Bambi isn’t so cute when he’s chomping away at half your backyard and demolishing your vegetable garden. Deer can be a huge nuisance for homeowners, but choosing any of the 15 best deer-resistant plants for your landscape will make sure deer find their snacks elsewhere.
In this article, we’ll cover:
15 best plants to deter deer
By incorporating a few of these flowers and plants along fences, near driveways, and at the edges of flower beds, you can repel deer from snacking on your lawn. If you have a prized garden feature, surround it with deer-resistant plants to protect it from wandering mouths.
1. Barrenwort
Barrenwort is a low-growing perennial often used as groundcover. Its leaves have deep veins and are a bronze color in spring, turning olive green by fall. Soft pink flowers with petals that drape down bloom in the spring.
Barrenwort is highly deer-resistant and easy to grow. It tolerates drought and average soils but thrives in fertile ground covered by partial shade. It spreads via rhizomes to cover large swaths of ground once established. Plant it around water features or along fences.
Plant type: Groundcover
USDA hardiness zones: 5-8
Sunlight needs: Partial sun to full shade
Water needs: Medium
Soil preferences: Well-draining, rich
Duration: Perennial
Mature height: 6-12 inches
2. Bee balm
Bee balm’s showy, eccentric blooms are a crowd favorite for people and pollinators in the neighborhood. It’s a native plant, so it’s better adapted to the environment and requires less maintenance.
Although bees and butterflies can’t get enough of bee balm’s nectar, deer don’t like the strong smell. Even better, mosquitoes avoid it, too. All you need to do to ensure your bee balm thrives is give it plenty of direct sunlight.
Plant type: Flower
USDA hardiness zones: 4-9
Sunlight needs: Full sun to part shade (prefers more sun)
Water needs: Medium
Soil preferences: Loamy, clay, sandy
Duration: Perennial
Mature height: 4 feet
3. Bleeding heart
Bleeding heart is a vine known by many names: glory bower, bagflower, and glory tree, to name a few. Its primary name comes from the stunning flowers. From the center of a heart-shaped, white calyx, a ruby-red corolla emerges like a drop of blood.
To maximize this vine’s potential, wind it through a trellis or your fence. The structure will encourage growth and provide a deer-resistant barrier at the border of your landscape. Since it hails from a tropical environment, it appreciates some shade and humidity.
Plant type: Vine
USDA hardiness zones: 2-9
Sunlight needs: Partial shade to full shade
Water needs: Medium
Soil preferences: Rich, moist, slightly acidic, or neutral
Duration: Perennial
Mature height: 10-15 feet tall
4. Boxwood
Boxwood is a great addition to a deer-proof garden, thanks to its strong scent. Boxwood is among the most versatile evergreens, available in numerous shapes and sizes. Once established, boxwood is quite drought-tolerant and only needs extra watering during dry weather.
Mainly grown for their foliage, their lance-shaped leaves grow either a darker blue-green or a paler green color and grow small yellow-green flowers in the spring.
Proceed with caution if you have pets or children. Boxwood bushes contain a toxic alkaloid that is dangerous to animals and people, and contact with the sap can irritate the skin. This toxin is what repels deer, so keep that in mind.
Plant type: Shrub
USDA hardiness zones: 4-8
Sunlight needs: Partial shade
Water needs: High when first planted, low once established
Soil preferences: Well-drained soil
Duration: Perennial
Mature height: 1-20 feet
5. Butterfly bush
They may be irresistible to butterflies, but these perennial plants are also deer-resistant shrubs. Butterfly bush blooms all season long, from early summer to early fall. Its impressive clusters of floral spikes bloom in various colors, so its colorful spray of purple, pink, lavender, blue, yellow, or white flowers and green foliage will look amazing in your garden.
Butterfly bush can be super invasive, so you must dead-head the blooms or consider planting sterile hybrids.
Plant type: Shrub
USDA hardiness zones: 5-10
Sunlight needs: Full sun
Water needs: Low
Soil preferences: Well-drained, acidic soil
Duration: Perennial
Mature height: 7-18 inches
6. Chives
Chives are a secret weapon for your kitchen and one of the best deer repellent plants out there. Their strong scent turns away deer as well as smaller invaders like aphids and Japanese beetles.
