Plants Deer Like to Eat
Deer love narrow-leaf evergreens, especially arborvitae and fir. Deer show a preference for hostas, daylilies, and English ivy. The heaviest garden browsing is from October through February. Many growers note that deer seem to prefer plants that have been fertilized.
Plants That Deer Do Not Like to Eat (Usually)
Bear in mind that the first rule of deer-proofing is that there are really no plants that are completely deer-proof. When preferred types of food are in short supply, deer will (and do) eat almost any kind of garden plant and shrub. Nevertheless, there are some plants that deer (usually) do not like to eat:
Poisonous plants: Deer tend to stay away from daffodils, foxgloves, monkshood, and poppies. These are common flowers that have toxins that deer avoid. Fragrant plants: Deer turn up their noses at fragrant plants with strong scents. Herbs such as sages, ornamental salvias, lavenders, peonies, and bearded irises are among these “stinky” plants that deer tend to avoid. Fuzzy or thorny plants: Deer do not like plants that are fuzzy, such as lamb’s ear, or prickly such as spirea or roses, unless they are desperate. Bleeding hearts: Dicentra spectabilis may be popular with people but not deer.
A State-by-State Resource for Deer-Resistant Plants
Just about every state has a university cooperative extension service that can provide a list of plants that are generally less popular with visiting deer. Unfortunately, no one can claim a plant is totally deer resistant—it seems the deer themselves do not read these lists. Other sources also have lists of deer-resistant plants for your landscape.
Alabama
“Deer Resistant Plants of the South,” Better Homes & Gardens
Alaska
“Deer Resistant Plants of the Pacific Northwest,” Better Homes & Gardens
Arizona
“Deer and Rabbit Resistant Plants,” University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Service
Arkansas
“Deer,” University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service
California
“Deer Resistant Plants,” University of California Cooperative Extension “Deer-Resistant Plants for the Sierra Foothills,” Cooperative Extension Nevada County (California) Master Gardeners
Colorado
“Deer Resistant Plants for Colorado,” Garden Centers of Colorado
Connecticut
“Deer Resistant Plants,” Woodstock Conservation Commission: Woodstock, Connecticut
Delaware
“Deer Resistant Plants,” Delaware Department of Natural Resources
Florida
“Deer Resistant Plants of the South,” Better Homes & Gardens
Georgia
“Deer Resistant Plants,” University of Georgia College of Agricultural
Idaho
“Top Deer Resistant Plants of the Mountain West and High Plains,” Better Homes & Gardens
Illinois
“Gardening with Perennials,” University of Illinois Extension
Indiana
“Deer Resistant Plants for Homeowners,” Purdue University
Iowa
“Deer Resistant Landscaping,” City of Iowa City
Kansas
“Top Deer Resistant Plants of the Midwest,” Better Homes & Gardens
Kentucky
“Deer Resistant Plants of the South,” Better Homes & Gardens
Louisiana
“Deer Resistant Plants of the South,” Better Homes & Gardens
Maine
“Deer Resistant Plants,” Maine.gov
Maryland
“Resistance of Ornamentals to Deer,” Maryland Cooperative Extension
Massachusetts
“Deer Resistant Plants,” University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Michigan
“Deer Resistant Plants for Homeowners,” Michigan State University
Minnesota
“Deer Resistant Plants,” University of Minnesota Extension
Missouri
“Deer Resistant Plants for the Landscape,” Missouri Department of Conservation
Mississippi
“Deer Resistant Plants of the South,” Better Homes & Gardens
Missouri
“Deer Gardening,” Missouri Department of Conservation
Montana
“Minimizing Deer Damage to Residential Plantings,” Montana State University Extension Service
Nebraska
“Plants Deer Will Not Eat,” University of Nebraska Extension
Nevada
“Deer Resistant Plants for Northern Nevada,” University of Nevada Cooperative Extension
New Hampshire
“Deer Resistant Native Plants,” New Hampshire Extension
New Jersey
“Landscape Plants Rated by Deer Resistance,” Rutgers Cooperative Extension
New Mexico
“Deer Resistant Plants,” High Country Gardens
New York
“Deer Resistant Plants,” Cornell University
North Carolina
“Deer Resistant Plants,” North Carolina Cooperative Extension
North Dakota
“Top Deer Resistant Plants of the Midwest,” Better Homes & Gardens
Ohio
“Deer Resistance Rating for Landscape Plants,” Gardening in Deer Country
Oklahoma
“Top Deer Resistant Plants of the Midwest,” Better Homes & Gardens
Oregon
“Deer Resistant Plants for Central Oregon,” Oregon State University Extension Service
Pennsylvania
“Deer Resistant Plants,” Penn State Cooperative Extension “Landscape Plants Rated by Deer Resistance,” Rutgers Cooperative Extension
Rhode Island
“Plants Least-Preferred by Deer,” Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management
South Carolina
“Deer Resistant Plants for the Grand Strand,” Clemson University Extension
Texas
“Deer in the Urban Landscape,” The Texas A&M University System
Vermont
“Deer Resistant Perennials,” University of Vermont Extension System
Virginia
“Deer “Resistant” Plant List,” University of Virginia Extension
South Dakota
“Deer Resistant Plants,” Dakota Garden
Tennessee
“Deer Resistant Plants,” Plant Friendly
Texas
“Deer in the Urban Landscape,” Texas A & M Extension
Utah
“Minimizing Browsing Damage by Deer,” Utah Division of Wildlife Management
Washington
“Deer Resistant Plants,” Washington State University Extension
West Virginia
“Resistance of Ornamentals to Deer Damage,” West Virginia University Extension Service
Wisconsin
“Deer Resistant Plants in Wisconsin,” Garden Guides
Wyoming
“Deer Resistant Plants,” High Country Gardens
