Deer Resistant Plants
Below is a list of perennials that are considered 'Deer Resistant' Please note the following:
Deer Resistant does NOT mean Deer Proof. Deer will eat almost anything especially if they are very hungry.
1. Plants with an * repel deer. These plants generally have a strong fragrance deer find unpleasant.
2. A very broad general rule is that deer do not care for plants that have an unpleasant texture on their tongues.
3. Some plants that deer absolutely adore – Hosta, Daylilies, Tall Sedum, and Tulips
ALL PLANTS LISTED IN BOLD ARE AVAILABLE AT SWALLOWTAIL GARDENS FOR THE 2023 SEASON
PERENNIALS
Achillea (Yarrow)*
Aconitum
Agastache
Ajuga (Bugleweed)
Alcea (Hollyhock)
Alchemilla (Lady’s Mantle)
Allium*
Amsonia
Anemone
Angelica
Aquilegia (Columbine)
Armeria
Artemisia
Aruncus (Goat’s Beard)
Asarum (Canadian or European Ginger)
Asclepias (Milkweeds)
Aster
Astilbe
Aurinia
Baptisia
Bergenia
Boltonia
Brunnera
Campanula
Centaurea
Cerastium
Cimicifuga (Actaea, Bugbane, Black Cohash)
Chelone (Turtlehead)???
(Chelone is always listed as deer resistant but it was munched by both deer and a very fat woodchuck in a garden at my previous house)
Clematis
Convallaria (Lily-of-the-Valley)
Coreopsis
Corydalis
Delphinium
Dianthus
Dicentra
Dictamnus (Gas Plant)
Digitalis (Foxglove)
Echinops (Globe Thistle)
Epimedium
Eryngium (Sea Holly)
Eupatorium (Joe Pye Weed)
Euphorbia
Ferns
Filipendula
Galium (Sweet Woodruff)
Geranium
Geum
Gypsophila
Helenium
Helleborus
Heuchera
Iberis
Lamium
Lamiastrum
Lavender*
Leucanthemum (Shasta Daisies)
Liatris
Limonium (Sea Lavender)
Lobelia
Lupine
Mertensia (Virginia Bluebells)
Monarda
Myosotia (For-get-me-nots)
Nepeta (Catmint)*
Oenothera
Poppies
Penstemon
Perovskia (Russian Sage)
Platycodon
Polemonium
Polygonatum (Solomon’s Seal)
Primula (Primrose)
Pulmonaria
Rodgersia
Rudbeckia (Brown-eyed Susan)
Salvias*
Scabiosa
Sempervivum (Hen’s & Chicks)
Stachys
Thyme*
Tiarella
Tricyrtis
Trillium
Veronica
Vinca
ANNUALS
Angelonia
Euphorbia
Lantana
Petunias
Salvia
Torenia
Verbena