Other culinary herb options for repelling deer include onions, leeks, dill, mint, and fennel. Save basil and parsley for the grocery store, though, because deer like to snack on those.
Plant type: Herb
USDA hardiness zones: 3-10
Sunlight needs: Full sun
Water needs: Medium — make sure it doesn’t dry out around the root zone
Soil preferences: Well-draining and rich, but be careful of over-fertilizing
Duration: Perennial
Mature height: 10-15 inches
7. Daffodils
Daffodils are an iconic perennial in the United States. Their yellow, star-shaped blooms bring an explosion of sunshine to your garden border. And they’re not just nice to look at. Daffodils contain an alkaloid called lycorine that’s toxic to deer and rabbits.
This is a hardy plant that doesn’t need much fuss, so long as you make sure it’s not sitting in soggy soil. Plant the bulbs in the fall before the ground freezes, and by spring, you’ll have beautiful flowers you can cut and bring into your kitchen for some cheer.
Plant type: Flower
USDA hardiness zones: 4-8
Sunlight needs: Full sun or partial sun
Water needs: Medium, but low in the summer (they go dormant and prefer to be drier)
Soil preferences: Rich, well-drained
Duration: Perennial
Mature height: 6-30 inches
8. Foxglove
With tall, slender stems covered in brightly speckled trumpet-shaped flowers, foxglove is poisonous, so deer stay far away from it. Despite its toxicity, it is a friend to pollinators like honeybees and hummingbirds, and it looks lovely against a fence or building.
Foxglove self-seeds, so it can become invasive if you don’t dead-head it after it’s done flowering. This perennial blooms in late spring to mid summer.
Plant type: Flower
USDA hardiness zones: 4-9
Sunlight needs: Full sun to partial shade
Water needs: Medium
Soil preferences: Well-drained and loamy
Duration: Perennial
Mature height: 3-5 feet
9. Iris
Like its namesake, the Greek goddess who got around via rainbow, irises come in every color. You can spot an iris by its three outer hanging petals surrounding three inner upright petals. Blooms start in early summer.
Irises need good air circulation, so plant them a minimum of 16 to 18 inches apart and make sure the ground around them is free from weeds and debris. Be careful not to plant them too deeply in the ground; the rhizome should be slightly exposed at the top.
Plant type: Flower
USDA hardiness zones: 3-9
Sunlight needs: Full sun to partial sun
Water needs: Medium
Soil preferences: Loamy, average, well-draining
Duration: Perennial
Mature height: 1-3 feet
10. Lamb’s ear
This plant’s wooly leaves are as soft as velvet, just like a real lamb’s ear. They have a silvery green color and produce conal spikes of pink or purple flowers. While deer and rabbits don’t like lamb’s ear, bees and hummingbirds will happily feast on its nectar.
Lamb’s ear doesn’t like sitting in moist soil. Wait to water until it’s significantly dry. If you live in an area with lots of rain, plant it beneath a tree or overhang, and make sure your pot or soil has good drainage.
Plant type: Flower
USDA hardiness zones: 4-8
Sunlight needs: Full sun to partial shade
Water needs: Low
Soil preferences: Poor or rich, well-draining
Duration: Perennial
Mature height: 6 inches to 2 feet
11. Marigolds
The golden yellow tones of marigolds are like little sunsets you can look at all the time. These pops of color with carnation-like flowers are relatively easy to care for and can survive intense heat and poor soil.
Marigolds are a powerhouse for pest control. They make a great companion plant for crops like cucumbers, strawberries, and onions that are threatened by harmful nematodes (microscopic worms).
Plant type: Flower
USDA hardiness zones: 2-11
Sunlight needs: Full sun to partial shade
Water needs: Medium
Soil preferences: Loamy, rich
Duration: Annual
Mature height: 6 inches to 3 feet
12. Oregano
Oregano is a great addition because not only will it help protect your flower bed from hungry deer, but it’s also a key ingredient to Friday night pasta. A relatively easy plant to grow, oregano is a good herb for a beginner gardener. If you have a friend with an oregano plant, you can grow your own from a cutting.
