CREATING A DEER-RESISTANT GARDEN
As evening falls, they can be seen grazing in a field. Deer can be a serene sight...until they use your gardening beds as their new favorite fast-food joint! Would you like to plant plants that deer are not naturally attracted to? While no plant is 100% deer-proof (because, as you know, they will eat anything if they're hungry or curious enough), many plants are considered deer-resistant. Deer will avoid these plants because of their smell, texture, or taste. Planting these in your garden will help signal to the deer that your yard is not full of their favorite foods.
In this comprehensive guide, we're sharing 36 deer-resistant sun and shade plants. The plants below are great options for gardening beds that have wildlife nearby. Look for these at the nursery, and always feel free to ask questions- we're happy to help!
Annuals:
1. Marigold: a fun, bright pop of color adorns rounded flowerheads. Deer and rabbits do not favor this annual, making it an excellent choice to add to vegetable gardens or flower beds.
Zones: 9-10, grown as an annual in other zones (including ours).
Exposure: Full sun
Bloom time: Mid-spring to frost
Height/Spread: 10-16 inches tall, 8-12 inches wide
2. Dusty Miller: it often stays year-round in our area, especially if we have a mild winter. This annual's foliage is spectacular. It is an excellent filler in a container pot or as a border plant in an annual flower bed.
Zones: 7-10
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Height/Spread: Up to 2 feet tall & wide
3. Snapdragon: a beautiful, upright annual that blooms profusely from spring through early fall.
Zones: 9-10, grown as an annual in other zones (including ours).
Exposure: Full sun
Bloom time: Mid-spring to frost
Height/Spread: 6 to 30 inches tall, 10 to 18 inches wide
4. Begonia: there are many varieties of Begonia, including upright and mounded, as well as sun and shade varieties.
Zones: 9-10, grown as an annual in other zones (including ours)
Exposure: full sun to shade, depending on variety
Bloom time: May through October
Height/Spread: wide array, depending on variety
Groundcovers:
5. Japanese Spurge: grown for its glossy green foliage and has small, dainty white flowers in early spring. It makes a great groundcover for moist, shady areas.
Zones: 4-9
Exposure: Partial to full shade
Bloom time: Early spring
Height/Spread: 12 inches tall, spreads 7 to 8 inches
6. Monkey Grass: used often as a groundcover or as a border plant, this plant comes in a wide variety of foliage, including green, blue-green, and variegated.
Zones: 4-10
Exposure: Partial to full sun
Height/Spread: 10-20 inches tall, 12-24 inches wide
7. Winter Creeper: a highly popular groundcover or climbing vine with shiny green evergreen foliage that turns a beautiful purple in winter.
Zones: 4-9
Exposure: Partial to full sun
Height/Spread: 24 inches tall, up to 12 feet wide
8. Common Periwinkle: one of the finest low-growing groundcovers for tough shade, featuring rich lavender flowers held over lustrous dark green evergreen foliage; does well in sun or deep shade, quickly forms a dense mat, and even grows well under mature trees.
Zones: 4-8
Exposure: Partial to full shade
Height/Spread: 4-6 inches tall, up to 8 feet wide
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Perennials:
9. Bee Balm: pollinators (but not deer!) love this perennial flower! It truly is one of the best perennials to attract pollinators to your garden.
Zones: 3-9
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Height/Spread: Varies, 1 to 4 feet tall, 8 inches to 3 feet wide
10. Jack Frost: grown mostly for its blue-green foliage and large heart-shaped leaves, this perennial also blooms with dainty, small blue flowers in spring.
Zones: 3-8
Exposure: Partial to full shade
Bloom Time: Spring
Height/Spread: 1-2 feet tall and wide
11. Japanese Painted Fern: a perennial fern boasts beautiful blue-green foliage during the warm months of the year. Needs moist but well-draining soil.
Zones: 4-9
Exposure: Partial to full shade
Height/Spread: 1 to 3 feet tall, 1 to 2 feet wide
12. Lamb's Ear: fuzzy-feeling leaves that deer do not like, this perennial also features gorgeous grey-green foliage. It's a stunning addition to a garden.
