Deer Resistant Plants
Below is a list of deer resistant plants compiled through research and recommendations by nurseries, landscapers, commercial farmers and co-ops from around the United States and Canada.
When deer are hungry, they will typically eat just about anything with the exception of “daffodil” and “narcissus” Deer tend to dislike plants and vines with sticky or with cotton/fuzzy leaves. Deer will also usually avoid pungent smelling plants with hard sharp thorns.
Keep in mind, deer located in different geographical areas of the country will be attracted to different plant varieties. This is attributed to their ability to adapt to cold weather and food shortages.
Just like any starving creature, if deer are hungry – they will eat anything that isn’t poisonous or protected by a commercial grade deer repellent. Nature’s MACE Deer & Rabbit Repellents are safe for vegetation and create an invisible barrier to guard your plants. Hope the following list is helpful.
PERENNIALS
Achillea (Yarrow)
Agastache (Anise Hyssop or Licorice Mint)
Ajuga (Bugleweed)
Alcea (Hollyhocks)
Allium sp. (Onion)
Alstromeria (Peruvian Lily)
Amelanchier laevis (Allegheny Serviceberry)
Anemone
Antirrhinum majus (Antirrhinum majus)
Aquilegia (Columbine) Artemesia (Wormwood)
Artemisia sp. (Silver Mound)
Arisaema triphylum (Jack-in-the-pulpit)
Armoracia rusticana (Horseradish)
Asarum (Ginger)
Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly Weed)
Asparagus officinalis (Asparagus)
Aster Astilbe (False Spirea)
Astrantia major (Masterwort)
Baptisia (False Indigo)
Berberis sp. (Barberry)
Bergenia (Pigsqueak)
Boltonia asteroides (False Chamomile)
Borage officinalis (Borage)
Buddleia (Butterfly Bush)
Buxus sempervirens (Boxwood)
Cactaceae sp. (cactus)
Calamintha Calendula officinalis (Pot Marigold)
Calluna (Heather)
Campanula carpatica (Bellflower)
Centaurea (Bachelor’s Buttons)
Ceratostigma plumbaginoides (Plumbago)
Chrysanthemum coccineum (Painted Daisy)
Cimicifuga racemosa (Bugbane)
Convallaria (Lily of the Valley)
Coreopsis (Tickseed)
Corydalis Crocosmia Delosperma (Iceplant)
Delphinium (Larkspur)
Dianthus (Cottage Pinks)
Dicentra eximia (Fringed Bleeding Heart)
Digitalis (Foxglove)
Echinacea (Coneflower)
Echinops (Globe Thistle)
Endymion (Bluebell)
Erica (Heath)
Epimedium (Bishop’s Hat)
Eupatorium (Joe-Pye Weed)
Euphorbia marginata (Snow-on-the-Mountain)
Eryngium (Sea Holly)
Filipendula(Queen of the Prairie)
Gaillardia (Blanket Flower)
Gaura Geranium (Cranesbill)
Gypsophila paniculata (Baby’s Breath)
Habenaria radiata (Egret Flower)
Helenium (Helensflower or Sneezeweed)
Helleborus sp. (Lenten Rose)
Heuchera (Lenten or Christmas Rose)
Heucherella Hibiscus Iberis sempervirens (Candytuft)
Iris ensata(Japanese Iris)
Iris louisiana(Louisiana Iris)
Iris sibirica (Siberian)
Iris (Bearded or German)
Kirengeshoma palmata (Waxbells)
Lamium (Deadnettle)
Lavandula (Lavender)
Lespedeza (Bush Clover) Leucanthemum (Daisy)
Liatris spicata (Gayfeather)
Lilium orientale (Oriental Lily)
Lineria (Toad Flax)
Linum perenne (Flax)
Liriope (Monkey Grass, Lily Turf)
Lupinus (Lupine)
Lobelia Lychnis (Rose Campion)
Monarda (Bee Balm) Nepeta (Catmint)
Oenothera (Evening Primrose)
Papaver orientale (Oriental Poppy)
Paeonia (Peony Bush)
Paeonia (Peony Tree)
Phlox divartica (Woodland Phlox, Wild Sweet William)
Phlox paniculata (Garden Phlox, Tall Phlox)
Phlox subulata (Creeping Phlox)
Penstemon (Beards Tongue)
Perovskia (Russian Sage)
Platycodon grandiflorus (Balloon Flower)
Potentilla (Cinquefoil)
