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The Most Deer-Resistant Plants

The gold standard: 168 plants rated A — “rarely damaged” — in Rutgers University’s deer-resistance research. If deer are a constant problem, start your garden here.

Search all 527 plants by zone →10 ways to keep deer out →

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
Common FoxgloveDigitalis purpureaA · Rarely damaged4–8
Autumn CrocusColchicum sp.A · Rarely damaged4–9
BluebellEndymion sp.A · Rarely damaged4–9
Crown Imperial, FritiliaFritilaria imperialisA · Rarely damaged5–8
DaffodilNarcissus sp.A · Rarely damaged3–9
Ornamental OnionAllium sp.A · Rarely damaged3–9
Siberian SquillScilla sibericaA · Rarely damaged2–8
SnowdropsGalanthus nivalisA · Rarely damaged3–7
Winter AconiteEranthus hyemalisA · Rarely damaged3–7
Christmas FernPolystichum arcostichoidesA · Rarely damaged3–9
Cinnamon FernOsmunda cinnamomeaA · Rarely damaged3–9
Hayscented FernDennstaedtia punctilobulaA · Rarely damaged3–8
Holly FernCyrtomium falcatumA · Rarely damaged6–11
Japanese Painted FernAthyrium goeringianum (nipponicum)A · Rarely damaged4–9
New York FernThelyptens noveboracensisA · Rarely damaged4–8
Ostrich FernMatteuccia struthiopterisA · Rarely damaged3–7
Royal FernOsmunda regalisA · Rarely damaged3–9
Sensitive FernOnoclea sensibilisA · Rarely damaged4–9
Wood FernDryopteris marginalisA · Rarely damaged3–8
Allegheny SpurgePachysandra procumbensA · Rarely damaged5–9
BarrenwortEpimedium sp.A · Rarely damaged4–8
BearberryArctostaphylos uva-ursiA · Rarely damaged2–6
Bishop's WeedAegopodium podagariaA · Rarely damaged3–9
BugleweedAjuga reptansA · Rarely damaged3–10
Lily of the ValleyConvallaria majalisA · Rarely damaged2–7
PachysandraPachysandra terminalisA · Rarely damaged4–8
Spotted DeadnettleLamium sp.A · Rarely damaged3–8
Sweet WoodruffGalium odoratum (Asperula odorata)A · Rarely damaged4–8
Big BluestemAndropogon sp.A · Rarely damaged3–9
Blue FescueFestuca glaucaA · Rarely damaged4–8
Blue Oat GrassHelictotrichon sempervirensA · Rarely damaged4–8
Clump BambooFargesia sp.A · Rarely damaged5–9
Feather Reed GrassCalamagrostis sp.A · Rarely damaged4–9
Fountain GrassPennisetum alopecuroidesA · Rarely damaged5–9
Giant Japanese Silver GrassMiscanthus floridulisA · Rarely damaged4–9
Giant ReedArundo donaxA · Rarely damaged6–10
Golden BambooPhyllostachys aureaA · Rarely damaged6–10
HakonechloaHakonechloa macraA · Rarely damaged5–9
Hard RushJuncus effususA · Rarely damaged4–9
Indian GrassSorghastrum nutansA · Rarely damaged4–9
Japanese Blood GrassImperata cylindricaA · Rarely damaged5–9
Japanese SedgeCarex sp.A · Rarely damaged5–9
Japanese Silver GrassMiscanthus sinensisA · Rarely damaged4–9
Japanese Sweet FlagAcorus sp.A · Rarely damaged5–9
Large Blue June GrassKoeleria glaucaA · Rarely damaged4–9
Little BluestemSchizachyrium scopariumA · Rarely damaged3–9
Lyme GrassLeymus arenarius glaucousA · Rarely damaged4–9
Northern Sea OatsChasmanthium latifoliumA · Rarely damaged3–8
Oriental Fountain GrassPennisetum orientaleA · Rarely damaged5–9
Pampus GrassCortaderia selloanaA · Rarely damaged7–11
Purple Moor GrassMolinia caeruleaA · Rarely damaged4–9
Ravenna GrassErianthus ravennaeA · Rarely damaged6–9
Switch GrassPanicum virgatumA · Rarely damaged4–9
Variegated Purple Moor GrassMolinia caerulea 'Variegata'A · Rarely damaged4–9
Varigated Oat GrassArrhenatherum elatiusA · Rarely damaged4–9
Weeping Love GrassEragrostus curvulaA · Rarely damaged5–9
Anise HyssopAgastache sp.A · Rarely damaged4–10
Basket of GoldAurinia saxatilisA · Rarely damaged3–7
Bigleaf GoldenrayLigularia dentataA · Rarely damaged4–8
Bleeding HeartDicentra spectabilisA · Rarely damaged3–9
Butter & EggsLinaria vulgarisA · Rarely damaged3–9
ButtercupRanunculus sp.A · Rarely damaged4–8
CactusCactaceae sp.A · Rarely damaged4–11
CatmintNepeta sp.A · Rarely damaged3–8
Common TansyTanacetum vulgareA · Rarely damaged3–9
CorydalisCorydalis sp.A · Rarely damaged5–8
Dame's RocketHesperis matronalisA · Rarely damaged3–8
European GingerAsarum europaeumA · Rarely damaged4–8
False IndigoBaptisia australisA · Rarely damaged3–9
Forget-Me-NotMyosotis sp.A · Rarely damaged3–8
Fringed Bleeding HeartDicentra eximiaA · Rarely damaged3–9
