Many of us enjoy giving a sanctuary to wildlife in our backyards, but the need to ward off deer is another common issue. By planting deer-resistant plants, you can decrease the chances of them stopping by to enjoy your plants for dinner.

Take a multi-step approach to deter deer from your garden. Below are a few tips, along with a selection of deer-resistant plants, on how you can keep our friends away.

Fencing
The most effective way to keep deer away is to install deer proof fencing that is at least 8 feet tall. Deer can jump to amazing heights! There are a variety of designs and the best type for any given area depends on your specific situation. Fencing options include: plastic mesh, electrified poly tape, woven wire and electric fence kits which come equipped with a scented lure.

Repellents
Use a natural repellent, such as Plantskydd. Such products emit an odor that animals associate with predator activity. Plantskydd Repellents are organic and some of the most environmentally safe animal repellents available.

A few characteristics of deer-resistant plants:
– Deer-resistant plants have pungent aromatic oils in their leaves that keep deer from coming to feast. Download the full list here.
– If leaves are furry, deer are more likely to leave them alone.
– Plants with thorns on their leaves or stems are likely to be left alone (except for roses).

Annuals

Ageratum
Annual
Bloom Time: Late Spring to Fall
Sun Exposure: Full Sun
Soil: Moist, Well-draining

Alyssum
Annual
Bloom Time: Summer to Fall
Sun Exposure: Full Sun
Soil: Well-draining soil with moderate moisture

Begonia
Annual
Bloom Time: Early Summer to Frost
Sun Exposure: Shade to Full Shade
Soil: Well-draining soil

Caladium
Annual
Bloom Time: Spring to Fall
Sun Exposure: Full to Part Sun
Soil: Rich, well-draining soil

Coleus
Annual
Bloom Time: Spring to Fall
Sun Exposure: Part to Full Sun
Soil: Rich, Moist, Well-draining Soil

Geranium
Annual
Bloom Time: Spring to Fall
Sun Exposure: Full Sun
Soil: Loose Soil, High Orangic Material

Marigold
Annual
Bloom Time: Summer to Frost
Sun Exposure: Full Sun
Soil: Well-draining, Moderately Fertile Soil

Petunia
Annual
Bloom Time: Summer to Fall
Sun Exposure: Part to Full Sun
Soil: Light, Sandy Soil

Snapdragon
Annual
Bloom Time: Spring to Fall
Sun Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil: Rich, Well-draining Soil

Torenia
Annual
Bloom Time: Late Spring to Frost
Sun Exposure: Full Sun to Full Shade
Soil: Rich, Well-draining Soil

Perennials

Astilbe
Perennial
Bloom Time: Early to Mid-summer.
Sun Exposure: Partial Shade to Shade.
Soil: Rich, Evenly Moist, Well-Drained Soil.

There are many varieties of Astilbe. Marked by their rainbow of plumes that range in color from pure white, pinks and reds, these plants will grow back each year a bit larger than before. Their deeply cut ferny compound leaves remain dark green in color throughout the season. They are perfect in a shady spot with dappled light.

Black-eyed Susan
Perennial
Bloom Time: Mid-summer to Early Fall.
Sun Exposure: Full Sun.
Soil: Not Particular, but shouldn’t be allowed to dry out.

A Black-eyed Susan features beautiful gold daisy flowers atop their tall stems. Its serrated pointy leaves remain dark green in color throughout the season. When planted in full sun, it will reach to be about 24 inches tall, offering butterflies an optimal post to stop by on! You can also try the shorter variety, Little Gold Star.

Ferns
Perennial
Bloom Time: Grown for Foliage.
Sun Exposure: Partial Shade to Shade.
Soil: Not Particular, but shouldn’t be allowed to dry out.

There are many varieties of ferns available. Planting different varieties in your landscape to add different textures while remaining uniform in their lush green color. The Lady Fern is the quintessential garden fern. It’s airy, soft and grows quickly in attractive clumps. The Maidenhair Fern is instantly recognizable, because of its fingered leaf shape. The Ostrich Fern is a dense fern with a shapely form and gracefully arching fronts. All ferns bring an extremely delicate texture to the garden composition and should be used to full effect!

Lamb’s Ear
Perennial
Bloom Time: Grown for Foliage. Pink flowers bloom in early-summer.
Sun Exposure: Full Sun to Partial Shade.
Soil: Prefers average, to dry locations, dislikes excessive moisture.

Lamb’s Ear’s attractive leaves emerge silver in spring, turning gray in color throughout the season. It features beautiful spikes of pink flowers that rise above the foliage in early summer. Its medium texture blends into the garden, but can always be balanced by a couple of finer or coarser plants for an effective composition.

Lavender
Perennial
Bloom Time: Early Summer to Late Fall.
Sun Exposure: Full Sun.
Soil: Prefers average, to dry locations, dislikes excessive moisture, especially during winter.

Lavender is a classic, beautiful and aromatic flowering shrub covered with volumes of deep purple blooms through the summer. The beautiful spikes of fragrant deep purple flowers rise above the grayish green foliage. It’s an excellent choice for low, informal hedging and in borders and formal gardens. Try the new variety available at English Gardens, ‘Phenomenal.’

Lily of the Valley
Perennial
Bloom Time: Mid Spring
Sun Exposure: Part Shade to Shade.
Soil: Prefers average garden soils, but will tolerate dry soils.

Lily of the Valley features subtle spikes of lightly-scented white bell-shaped flowers, rising above the foliage. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions, can be expected to live for a very long time!

Peony
Perennial
Bloom Time: Heavily in late spring to early summer.
Sun Exposure: Full Sun or Part Shade.
Soil: Rich, fertile, medium moisture, well-drained soils.

