Deer Resistant Plant List

Ratings:
* Deer Resistant
** Most of the time
*** Worth a try

This is a guideline for plants that deer do not like, or leave alone most of the time. The starred ratings are a guide to Show how palatable the plant foliage is to the deer. Be aware however, that:

1: Deer in one area may eat what deer in another area do not.
2: “Deer Resistant” plants may have a flower that deer love to eat
3: Deer will taste test almost any plant a few times
4: Seedling plants may need extra protection until they are established
5: If there is an extreme shortage of food deer WILL eat “Deer Resistant” Plants and will not be deterred by repellents
6.Deer will often eat “Deer Resistant” plants in yards due to higher water content than the forest

TREES

*** Apple – malus

*** Arborvitae – thuja occidentalis

*** Ash – Fraxinus Species

*** Ash, European Mountain – sorbus aucuparis

* Birch Betulia

* Cedar – Cedrus Species

*** Cherry, Flowering – prunus

* Crape Myrtle – Lagerstroemia inidica

** Cypress – Cupressus species

** Dogwood Kousa – cornus kousa

** Elder, Box – Acer negundo

* Eucalyptus Species

* Fig, edible, tc.., Ficus Species

* Fir – Abies species

* Fir Douglas – Pseudotsuga menziesii

** Hawthorn – Crataegus species

* Holly – Liex species

** Horsechestnut – aesculus x carnea

* Katsura Tree – ceridiphllumjaponicum

* Laurels

** Leylandii – Cypress

*** Linden

* Locust

* Magnolia – Magnolia species

* Maidenhair Tree – Ginko biloba

** Maple Trees

** Maple, Japanese – Acer palmatum

* Mimosa (Silk Tree) – albizia julibrissin

*** Mulberry, Fruitless – Morus alba

* Oak – Quercus species

* Palm

* Pomegranate – Punica granatum

* Quince, Fruiting

* Redbud

* Spruce – Picea species

* Walnut species

* Pine – Pinus species

*** Plum, Flowering – Prunus cerasifera

*** Sequoia species

*** Smoke Tree – Cotinus coggyria

*** Strawberry Tree – Arbutus unedo

*** Sweet Gum – Liquidambar styraciflua

*** Sumac – Rhus typina

*** Willow – salix

*** Pear – calleryana

Shrubs

** Abelia species

* Aralia – Fastia japonica

* Bamboo species

** Bamboo, Heavenly – Nandina domestica

* Barberry – erberis species

* Bear’s Breach – Acanthus mollis

* Boxwood – Buxus species

* Broom – genista

* Butterfly Bush – Buddleia

* Cactus

* Ceanothus 

** Crape Myrtle – Lagerstroemia inidica

* Daphne species

*** Escallonia

* Ferns

*** Firethorn – Pyracantha

*** Forsythia

* Germander – Teucrium species

* Grass, Pampas – Crotaderia selloana

*** Heather – Erica

* Hebe, Boxleaf – Hebe buxifolia

** Huckleberry, evergreen – Vaccinium ovatum

* Hypericum

* Ilex species

* Iris species

* Juniperus species

* Lavender – Lavandula species

* Lilac, common- Syringa species

*** Lily of the Nile – Agapanthus species

* Mahonia species

* Mock Orange, Mexican – Choisya ternata

* Mock Orange, Sweet – Philadelphus cor

* Oleander – Nerium oleander

*** Pieris species

*** Quercus

* Quince, Flowering – Chaenomeles

* Red-Hot Poker – Kniphofia uvaria

* Rhododendron (Not Azaeleas)

*** Rhus species – sumac

*** Rockrose – Cistus species

* Rosemary – Rosmarinus officinalis

* Sun Rose – Helianthemum nummularium

* Thuja species

*** Viburnum species

bulbs

***Begonia, tuberous

*Calla Lily – Zantedeschia

* Canna

*Iris

ground covers

* African Daisy, Trailing – Osteospermum

* Bugle, Carpet – Ajuga reptans

* Chamomile – Anthernis nobilis

* Cinquefoil, Spring – Potentilla verna

* Fescue, Blue – Festuca ovina “Glauca”

** Gazania species

* Green Carpet – Hemaria glabra

* Ice Plant – Mesembryanthemum

* Isotoma – Laurentia fluviatalis

* Lithodora diffusa

* Mint

* Moss, Irish & Scotch – Sagina

* Thyme – Thymus species

* Veronica repens

* Vinca species

*** Viola odorata

vines

* Black-Eyed Susan Vine – Thunbergia al.

*Clematis

* Jasminum species

* Silver Lace Vine – Polygonum aubertii

* Wisteria species

perennials

*** Artichoke

* Aster species – not annual

* Basket of Gold – Ayssum saxatile

* Beard Tongue – Penstermon

* Bee Balm – monarda species

* Bleeding Heart – Dicentra species

* Calla Lily – Zantedeschia

** Campanula

* Cardinal Flower – Lobelia cardinalis

* Christmas Rose – Helleborus

* Columbine – Aquilegia

* Coral Bells – Heuchera sanguinea

** Coreopsis species

* Daisy, Marguerite – Chrysanthemum

** Daisy, Transvaal – Gerbera jamesonii

* Daisy, Gloriosa – Rudbeckia species

*** Daylily – Hermerocallis

** Delphinium species

* Dusty Miller – Centaurea cineraria

* Foxglove – Digitalis species

** Gaillardia

* Grass, Iris – Sisyrinchium species

* Herbs – Many Varieties

* Hollyhock, – Althea rosea

* Iris species

* Lamb’s Ears – Stachys olympica

* Lantana, Trailing – Lantana montevedensis

* Linriope muscari

* Lupinus species

* Meadow Sweet – Astilbe

* Mint – Nepeta species

* Monkey Flower – Mimulus species

* Nasturtium – tropaeolum

* Oxalis species

* Phlox, Moss – Phlox subulata

* Pincushion Flower – Scabiosa sp

* Poppy, Oriental – Papaver orental

* Salvia species

** Sedum and Succlents

* Stoke’s Aster – Stokesia laevis

* Strawflower – Helichrysum species

* Sweet Woodruff – Galium odoratum

* Thrift – Aremeria maritima

** Verbena, Peruvian

* Violet, Sweet – Viola odorata

* Wallflower – Cheiranthus cheiri

* Wormwood – Artemisia

* Yarrow – Achillea species

annuals

Alyssum

Celosia

CosmosPortulaca

Impatients

Lobelia

Lupine

Portulaca

Salvia species

Zinnia

controlling deer

Following are some hints for controlling deer. Their usefulness is limited, but may work for small areas and are best used BEFORE damage occurs, so deer don’t get accustomed to eating there:

1: Fencing – At least 6 Feet high solid wood or 8 Foot wire
2: Dacron® netting strung over plants – re-arranged every day to cover new growth
3: A radio left on at night
4: Soaps, such as Irish Spring® placed on top of stakes scattered in the area you want to protect
5: Sacks filled with human hair or blood meal attached to the plants
6: Big Game Repellent – re-apply after a heavy rain and every few months to protect new growth