Garden SageSalvia officinalisA · Rarely damaged4–8
GermanderTeucrium chamaedrysA · Rarely damaged5–9
Greek Jerusalem SagePhlomis sp.A · Rarely damaged5–9
HorehoundMarrubium vulgareA · Rarely damaged3–9
HorseradishArmoracia rusticanaA · Rarely damaged3–9
HyssopHyssopus officinalisA · Rarely damaged3–9
IrisIris sp.A · Rarely damaged3–9
Jack-in-the-pulpitArisaema triphylumA · Rarely damaged4–9
Lamb's EarStachys byzantinaA · Rarely damaged4–8
LavendarLavandula sp.A · Rarely damaged5–9
Lavender-CottonSantolina chamaecyparissusA · Rarely damaged6–9
Lemon BalmMelissa officinalisA · Rarely damaged3–7
Lenten or Christmas RoseHelleborus sp.A · Rarely damaged4–9
LungwortPulmonaria sp.A · Rarely damaged3–8
MarjoramMajoranaA · Rarely damaged7–11
May ApplePodophyllumA · Rarely damaged3–9
Meadow RueThalictrum sp.A · Rarely damaged4–8
MintMentha sp.A · Rarely damaged3–9
MonkshoodAconitum sp.A · Rarely damaged3–7
OreganoOriganum sp.A · Rarely damaged4–9
Ornamental OnionAllium sp.A · Rarely damaged3–9
PeonyPaeonia sp.A · Rarely damaged3–8
Potentilla, CinquefoilPotentilla sp.A · Rarely damaged3–8
Purple Rock-CressAubretia deltoideaA · Rarely damaged4–8
Rock-CressArabis caucasicaA · Rarely damaged4–7
Rocket LigulariaLigularia 'The Rocket'A · Rarely damaged4–8
Rodgers FlowerRodgersia sp.A · Rarely damaged4–7
Rose CampionLychnis coronariaA · Rarely damaged4–8
RueRuta sp.A · Rarely damaged4–9
Russian SagePerovskio atriplicifoliaA · Rarely damaged4–9
Siberian BuglossBruneria macrophylla (Brunnera)A · Rarely damaged3–8
Silver MoundArtemisia sp.A · Rarely damaged3–8
Small Globe ThistleEchinops ritroA · Rarely damaged3–9
SpurgeEuphorbia sp. (except 'Chameleon')A · Rarely damaged4–9
StaticeLimonium latifoliumA · Rarely damaged4–9
TarragonArtemisia dracunculusA · Rarely damaged4–8
Threadleaf CoreopsisCoreopsis verticillataA · Rarely damaged3–9
ThymeThymus sp.A · Rarely damaged4–9
Wild GingerAsarum canadenseA · Rarely damaged3–8
YuccaYucca filimentosaA · Rarely damaged4–11
Arrowwood ViburnumViburnum dentatumA · Rarely damaged3–8
BarberryBerberis sp.A · Rarely damaged4–8
BayberryMyrica pensylvanicaA · Rarely damaged3–7
Blue Mist ShrubCaryopteris clandonensisA · Rarely damaged5–9
BroomCytisus sp.A · Rarely damaged5–8
Bush CinquefoilPotentilla fruticosaA · Rarely damaged2–7
Butterfly BushBuddleia sp.A · Rarely damaged5–9
Common BoxwoodBuxus sempervirensA · Rarely damaged5–8
DaphneDaphne sp.A · Rarely damaged4–8
Devil's Walking StickAralia spinosaA · Rarely damaged4–9
Drooping LeucothoeLeucothoe fontanesianaA · Rarely damaged5–8
Fragrant SumacRhus aromaticaA · Rarely damaged3–9
HeathErica sp.A · Rarely damaged5–7
HeatherCalliuna sp.A · Rarely damaged4–7
Japanese Pieris, AndromedaPieris japonicaA · Rarely damaged5–8
Japanese Plum YewCephalotaxus harringtoniaA · Rarely damaged6–9
Japanese SkimmiaSkimmia japonicaA · Rarely damaged6–8
John T. Morris HollyIlex x 'John T. Morris'A · Rarely damaged6–9
Leatherleaf MahoniaMahonia bealeiA · Rarely damaged6–9
Lydia Morris HollyIlex x 'Lydia Morris'A · Rarely damaged6–9
Moonglow JuniperJuniperus scopulorum 'Moonglow'A · Rarely damaged3–7
Mountain PierisPieris floribundaA · Rarely damaged4–6
Oregon Grape HollyMahonia aquifoliumA · Rarely damaged5–8
Prince of Wales JuniperJuniperus horizontalis 'Prince of Wales'A · Rarely damaged3–9
Red ElderberrySambucus racemosaA · Rarely damaged3–7
Russian CypressMicrobiota decussataA · Rarely damaged3–7
Russian OliveElaeagnus angustifoliaA · Rarely damaged2–7
Sweet BoxSarcoccoca hookerianaA · Rarely damaged6–9
American HollyIlex opacaA · Rarely damaged5–9
Bottlebrush BuckeyeAesculus parvifloraA · Rarely damaged4–8
Dwarf Alberta SprucePicea glauca 'Conica'A · Rarely damaged2–8
Japanese Black PinePinus thunbergianaA · Rarely damaged5–8
Katsura TreeCercidiphyllum japonicumA · Rarely damaged4–8
MimosaAlbizia julibrissinA · Rarely damaged6–9
Paper BirchBetula papyriferaA · Rarely damaged2–7
PawpawAsimina trilobaA · Rarely damaged5–9
Pitch PinePinus rigidaA · Rarely damaged4–7
Red PinePinus resinosaA · Rarely damaged2–5
River BirchBetula nigraA · Rarely damaged4–9
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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