Zones: 4-8
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Height/Spread: 8 to 15 inches tall, depending on variety, 1 to 4 feet wide
13. Lenten Rose: this perennial blooms in winter through spring and is evergreen. Wide range of colors.
Zones: 4-9
Exposure: Morning sun with afternoon shade to full shade locations
Bloom Time: Winter to mid-spring, depending on variety
Height/Spread: 12-15 inches tall and wide
14. Peony: loved for their beautiful, large blooms that bloom in mid-spring.
Zones: 2-8
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade, depending on variety
Bloom Time: mid to late spring, depending on variety
Height/Spread: 1 to 3 feet tall & wide
15. Russian Sage: in summer, beautiful, tiny purple flowers adorn this upright perennial. It makes quite a statement in a garden.
Zones: 5-9
Exposure: Full sun
Bloom Time: Early summer to fall
Height/Spread: Varies, 2 to 4 feet tall & wide
16. Coreopsis: cheerful blooms cover this perennial all summer into early fall. Blooms can be yellow, orange, red, or burgundy, depending on the variety.
Zones: 3-9, depending on variety
Exposure: Full sun
Bloom Time: Early summer to fall
Height/Spread: Varies, 10-18 inches tall & wide
17. Foxglove: exciting, colorful tubular flowers; tall spikes rise above attractive green lance-shaped leaves; a biennial that's happiest in morning sun/ afternoon shade with adequate moisture.
Zones: 3-10
Exposure: Partial to full sun
Bloom Time: Late spring to mid-summer
Height/Spread: 1-3 feet tall & wide
18. Catmint: very showy perennial with small, fragrant, purple flowers adorning it from late spring until mid-summer; small grey-green leaves.
Zones: 3-9
Exposure: Full to part sun
Bloom Time: Late spring through summer
Height/Spread: 12-16 inches tall & 18-30 inches wide
19. Speedwell: upright, spikey blooms from early to late summer; blooms can be purples, blues, pinks, or whites, depending on the variety. It is a pollinator favorite!
Zones: 3-9
Exposure: Full to part sun
Bloom Time: Late spring to mid-summer
Height/Spread: 1-2 feet tall & 1-2 feet wide
20. Salvia: beautiful masses of (typically blueish purple) flowers emerge on strong, sturdy, tall stems. A full, lush perennial that looks breathtaking in a sunny garden.
Zones: 3-9
Exposure: Full sun
Bloom Time: Early summer to mid-fall
Height/Spread: 1-3 feet tall by 1-3 feet wide
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Shrubs:
21. Boxwood: an evergreen shrub that is very handsome indeed! There are many varieties to choose from that range in size. They can be pruned into a hedge or can keep their natural shape.
Zones: 4-8
Exposure: Partial or dappled shade, protect from harsh mid-day sun
Height/Spread: Varies greatly, from 1 to 20 feet tall, 2 to 8 feet wide
22. Butterfly Bush: a deciduous shrub that pollinators are attracted to, especially (you guessed it!) butterflies and hummingbirds. It blooms with long, gorgeous flowers in late spring through summer, varying in size and color depending on the variety.
Zones: 5-9
Exposure: Full sun
Bloom Time: Late spring until frost
Height/Spread: Varies, 18 inches to 7 feet tall, 18 inches to 5 feet wide
23. Juniper: Junipers come in a wide variety of sizes. Some stay low to the ground and make an excellent groundcover, while others are more shrub-like, and still others are tall enough to be privacy screens. The oil in their needles naturally repels deer.
Zones: 3-7
Exposure: Full sun
Height/Spread: Varies greatly, 6 inches to over 100 feet tall, 1 to 25 feet wide
24. Soft Caress Mahonia: fabulous low-growing, evergreen shrub with blue-green foliage that is pinnate and very narrow; treasured for its rising racemes of bright yellow flowers and light blue berries; perfect for a woodland garden.
Zones: 7-9
Exposure: Partial sun to full sun
Bloom Time: Late fall
Height/Spread: 3 feet tall & 4 feet wide
25. Spirea: this deciduous shrub has pretty blooms on it in spring and/or summer, depending on the variety. Many times, their leaves are a lime-green color.
Zones: 3-8
Exposure: Full sun
Bloom Time: There are spring- and summer-blooming varieties
Height/Spread: 1 to 8 feet tall, up to 6 feet wide
26. Pieris Japonica: a highly popular, broadleaf evergreen shrub that boasts breathtaking, delicate-looking chains of small flowers in late winter/ early spring. Flowers can be creamy white, pink, or reddish pink, depending on the variety.