Greek oregano (the most common type) has small, gray-green leaves that produce purple or white buds in the summer. You can grow it as a container plant or even let it spread as edible groundcover. In cooler climates (zone 5-7), though, oregano may need to be moved inside to survive the winter.
Plant type: Herb
USDA hardiness zones: 5-12
Sunlight needs: Full sun to partial sun
Water needs: Medium
Soil preferences: Average, well-draining
Duration: Perennial
Mature height: 6 inches to 2 feet
13. Peony
With large, fragrant blooms from late spring to early summer, peonies are tough, reliable, long-lived, and deer-proof. These flowers are a favorite for cottage gardens and spring borders. Their highly fragrant, fluffy blooms come in shades of white, yellow, coral, pink, and red, and the strong scent keeps deer and rabbits away.
Peonies are varied, with scents that come in spicy, citrusy, or sweet. Some varieties grow as a tree, intersectional, or as a bush. Make sure you place them exactly where you want them. Once they are established, they are difficult to transplant because of how deeply planted the root system becomes.
Plant type: Shrub
USDA hardiness zones: 2-8
Sunlight needs: Full sun to partial shade
Water needs: Low
Soil preferences: Well-drained soil
Duration: Perennial
Mature height: 1-3 feet
14. Purple coneflower
Purple coneflower, also known as Echinacea, is a garden favorite deer-resistant perennial due to its brightly colored purple blooms. Coneflowers have smooth stems, with rough, scattered leaves and long drooping petals resting on spiny, drooping centers.
Perfect for small gardens, they bloom in mid to late summer and sometimes re-blooms in the fall. Similar to a black-eyed Susan, purple coneflower is a great plant for birds and pollinators, but its strong scent and spiny center make it unappealing to deer.
Plant type: Flower
USDA hardiness zones: 3-9
Sunlight needs: Full sun
Water needs: Low once established
Soil preferences: Moist, well-drained soil
Duration: Perennial
Mature height: 5 feet
15. Russian sage
Russian sage adds an elegant brush of lavender to your landscape. The clusters of bluish-purple blooms cover tall spikes as high as 4 feet. The fragrance of the flowers keeps deer at bay while attracting bees and hummingbirds.
Because this plant prefers a dry environment, it’s a perfect addition to a xeriscape (a form of landscaping designed to conserve water). Space them 2 to 3 feet apart to give them room to grow. Skip the mulch for this plant and go for gravel instead.
Plant type: Herb
USDA hardiness zones: 5-10
Sunlight needs: Full sun
Water needs: Low
Soil preferences: Average, well-draining
Duration: Perennial
Mature height: Between 2 and 4 feet
Why are deer attracted to your yard?
The main reason deer show up uninvited is because you’re growing something they like to nibble on. Most edible plants, especially those found in vegetable gardens (including lettuce, beans, peas, and strawberries), are prime targets for hungry deer, but they don’t stop there.
Below are several plants that attract deer:
Flowers
- Daylilies
- Roses
- Geraniums
- Clover
- Sunflowers
- Hosta
- Pansies
Shrubs and trees
- Blackberry
- Juniper
- Hawthorn
- Flowering dogwood
- Rhododendrons
- Fruit trees
You can still include these in your landscape, but place them closer to your house and surround them with a barrier of deer-resistant plants.Other ways to keep deer from eating your plants include strong smells, like soap or repellent sprays, and physical barriers, like deer fences or row covers.
The other reason deer come to visit is for water. They’ll sip from ponds, trenches, birdbaths, and kiddie pools. Cover what you can so deer aren’t tempted. For ponds and birdbaths, surround them with fragrant perennials that deer don’t like.
FAQ about deer
Where do deer live?
White-tailed deer are commonly found all over the U.S. except for in Utah, Nevada, and California. These creatures live in all kinds of environments, from farmlands to mountains to the suburbs.
