Site stress

Deer-resistant plants

These plants are listed as deer-resistant in our source data — typically meaning deer often avoid them when other forage is available. That is not a guarantee. Hungry deer, regional browsing pressure, and young tender growth can still cause damage.

Use this list as a practical starting set for gardens under light-to-moderate deer pressure, then protect new plantings and watch local behaviour. Pair resistant plants with fencing or repellents where deer pressure is high.

What matters most for Deer-resistant planting

1. Treat “deer resistant” as relative, not absolute — no plant is 100% deer-proof.
2. Protect newly planted stock; established plants are usually less tempting.
3. Mix textures and scents deer typically dislike rather than relying on a single celebrity plant.
4. Monitor after drought or hard winters when deer expand their diet.
5. Combine plant choice with site tactics (fencing, height, repellents) in heavy-pressure areas.

Want the method, not only the list?

This hub browses every plant tagged deer-resistant. For design method, first-season protection, and curated role shortlists, read the guide Deer-Resistant Plants — then return here to scan the full catalog.

Plants for Deer-resistant plants (5461)

• Lesser Calamint Full Sun1–2 ft (30–60 cm)
• Whirling Butterflies Gaura Full Sun2–3 ft (60–90 cm)
• Gaura Full Sun1–2 ft (30–60 cm)
• Tamarisk Full Sun10–15 ft (310–460 cm)
• Black Locust Full Sun30–50 ft (910–1520 cm)
• Japanese Loquat Full Sun10–25 ft (310–760 cm)
• Central Mexico Organ Pipe Full Sun10–15 ft (310–460 cm)
• California poppy Full Sun12 in (30 cm)
• Mountain Laurel Partial Sun5–15 ft (150–460 cm)
• Yellow Coneflower Full Sun3–5 ft (90–150 cm)
• Red Bottlebrush Full Sun20–30 ft (610–910 cm)
• Cenizo Full Sun5–8 ft (150–240 cm)
• Ocotillo Full Sun8–20 ft (240–610 cm)
• Gardener's Garters Full Sun2–4 ft (60–120 cm)
• Gardener's Garters 'Feesey' Full Sun2–3 ft (60–90 cm)
• Toyon Full Sun6–8 ft (180–240 cm)
• Eastern Hemlock Full Sun40–70 ft (1220–2130 cm)
• Osage Orange Full Sun30–60 ft (910–1830 cm)
• California Laurel Full Sun20–80 ft (610–2440 cm)
• California Melic Grass Full Sun1–4 ft (30–120 cm)
• Straggler Daisy Full Sun12 in (30 cm)
• Southern Shield Fern Partial Sun2–4 ft (60–120 cm)
• Cowitch Vine Partial Sun12–35 ft (370–1070 cm)
• Blue Lyme Grass Full Sun2–3 ft (60–90 cm)
• Crimson Bottlebrush 'Mauve Mist' Full Sun6–12 ft (180–370 cm)
• Crimson Bottlebrush 'Perth Pink' Full Sun5 ft (150 cm)
• Painted Bamboo Full Sun40–60 ft (1220–1830 cm)
• Damianita Full Sun1–2 ft (30–60 cm)
• California Buckthorn Full Sun6–15 ft (180–460 cm)
• Wax Myrtle Full Sun10–20 ft (310–610 cm)
• Alkali Sacaton Full Sun3–4 ft (90–120 cm)
• Purple Lovegrass Full Sun1–2 ft (30–60 cm)
• Selfheal Full Sun1–2 ft (30–60 cm)
• Chaparral Pea Full Sun1–6 ft (30–180 cm)
• Blue Wild Rye Full Sun1–5 ft (30–150 cm)
• Meadow Barley Full Sun2–3 ft (60–90 cm)
• Kodiak® Orange Diervilla x 'G2X88544' Full Sun3–4 ft (90–120 cm)
• Kodiak® Black Diervilla x 'G2X88544' Full Sun3–4 ft (90–120 cm)
• Kodiak® Fresh™ Diervilla x 'SMNDSS' Full Sun2–3 ft (60–90 cm)
• Elf Mountain Laurel Partial Sun2–3 ft (60–90 cm)
• Small Cape Rush Full Sun2–3 ft (60–90 cm)
• Indian Grass 'Sioux Blue' Full Sun3–5 ft (90–150 cm)
• Indian Grass Full Sun3–5 ft (90–150 cm)
• Spanish Broom Full Sun6–10 ft (180–310 cm)
• Angels Trumpets Full Sun2–3 ft (60–90 cm)
• Asian Bittersweet Full Sun30–60 ft (910–1830 cm)
• Daphne 'Carol Mackie' Partial Sun2–3 ft (60–90 cm)
• Rose Daphne Full Sun12 in (30 cm)
• Daphne × transatlantica 'Blafra' Full Sun2–3 ft (60–90 cm)
• Winter Daphne 'Aureomarginata' Partial Sun3–4 ft (90–120 cm)
• Yesterday Full Sun3–8 ft (90–240 cm)
• Blackspot Hornpoppy Full Sun1–2 ft (30–60 cm)
• Fairy Castle Cactus Full Sun1–6 ft (30–180 cm)
• Golden Coltsfoot Full Sun1–2 ft (30–60 cm)
• Hard Fern Partial Sun1–2 ft (30–60 cm)
• Mexican Prickly Poppy Full Sun1–2 ft (30–60 cm)
• Purpletop Full Sun2–6 ft (60–180 cm)
• Mint Chocolate Chip Manfreda Full Sun6–8 in (15–20 cm)
• Cherry Chocolate Chip Manfreda Full Sun6–8 in (15–20 cm)
• Dyckia ‘Burgundy Ice’ Full Sun12 in (30 cm)