pests diseases
Deer resistant plants — 20 picks deer won't touch
Twenty deer-resistant plants — lavender, rosemary, yucca, barberry, butterfly bush and more — with ASPCA pet toxicity flags and fencing fall-backs.
Deer resistant plants — 20 picks deer won't touch
If you garden in deer country, you already know the frustration of waking up to chewed hosta stems and stripped daylily buds. The most realistic strategy is layered: plant species deer usually pass by, fence the absolute must-haves, and rotate scent deterrents. This guide covers 20 well-tested deer resistant plants for US and UK gardens, the categories that explain why deer avoid them, and the safety notes that matter when several of these plants are highly toxic to pets and children.
Try Growli: Snap a photo of a chewed shrub and Growli will confirm whether it was deer, rabbit, vole or groundhog, then suggest replacements from this guide that fit your zone and pet situation.
Why "resistant" beats "deer-proof"
There is no such thing as a true deer-proof plant. Rutgers University maintains the most cited US ranking, splitting plants into "rarely damaged," "seldom severely damaged," "occasionally severely damaged" and "frequently severely damaged." The picks below come from the top two categories, but in a hard winter or after fawning, a hungry deer will still chew lavender if there is nothing better.
Three reasons deer skip a plant:
- Strong aromatic oils — herbs in the mint family (
Lamiaceae) and many Mediterranean evergreens. - Toxic alkaloids or cardiac glycosides — foxglove, monkshood, daffodils, hellebores. Toxic to pets too — flagged below.
- Physical defences — spines, leathery leaves, fuzzy or hairy foliage that feels unpleasant.
Pet safety boilerplate: Some plants on this list are highly toxic to dogs and cats per the ASPCA. Every species below carries a pet-safety flag. If a pet ingests any part of a flagged plant, call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center on (888) 426-4435.
20 deer resistant plants for US + UK gardens
Aromatic herbs (Mediterranean and mint family)
1. Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
Strong floral-camphor oils make lavender one of the most reliable deer-resistant perennials. USDA zones 5–9; grows well in UK and Mediterranean US. Pet safety: mildly toxic to cats and dogs in large amounts per ASPCA — usually self-limiting.
2. Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus)
Evergreen aromatic shrub, deer almost never touch it. Zone 7+ outdoors; pot-grown in colder areas. Pet safety: generally considered non-toxic for occasional contact, but large ingestion can cause GI upset. Listed as non-toxic on the ASPCA database in most contexts — confirm for your pet's medical history.
3. Sage (Salvia officinalis and ornamental Salvias)
Aromatic leaves repel deer; salvias also draw pollinators. Pet safety: non-toxic per ASPCA for common culinary sage.
4. Thyme (Thymus vulgaris, creeping thymes)
Tough low-growing ground cover deer ignore. Excellent edging plant. Pet safety: non-toxic per ASPCA.
5. Mint (Mentha species)
Strong scent keeps deer (and many other pests) away. Plant in pots — mint spreads aggressively. Pet safety: non-toxic for occasional contact per ASPCA, though pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium) is toxic — avoid that species.
6. Russian sage (Salvia yangii, formerly Perovskia atriplicifolia)
Silvery aromatic foliage, blue late-summer spikes, drought-tolerant. Pet safety: generally regarded as non-toxic; not a known concern on the ASPCA list.
7. Catmint (Nepeta species)
Tough scented perennial, smaller and tidier than true catnip. Pet safety: non-toxic; cats may roll in it.
Toxic perennials (deer instinctively avoid — pet-toxic too)
8. Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)
Cardiac glycosides make foxglove toxic to deer and almost everything else. Beautiful biennial spikes. Pet safety: HIGHLY TOXIC to dogs and cats per ASPCA — all parts contain digitoxin and similar cardiac glycosides. Do not plant if young children or pets have garden access.
9. Monkshood (Aconitum napellus)
Tall blue hooded flowers; one of the most poisonous garden plants in the world. Pet safety: HIGHLY TOXIC to dogs and cats — contains aconitine. Wear gloves when handling; do not plant where pets or children can reach.
10. Hellebore (Helleborus species)
Evergreen winter-flowering perennial deer ignore reliably. Pet safety: TOXIC to dogs and cats per ASPCA — contains protoanemonin and glycosides. Causes drooling, vomiting, abdominal pain.