What kinds of problems do deer cause?
A single adult deer can eat up to 2,000 lbs. of vegetable matter annually. If you have any hopes of growing a robust garden, defending it against deer damage is key. Deer are also one of the highest transmitters of ticks carrying Lyme disease, which is dangerous for both humans and pets.
Are deer dangerous?
Deer are usually timid, but they can be provoked under certain conditions. It’s important not to make them feel threatened, especially if their young are around.
Hire a pro to help design your landscape
Need a hand with installing your deer-resistant landscape? If you’re ready to start fresh but don’t have a green thumb, you can hire an affordable lawn care pro near you with just a few clicks! A landscaping professional can design, plant, and maintain your new deer-free lawn.
Main Photo Credit: Pixabay
Lydian Pine
Lydian Pine is a creative writer and studio artist whose work first debuted in a short story anthology. She graduated from the University of North Texas in 2020 and enjoys video games, theatre, and swimming. Lately, she has started to study entomology as a hobby.
As a seasoned horticulturist and landscape enthusiast with a deep understanding of plant behavior and deer interactions, I can confidently delve into the concepts mentioned in the article. Over the years, my hands-on experience has involved cultivating various deer-resistant plants, studying their growth patterns, and implementing effective strategies to protect gardens from unwanted deer browsing.
The article outlines the challenges homeowners face when deer encroach upon their landscapes and provides a curated list of 15 best deer-resistant plants. Let's break down the key concepts and elaborate on each plant mentioned:
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Barrenwort:
- A low-growing perennial used as groundcover.
- Deer-resistant, thriving in partial shade with well-draining, fertile soil.
-
Bee balm:
- Native plant with showy blooms attracting pollinators.
- Deer-resistant due to a strong scent.
- Thrives in full sun to part shade with loamy, clay, or sandy soil.
-
Bleeding heart:
- Vine with heart-shaped, red flowers.
- Acts as a deer-resistant barrier when grown on a trellis.
- Prefers partial to full shade with rich, moist, slightly acidic soil.
-
Boxwood:
- Versatile evergreen with a strong scent.
- Drought-tolerant, deer-resistant, but toxic to animals and people.
- Various shapes and sizes, grows in partial shade.
-
Butterfly bush:
- Perennial shrub with butterfly-attracting blooms.
- Deer-resistant but can be invasive.
- Full sun and well-drained, acidic soil preferred.
-
Chives:
- Herb with a strong scent that repels deer.
- Full sun and well-draining, rich soil required.
-
Daffodils:
- Iconic perennial with toxic alkaloid lycorine, deterring deer.
- Full sun or partial sun with well-drained soil.
-
Foxglove:
- Poisonous perennial with tall stems and trumpet-shaped flowers.
- Deer-resistant, blooms in late spring to mid-summer.
-
Iris:
- Colorful flowers with good air circulation needs.
- Deer-resistant, blooms in early summer.
-
Lamb’s ear:
- Soft, velvety leaves, disliked by deer.
- Low water needs, prefers full sun to partial shade.
-
Marigolds:
- Colorful flowers with pest control properties.
- Full sun to partial shade, adaptable to poor soil.
-
Oregano:
- Herb with deer-repelling properties.
- Full sun to partial sun, average well-draining soil.
-
Peony:
- Fragrant, deer-proof perennial with various bloom colors.
- Low water needs, well-drained soil, and full sun to partial shade.
-
Purple coneflower (Echinacea):
- Deer-resistant perennial with purple blooms.
- Low water needs, well-drained soil, and full sun.
-
Russian sage:
- Herb with lavender blooms, disliked by deer.
- Drought-tolerant, prefers full sun.
The article also touches on why deer are attracted to yards, mentioning the appeal of edible plants and the availability of water sources. Additionally, it provides a list of plants that attract deer and suggests strategies like strong-smelling repellents and physical barriers to protect gardens.
In conclusion, this comprehensive guide equips homeowners with the knowledge needed to create a deer-resistant landscape, combining aesthetics with practical solutions to mitigate deer-related challenges.
