DEER-RESISTANT PLANTS
(well, generally…)
Well, unfortunately there’s no such thing as a deer-proof plant. Even “deer-resistant” can be too strong of a word–we have encountered deer grazing on prickly rose bushes?! As developments encroach on wildlife habitat, deer find people’s landscapes to be fair game (pun intended). But below is a list of plants that we have personally noticed deer leave alone under normal circumstances.
Trees
- Larch
- Hawthorns, thorny varieties such as Winter King
- Ginkgo
- Birch
- Ash
Evergreens
- Canaan Fir
- Serbian Spruce
- Red Pine
- Black Hills Spruce
- Hemlock
- Junipers
Shrubs
- Barberry
- Spirea
- Potentilla
- Forsythia
- Bayberry
- Holly (Ilex)
- Gro-Low Sumac
- Rugosa Roses
Perennials
- Achillea (Yarrow)
- Solidago
- Nepeta (Catmint)
- Cinnamon Fern
- Monarda
- Russian Sage
- Chelone (Turtlehead)
- Physostegia (Obedient Plant)
- Aconitum (Monkshood)
- Bergenia
- Echinacea (Coneflowers)
- Hardy Geraniums (Cranesbill)
- Ornamental Grasses, most varieties
- Poppies
- Stachys-both Lamb’s Ears and Hummelo Betony
- Veronica
- Lamium
Bulbs
(other varmints, such as moles, leave these alone too)
- Daffodils
- Crocus
- Alliums