Beautiful, single or double blossoms come alive as fragrant bright flowers in a range of color from pure white to pink, red and almost purple. The lush, dark green foliaged shrub can reach up to 36 inches in height and 30 inches in width. Did you know that peonies have been in cultivation for over 2,000 years? This long-growing peony is a wonderful choice for fresh-cut floral arrangements (and is a long-lasting cut flower too). This tall perennial will make a statement in your landscape. Peonies attract butterflies and are deer and rabbit resistant. A winning combination!

Russian Sage
Perennial
Bloom Time: Early Summer to Mid Fall.
Sun Exposure: Full Sun.
Soil: Prefers average, to dry locations, with very well-drained soil.

Russian Sage has an upright spreading habit of growth. It brings an extremely fine and delicate texture to the garden. Its attractive fragrant narrow leaves emerge silver in spring with blue plumes of flowers, turning grayish green in color throughout the season. It is also a good choice for attracting butterflies to your yard.

Thyme
Perennial
Bloom Time: Early to Mid-summer.
Sun Exposure: Full Sun.
Soil: Prefers average, to dry locations, dislikes excessive moisture.

Thyme brings an extremely fine and delicate texture to the garden. Thyme is smothered in stunning clusters of pink flowers at the ends of the stems from early to mid-summer. It’s attractive tiny fragrant round leaves remain grayish green in color throughout the season. It’s great in culinary dishes.

Trees and Shrubs

Boxwood
Shrub
Bloom Time: Evergreen
Sun Exposure: Full to Part Sun
Soil: Plant in well-draining soil and water deeply to penetrate the roots. 

Boxwoods make elegant hedges or landscape borders. They are low-maintenance shrubs that only require seasonal pruning to keep their shape and desired size. 

Barberry
Shrub
Bloom Time: Deciduous and Evergreen depending on the variety
Sun Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil: Plant in well-draining soil and water deeply to penetrate the roots. 

Barberry shrubs have bold foliage that adds pops of color and texture to your landscape. Typically used as a foundation or hedge plant, this is a great low-maintenance, deer-resistant option for your yard. 

Butterfly Bush
Shrub
Bloom Time: Summer thru Fall
Sun Exposure: Full Sun
Soil: Plant in well-draining soil and water when rainfall is less than 1 inch. 

Butterfly Bushes are a great way to attract pollinators while also deterring deer. Butterflies especially like the lavender variety. Although this shrub is not a host to butterflies or caterpillars since they will not eat from it, it will have butterflies and other pollinators visiting all summer long. 

Cypress
Shrub
Bloom Time: Evergreen
Sun Exposure: Full Sun
Soil: Adaptable to many soil conditions. Prefer moist, well-draining soil for best results. 

With greenish-gold foliage, these plants will add some contrast and texture to your landscape. Cypress shrubs are perfect as focal points, and deer do not like the stringy-like foliage. 

Dogwood
Tree
Bloom Time: Spring.
Sun Exposure: Full Sun to Partial Shade.
Soil: Prefers a rich, acidic soil.

Possibly the ultimate small specimen tree, a flowering dogwood is famous for its large yet delicate pink, red or white blooms. It has forest green foliage, which emerges burgundy in spring. The pointy leaves turn an outstanding brick red in the fall. It produces red berries from early to late-fall.

Forsythia
Shrub
Bloom Time: Early Spring.
Sun Exposure: Full Sun.
Soil: Adaptable to both dry and moist locations.

Heralding the arrival of spring, this popular shrub features prolific yellow flowers, smothering the branches in early spring ahead of the leaves. It has forest green foliage throughout the season. ts average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

Spirea
Shrub
Bloom Time: Spring thru Fall
Sun Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil: Plant in well-draining soil and keep the soil moist but not soggy. 

Spirea is a great shrub that provides 3 season interest with its lacy blooms. These plants will attract pollinators while keeping deer away. 

Viburnum
Shrub
Bloom Time: Early Spring.
Sun Exposure: Full Sun to Partial Shade.
Soil: Prefers average to moist conditions, avoid letting is dry out.

Viburnum is a long-living shrub (some are capable of living over 40 years!), covered in wonderfully fragrant ball-shaped clusters of pinkish-white flowers in spring. Others bloom in flat topped clusters or all along their branches. It has dark green foliage throughout the season. The round leaves turn an outstanding deep purple in the fall. Red to black fruits can be seen in clusters from late summer to late winter. It is one of the most diverse groups of shrubs!

Weigela
Shrub
Bloom Time: Spring – Some varieties repeat throughout the year.
Sun Exposure: Full Sun.
Soil: Organic well-drained garden soil.

Weigela is a colorful bush with red leaf, green lead or multi-colored variegated leaves. They bloom white, pink or red trumpet flowers in the spring that attract butterflies and hummingbirds. They grow between two to six feet, but like to be pruned back regularly. Try one of the Sonic Bloom series Weigela that keep flowering on and off throughout the season!

Vines

Honeysuckle
Vine
Bloom Time: Early Spring to Early Summer
Sun Exposure: Full Sun.
Soil: Adaptable to both dry and moist locations.

There are varieties of honeysuckle that offer both yellow and pink colored clusters of flowers. Goldflame Honeysuckle has exceptionally colorful pinkish-red tubular flowers. Mandarin Trumpet Honeysuckle has showy orange tubular flowers with yellow throats. Honeysuckle is very easy to grow and not excessively aggressive, making it a great choice for arbors and trellises. Under ideal conditions, it can be expected to live for approximately 20 years.

Here is a full list of Deer-resistant plants.