Deer Resistant Plants by Growth Habit

By:  Common Name | Scientific Name | Growth Habit

While there are many products on the market designed to keep deer away from your plants, the best line of defense is to plant deer-resistant plants to start with.  There are many types of flowers, trees, shrubs, and grasses that deer find unappetizing.  Planting things that don't usually attract deer can be less frustrating and worrying, because the deer will naturally tend to avoid your yard.

Try planting some deer-resistant annuals such as anise, begonia, geranium, or heliotrope.  Annuals should be planted after the ground thaws, and will live only one season.  Annuals will not bloom again in upcoming seasons, so if you want to enjoy these plants again, you will have to replant them.

Bulbs and perennials are plants that are planted once but bloom in subsequent years.  Be sure to plant bulbs and perennials that work with your climate, and you'll enjoy them for years to come.  Deer-resistant bulbs and perennials include crocus, daffodil, hyacinth, dahlia, and gerbera daisy.  If you are looking to plant perennial herbs that you want your family to enjoy and not the deer, try mint, oregano, and rosemary as well as sage, tarragon, and thyme.

Shrubs and trees are also important to your landscape, but some are more appetizing to deer than others.  Planted and cared for correctly, shrubs and trees should last a long time.  Shrubs that deer stay away from include boxwood, barberry, and elderberry, as well as certain types of rhododendron.  Deer-resistant trees include pine, cypress, spruce, and fir as well as maple and yellow birch.

Table of deer resistant plants, organized by growth habit.

Deer Resistant Plants - Growth Habits