Primula (Primrose)
Pulmonaria (Lungwort, Bethlahem Sage)
Rudbeckia (Blackeye Susan)
Salvia (Meadow Sage) Sedum (Stonecrop)
Sempervirens (Hens and Chicks)
Solidago (Goldenrod)
Stachys byzantinus (Lamb’s Ears)
Stokesia laevisStokesia laevis (Stokes Aster)
Teucrium (Wall Germander)
Thymus (Thyme)
Tiarella (Foamflower)
Tradescantia (Spiderwort)
Trycyrtis (Toad Lily)
Verbascum(Mullein)
Veronica latifolia Viola (Violet, Pansy)
Yucca
BULBS
Allium Calla (Calla Lily)
Canna (Canna Lily)
Colchicum Dahlia Fritillaria imperialis (Crown Imperial)
Galanthus (Snowdrop)
Hyacinthus (Hyacinth)
Narcissus (Daffodil, Jonquil)
Scilla (Squill)
SHRUBS & TREES
Abelia
Amelanchier laevis (Allegheny Serviceberry)
Amelanchier (Serviceberry)
Arctostaphyllos (Bearberry)
Aronia abutifolia (Chokeberry)
Azalea Berberis (Barberry)
Betula (Birch)
Buddelia (Butterfly Bush)
Buxus (Boxwood)
Camellia Caryopteris (Blue Mist Shrub)
Cedrus (Deodar Cedar)
Cephalotaxus (Japanese Plum Yew)
Chaenomeles (Quince)
Chamaecyparis pisifera (Threadleaf Cypress)
Clethera (Summersweet)
Cotinus (Smokebush) Cotoneaster
Cornus florida (Flowering Dogwood)
Cornus kousa (Korean Dogwood)
Crataegus (Hawthorne)
Cryptomeria japonica (Japanese cedar)
Cytisus (Broom)
Daphne Elaeagnus (Autumn Olive, Russian Olive)
Fagus sylvatica (European Beech)
Fir (Abies)
Forsythia Gaultheria (Wintergreen)
Hamamelis (Witch Hazel)
Hibiscus syriacus (Rose of Sharon)
Hypericum (St. Johnswort)
Ilex crenata (Japanese Holly)
Ilex glabra (Inkberry)
Ilex opaca (American Holly)
Juniperus chinensis (Juniper)
Kalmia latifolia (Mountain Laurel)
Kerria japonica (Japanese Kerria)
Leucothoe fontanesiana (Drooping Leucothoe)
Liquidambar styraciflua (Sweet Gum)
Lonicera (Honeysuckle)
Magnolia (tree type – Saucer Magnolia)
Magnolia (shrub type)
Mahonia aquifolium (Oregon Grapeholly)
Myrica (Bayberry)
Nyssa sylvatica (Black Gum)
Picea (Spruce Tree)
Picea (Spruce shrub)
Pieris japonica (Japanese Andromeda)
Pinus (Pine Tree)
Pinus muhgo (Pine Shrub)
Potentilla (Cinquefoil)
Psuedotsuga menziesii (Douglas Fir)
Quercus (Oak)
Rhododendron Rosmarinus officianalis (Creeping Rosemary)
Salix (Willow Tree)
Salix (Willow Shrub)
Sarcococca (Sweet Box)
Spirea Symphoricarpos spp. (Snowberry, Coralberry)
Syringa vulgaris (Lilac)
Viburnum (Snowball Bush)
Vitex (Chaste Tree)
Weigela
VINES
Campsis radicans
Celastrus scandens (American Bittersweet)
Clematis (Glory Bower)
Ficus pumila (Creeping Jig)
Gelsemium sempervirens (Jessamine)
Solanum jasminoides (Potato Vine)
Trumpet creeper
Trumpet Vine Wisteria floribunda (Japanese Wisteria)
VINES
Campsis radicans
Celastrus scandens (American Bittersweet)
Clematis (Glory Bower)
Ficus pumila (Creeping Jig)
Gelsemium sempervirens (Jessamine)
Solanum jasminoides (Potato Vine)
Trumpet creeper
Trumpet Vine Wisteria floribunda (Japanese Wisteria)
ORNAMENTAL GRASSES
Calamagrostis (Reed Grass)
Carex (Sedge Grass)
Deschampia (Tufted Hair Grass)
Erianthus ravennae (Pampas Grass)
Festuca (Fescue)
Hakonechloa (Hakone or Japanese Forest Grass)
Miscanthus (Maiden Grass, Eulalia Grass, Silvergrass)
Muhlenbergia capaillarus (Muhly Grass)
Panicum virgatum (Switchgrass)
Pennisetum Phalaris arundinacea (Ribbon Grass)
FERNS
Adiantum pedatum (Maidenhair Fern)
Athyrium niponicum (Japanese Fern)
Blechnum (Deer Fern)
Cyrtomium fortunei (Holly Fern)
Dennstaedtia punctilobula Dryopteris erythosora (Autumn Fern)
Matteuccia struthiopteris (Ostrich Fern)
Onoclea sensibilis (Sensitive Fern)
Osmunda (Royal Fern)
Thelypteris decursive (Beech Fern)