Zones: 5-8
Exposure: Partial shade to full sun
Bloom Time: Late winter to early spring
Height/Spread: 6-12 feet tall & 5-8 feet wide, depending on variety
27. Lilac: an exceptional, spring-blooming shrub that is well-loved by many. Large, fragrant clusters of flowers adorn these shrubs. Certain varieties only grow in colder climates; we offer varieties suited for the south.
Zones: 3-8, depending on variety
Exposure: Full sun
Bloom Time: mid-spring
Height/Spread: 6-12 feet tall & 5-8 feet wide, depending on variety
28. Sterile Chinese Snowball Viburnum: gigantic, beautiful white flower clusters, illuminating border areas; rich red-purple fall color.
Zones: 5-9
Exposure: Full sun to part sun (blooms best in full sun)
Bloom Time: Late spring
Height/Spread: 10 feet tall by 10 feet wide
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Deer tend to love new foliage (which is why they go for fresh leaves in spring) as well as saplings and young trees. If you're planting a young tree, consider protecting it with temporary fencing to keep these curious animals from nibbling it!
Trees:
29. Chinese Dogwood: a very handsome, deciduous tree, the Kousa Dogwood is slightly different from the traditional Dogwood many of us are familiar with. It blooms about a month after the traditional Dogwood (Cornus florida) and, in the fall, produces small, fruit-like berries (resembling raspberries) that birds enjoy.
Zones: 5-8
Exposure: Part sun to full sun
Bloom Time: Late spring
Height/Spread: 25 feet by 25 feet
30. Kwanzan Cherry: this small tree boasts beautiful double-pink blooms in late early-mid spring. It is slightly different than its relative, the 'Yoshino' cherry. It makes a great focal point in a gardening bed.
Zones: 5-9
Exposure: Full sun to part sun
Bloom time: Mid spring
Height/Spread: 15-30 feet tall and wide
31. Tulip Poplar: Tennessee's state tree, the deciduous Tulip Poplar may grow to be 90-120 feet tall at maturity, making it an excellent shade tree on hot summer days. It boasts tulip-like flowers in late spring and has large 4-lobed leaves that have smooth margins. Has very pretty golden foliage in fall.
Zones: 4-9
Exposure: Full sun
Bloom Time: Late spring/ early summer
Height/Spread: 90-120 feet tall by 30-40 feet wide at the widest point
32. Southern Magnolia: many varieties of evergreen Magnolias boast beautiful, large flowers in early summer. Varieties such as 'Little Gem' and 'Teddy Bear' are ideal selections for smaller gardens.
Zones: 6-10, depending on variety
Exposure: Full sun
Bloom Time: Late spring/ early summer
Height/Spread: 20-60 feet by 12-30 feet, depending on variety
33. Red Maple: a large shade tree with an oval canopy. Red Maples come in a variety of sizes and offer spectacular fall foliage ranging from reds, burgundys, and fiery oranges.
Zones: 3-9
Exposure: Full sun
Bloom Time: Early spring
Height/Spread: 30-50 feet tall by 15-50 feet wide at the widest point
34. Ginkgo: a true 150 million-year-old relic with unique fan-shaped leaves; stunning pyramidal form and consistent gorgeous fall color. 'Autumn Gold' and 'Princeton Sentry' are both popular, fruitless varieties.
Zones: 4-8
Exposure: Full fun
Bloom Time: insignificant in spring
Height/Spread: 50-60 feet tall by 30 feet wide
35. Blue Colorado Spruce: an iconic evergreen tree with a pyramidal shape and blue foliage.
Zones: 2-7
Exposure: Part sun (needs morning sun with afternoon shade in our region)
Bloom Time: small, inconspicuous cones in spring
Height/Spread: 50 feet tall by 20 feet wide
36. Dawn Redwood: a fast-growing, deciduous evergreen that is a popular tree to use because of its fast growth and beautiful fall foliage.
Zones: 4-8
Exposure: Full sun
Bloom Time: small, inconspicuous cones in spring
Height/Spread: 90-100 feet tall by 25-30 feet wide
In addition to this (non-exhaustive) list, most Ornamental Grasses are also deer-resistant. Our hope in making this guide is for homeowners to see that they have multiple plant options to grow a stunning garden they dream of, even with deer living nearby. Happy planting, and ask us any questions at the nursery!