But yes, once they discover an abundant amount of squash laying out in a field, then they will come back for more!
Dorine says
As a last resort last year we hung irish spring soap in knee high stockings all through the vining pole beans. It stopped the deer over night and we didn’t have anymore trouble. We will try it again this year but will start early before they start eating all the leaves.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Wow, awesome! Good to hear that worked to repel the deer from your garden. I’ve heard that once they get used to the smell, it might not work anymore. Hopefully your deer hate it enough that they’ll stay away for good! 🙂
Carol says
Deer ate all my rhubarb – leaves and stems.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Oh no!! Sorry to hear that. If only there were plants that were deer PROOF! LOL.
Jen says
Lol deer at my rhubarb too. I live in southern Minnesota. Laid out moth balls this spring. So far, so good
Amy Andrychowicz says
Darn those pesky deer! They’ll eat anything if they’re hungry enough! Hope the moth balls help to keep them away.