15 Deer-Resistant Plants

Do your deer leap your fences and laugh at sprayed repellent? Try planting something they don't like.

Photo/Illustration: Jennifer Brown

John Van Etten, former grounds superintendent at the Mohonk Mountain House in upstate New York, recommends 15 plants that deer won't eat; your experience, of course, may differ. For a list of deer-resistant plants in your area, contact your local extension agent.

To learn more about the plants shown below, click on the images to see their Plant Guide Profiles.

For even more options, visit Fine Gardening's Plant Guide, which currently lists 195 deer-tolerant plants. From that list, you can narrow your selections by zone, color, and several other characteristics.

Perennials and annuals

1. Angelonias (Angelonia angustifolia cvs.), annual 1. Angelonias (Angelonia angustifolia cvs.), annual Photo/Illustration: Jennifer Benner
2. Basket of gold (Aurinia saxatilis), Zones 4-8 (Plant Guide profile is unavailable.)
Photo by gardentrek 2. Basket of gold (Aurinia saxatilis), Zones 4-8 (Plant Guide profile is unavailable.)
Photo by gardentrek
3. Bleeding hearts (Dicentra spectabilis), Z3-9 3. Bleeding hearts (Dicentra spectabilis), Z3-9 Photo/Illustration: Jennifer Benner
4. Globe amaranth (Gomphrena globosa), annual 4. Globe amaranth (Gomphrena globosa), annual Photo/Illustration: Michelle Gervais
5. Lamb's ear (Stachys byzantina), Z4-8 5. Lamb's ear (Stachys byzantina), Z4-8 Photo/Illustration: Michelle Gervais
6. Lantanas (Lantana spp. and cvs.), annual 6. Lantanas (Lantana spp. and cvs.), annual Photo/Illustration: Melissa Lucas
7. Lily-of-the-valley (Convallaria majalis), Z2-7 7. Lily-of-the-valley (Convallaria majalis), Z2-7 Photo/Illustration: Michelle Gervais
8. Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia), Z6-9 8. Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia), Z6-9 Photo/Illustration: Michelle Gervais
9. Snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus cvs.) annual 9. Snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus cvs.) annual Photo/Illustration: Melissa Lucas
10. Spider flowers (Cleome hassleriana cvs.) annual (Plant Guide profile is unavailable.)
Photo by Carl E. Lewis  10. Spider flowers (Cleome hassleriana cvs.) annual (Plant Guide profile is unavailable.)
Photo by Carl E. Lewis 

Trees and shrubs

11. Beautybush (Kolkwitzia amabilis), Z5-9 11. Beautybush (Kolkwitzia amabilis), Z5-9 Photo/Illustration: Steve Aitken
12. Chaste trees (Vitex spp. and cvs.), Z6-9 12. Chaste trees (Vitex spp. and cvs.), Z6-9 Photo/Illustration: Bill Johnson
13. Daphnes (Daphne X burkwoodii cvs), Z5-8 13. Daphnes (Daphne X burkwoodii cvs), Z5-8 Photo/Illustration: Stephanie Fagan
14. Shadbushes (Amelanchier spp. and cvs.), Z4-9 14. Shadbushes (Amelanchier spp. and cvs.), Z4-9 Photo/Illustration: Jennifer Benner
15. Spireas (Spiraea spp. and cvs.), Z4-9 15. Spireas (Spiraea spp. and cvs.), Z4-9 Photo/Illustration: courtesy of Bailey Nurseries
John Van Etten's article "Getting to Know the Enemy" appears in Fine Gardening #88.
From Fine Gardening 88, pp. 44