11. Daffodils (Narcissus species)
Spring bulbs deer and rodents avoid because of lycorine alkaloids. Pet safety: TOXIC to dogs, cats, and horses per ASPCA — bulbs are the most concentrated source. Plant in areas pets cannot dig.
12. Ornamental alliums (Allium giganteum, Allium christophii)
Onion-family ornamentals with strong sulphur compounds deer dislike. Pet safety: TOXIC to dogs and cats per ASPCA — all alliums (onion, garlic, leek) damage red blood cells. Plant bulbs where pets cannot dig.
Fuzzy, spiny or leathery foliage
13. Lamb's ear (Stachys byzantina)
Silvery fuzzy leaves deer rarely chew. Excellent silver-leaf perennial. Pet safety: non-toxic per ASPCA.
14. Yucca (Yucca filamentosa, Yucca gloriosa)
Sharp sword-like leaves are physically deterring. Drought-tolerant evergreen. Pet safety: TOXIC to dogs and cats per ASPCA — contains saponins. Avoid if pets chew foliage.
15. Barberry (Berberis species)
Spiny shrub; deer skip it. Note: Berberis thunbergii is invasive in parts of the US northeast — check local guidance and consider native alternatives. Pet safety: generally non-toxic in small amounts; spines are the bigger concern.
16. Holly (Ilex species)
Spiny evergreen leaves deer avoid. Pet safety: holly berries are TOXIC to dogs and cats per ASPCA — causes vomiting and GI upset. Plant where berries don't fall in reach.
17. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Tough hairy aromatic foliage deer leave alone. Pet safety: TOXIC to dogs and cats per ASPCA — causes drooling, vomiting, increased urination.
Tough shrubs and ornamentals
18. Butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii)
Aromatic, fast-growing shrub with strong scent deer avoid. Note: invasive in some US regions — confirm local status; consider native alternatives like buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis). Pet safety: generally non-toxic; not flagged by ASPCA.
19. Spirea (Spiraea species)
Tough shrub with leaves deer mostly ignore. Pet safety: generally non-toxic; not on ASPCA toxic list.
20. Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens)
Leathery aromatic evergreen deer pass by. Pet safety: TOXIC to dogs, cats and horses per ASPCA — contains alkaloids that cause vomiting and diarrhoea. Plant where pets cannot chew foliage.
Plants deer love (avoid in deer country)
If you have heavy deer pressure, skip or fence the following:
- Hostas (the classic deer candy)
- Daylily (
Hemerocallis) - Tulips
- Roses (especially modern hybrid teas)
- Yew (
Taxus) — but yew is also TOXIC to pets per ASPCA, so fence or skip either way - Sunflowers, English ivy at ground level
- Most fruit tree saplings
For a wider rabbit-and-deer-resistant planting plan, see our companion article on rabbit proof plants.
Beyond plant choice — what actually keeps deer out
Plant selection is layer one. For high-value crops and prized ornamentals, also use:
Fencing
A 2.4-metre (8-foot) deer fence is the only physical barrier deer reliably cannot jump. Slanted "outrigger" fences at 1.5 m work because deer judge jumps badly when the obstacle slopes outward. Electric polywire on offsets is effective for vegetable plots.
Scent deterrents
Commercial sprays like Plantskydd, Bobbex and Liquid Fence use putrescent egg, blood, garlic and capsaicin. Rotate brands every 4–6 weeks because deer habituate quickly. Reapply after rain.
Motion-activated sprinklers
Devices like the ScareCrow startle deer with a brief water blast. Move them around the garden every few days to prevent habituation.
Companion planting walls
Ring prized plants (roses, hostas if you must grow them) with a thick band of deer-resistant herbs — lavender, sage, thyme — and the deer often pass by entirely.
Designing a deer-resistant garden by zone
| Zone | Reliable backbone plants |
|---|---|
| US zones 4–6 / UK | Lavender, rosemary (pot), russian sage, lamb's ear, yarrow, daffodils, hellebore |
| US zones 6–8 | Lavender, rosemary, boxwood, holly, butterfly bush, ornamental alliums |
| US zones 8–10 | Rosemary, yucca, lavender, salvias, butterfly bush, native sages |
Prevention going forward
- Layer the defence. Plant resistant species, fence the must-haves, rotate sprays, add motion sprinklers.
