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Deer-Resistant Annuals

These 36 annuals are the ones deer tend to leave alone — rated A (rarely damaged) or B (seldom damaged) in Rutgers University’s deer-resistance research. Sorted most-resistant first.

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Ratings come from Rutgers University’s landscape deer-resistance research. A = rarely damaged, B = seldom severely damaged. We list only A and B here — the plants deer tend to leave alone. No plant is 100% deer-proof when browse pressure is high.

PlantBotanical nameDeer ratingZones
AgeratumAgeratum houstonianumA · Rarely damaged2–11
Angel's TrumpetBrugmansia sp. (Datura)A · Rarely damaged9–11
AnisePimpinalla anisumA · Rarely damaged2–11
Annual VincaCatharanthus roseaA · Rarely damaged2–11
Dusty MillerCentaurea cinerariaA · Rarely damaged2–11
False CamomileMatricaria sp.A · Rarely damaged2–11
Flowering TobaccoNicotiana sp.A · Rarely damaged2–11
Forget-Me-NotMyosotis sylvaticaA · Rarely damaged3–8
HeliotropeHeliotropium arborescensA · Rarely damaged9–11
LarkspurConsolida ambiguaA · Rarely damaged2–11
PoppyPapaver sp.A · Rarely damaged2–11
Pot MarigoldCalendula sp.A · Rarely damaged2–11
RosemaryRosmarinus officinalisA · Rarely damaged7–10
SnapdragonAntirrhinum majusA · Rarely damaged2–11
Snow-on-the-MountainEuphorbia marginataA · Rarely damaged2–11
Spider FlowerCleome sp.A · Rarely damaged2–11
StrawflowerHelichrysumA · Rarely damaged2–11
Sweet AlyssumLobularia maritimaA · Rarely damaged2–11
Bachelor's ButtonsCentaurea cyanusB · Seldom damaged2–11
BasilOcimum basilicumB · Seldom damaged2–11
BorageBorage officinalisB · Seldom damaged2–11
California PoppyEschscholzia californicaB · Seldom damaged2–11
CandytuftIberis umbellataB · Seldom damaged2–11
Cock's CombCelosia sp.B · Seldom damaged2–11
DillAnethumus graveolensB · Seldom damaged2–11
French MarigoldTagetes patulaB · Seldom damaged2–11
LantanaLantana sp.B · Seldom damaged8–11
LobeliaLobelia sp.B · Seldom damaged2–11
NasturtiumTropaeolum majusB · Seldom damaged2–11
ParsleyPetroselinum crispumB · Seldom damaged2–11
SalviaSalviaB · Seldom damaged2–11
ShisoPerilla frutescensB · Seldom damaged2–11
StocksMatthiola sp.B · Seldom damaged2–11
VerbenaVerbena x hybridaB · Seldom damaged2–11
WallflowerCheiranthus sp.B · Seldom damaged3–8
ZinniaZinnia sp.B · Seldom damaged2–11
Protect what you plant

Even deer-resistant plants get browsed when deer are hungry. The proven backups:

Deer repellent sprayDeer nettingMotion sprinkler

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