- Watch for habituation. Any single tactic eventually fails on its own — rotation matters more than perfection.
- Walk the boundary in winter. Deer pressure peaks in late winter and early spring before new growth.
- Flag pet-toxic plants for visitors. If you plant foxglove, monkshood, hellebore or daffodils, brief anyone bringing dogs into the garden.
Safety boilerplate: Always read product labels for deer repellents and follow manufacturer guidance on application, PPE and re-entry. Pesticide and repellent approvals change — confirm via US EPA or UK HSE before use.
Related articles
- Rabbit proof plants — 15 species rabbits avoid
- Companion planting guide
- Pet safe houseplants — full ASPCA-checked list
- Drought tolerant houseplants
- Garden pest identification — complete guide
Reviewed and updated by the Growli editorial team. For questions about anything here, open Growli and ask — or email hello@getgrowli.app.
Frequently asked questions
What plants will deer not eat?
Deer avoid plants with strong aromatic oils (lavender, rosemary, sage, thyme, mint, Russian sage), toxic alkaloids (foxglove, monkshood, hellebore, daffodils, ornamental alliums), and fuzzy or spiny foliage (lamb's ear, yucca, barberry, holly). No plant is truly deer-proof — hungry deer in late winter will eat anything — so combine resistant plants with fencing and rotating scent deterrents.
What is the most deer-resistant plant?
Lavender, rosemary and ornamental alliums consistently top extension service rankings as plants deer rarely touch. Lavender wins for most home gardens because it is also drought-tolerant, pollinator-friendly and easy to grow in US zones 5–9 and across the UK. For shade, hellebore is a deer-resistant winner. Pair any of these with a 2.4-metre fence around vegetable crops for the strongest result.
Are any deer-resistant plants safe for pets?
Yes. Lavender, rosemary, sage, thyme, lamb's ear, butterfly bush, Russian sage and spirea are generally considered non-toxic or only mildly toxic to dogs and cats. Avoid foxglove, monkshood, daffodils, hellebore, ornamental alliums, yucca, holly berries, yarrow and boxwood if pets graze plants — these are flagged toxic on the ASPCA list. When in doubt, check the ASPCA toxic plants database before planting.
Do marigolds repel deer?
Marigolds have a mixed record. The strong scent deters some deer some of the time, but Rutgers and several extension services rank them only as 'occasionally severely damaged.' Don't rely on marigolds as a primary deer defence. They are far more effective against soil nematodes than against deer. Pair them with stronger picks like lavender, rosemary or yarrow.
What can I plant instead of hostas in a deer area?
For shade, swap hostas for hellebore, ferns (most are deer-resistant), epimedium, brunnera ('Jack Frost' has lovely silver foliage) or astilbe (occasionally browsed but mostly skipped). For partial sun, lamb's ear, yarrow and Russian sage give similar foliage interest without the deer damage. None will match hostas exactly, but a combination of two or three reads beautifully in a shade border.
How tall does a deer fence need to be?
A standard deer fence needs to be 2.4 metres (8 feet) tall to reliably stop white-tailed deer jumping. A slanted outrigger fence at 1.5 metres works because deer struggle to judge angled jumps. Electric polywire on offsets is effective for vegetable plots if you maintain it. Anything shorter than 1.8 metres on a flat plane fails routinely under deer pressure.
Why are some deer-resistant plants toxic to pets?
Deer evolved to avoid plants with cardiac glycosides, alkaloids and saponins because those compounds are toxic to mammals — including cats, dogs and humans. Foxglove (digitoxin), monkshood (aconitine), daffodils (lycorine), hellebore (protoanemonin) and ornamental alliums (sulphur compounds) are deer-resistant precisely because they are poisonous. Plant them only where pets and children cannot access them, and check the ASPCA toxic plants database before adding new species to a pet-friendly garden.
Will deer eat lavender?
Rarely. Lavender is one of the most reliable deer-resistant perennials because of its strong camphor-floral oils. In a hard winter when no other food is available, deer may nibble new growth, but established lavender plants are typically left alone. For maximum deer resistance, choose `Lavandula angustifolia` or `Lavandula x intermedia` (hybrid lavenders) and grow in full sun on well-drained soil.