Gardening Plants & Flowers Perennials

32 Deer-Resistant Perennials and Herbs to Plant Outside

pink foxglove

The Spruce / Autumn Wood 

There are a number of plants that are coined as deer-resistant, meaning that they aren't deer's first choice for snacking. Though deer are notorious for eating just about anything when they are starving, planting deer-resistant perennials allows you to play the odds through smart plant selection.

If you grow plants that deer are less likely to eat, you increase your chances of escaping pest damage. Alyssum, irises, peonies, foxgloves, poppies, and even certain herbs like lavender and sage are popular plants that deer avoid. Some of these plants are toxic to deer, while others produce strong smells that deer avoid.

All of the 32 perennials and perennial herbs listed here are considered hardy and deer-resistant. By growing a few plants from each of these categories, you can manage to have color in your yard most of the year.

Popular Plants That Deer Avoid

  • 'May Night' Salvia
  • Lavender
  • Bee Balm
  • 01 of 32

    Catmint and Catnip (Nepeta spp.)

    catmint

    The Spruce / Letícia Almeida 

    Catnip (Nepeta cataria) is perhaps the best-known of the catmint plants. Any plant listed as being in the Nepeta genus is considered to be a type of catmint. Catnip can be classified as an herb, whereas the other types of catmint are considered garden flowers. Deer hate the smell of all Nepeta plants, so they generally don't eat them. Most are hardy enough for gardens in zones 3 and 4.

    Catnip isn't grown as an ornamental. It's grown by cat owners because cats are famously attracted to this perennial herb. All you have to do is harvest the leafy stems, hang them up to dry, then crush the dried leaves and flowers for your cat. The flowers bloom in the late spring to early fall. Catnip bears clusters of small blooms that are usually white with light purple markings.

    Ornamental types of catmint, however, are grown precisely for their pretty, long-blooming flowers, which are generally bluish or purplish. They bloom from early summer to early fall.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained
  • 02 of 32

    English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)

    lavender

    The Spruce / Adrienne Legault

    Lavender is one of the classic perennial herbs or subshrubs that are grown for their smell. And that's precisely why deer tend to avoid them: Deer generally stay away from aromatic herbs. Ants also dislike the smell of lavender, which has made this deer-resistant perennial useful for organic ant control.

    English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is the most commonly grown type and is hardy to zone 5. It blooms in mid-summer.

    If you live in a warm climate, you can consider growing Spanish (L. stoechas) or French lavender (L. dentata), which are hardy to zone 7.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9, depending on species
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained, moderately fertile
  • 03 of 32

    Sage (Salvia officinalis)

    Tricolor sage closeup showing the 3 colors on its leaves.
    David Beaulieu

    In addition to the various ornamental species and cultivars of Salvia, there is, of course, the perennial herb, common garden sage (Salvia officianalis), used in flavoring foods such as poultry stuffing. Salvia officinalis 'Tricolor' boasts splendid variegated leaves in three colors (white, green, and purple), making it both an ornamental plant and a culinary herb. Although Tricolor sage bears violet blooms, they are not showy: The plant is grown more for its variegated foliage.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 6 to 9
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained, dry to medium moisture
  • 04 of 32

    Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia)

    Russian sage blooming in a planting bed with other shrubs as a backdrop.
    David Beaulieu

    Russian sage is not really a sage. It is a sub-shrub treated as a perennial flower and has a scent that the deer do not like. It is valued for its silvery-green foliage and its lavender flowers, which bloom in late summer. This late blooming helps you extend the period when you can enjoy color in the yard: When many other plants are done flowering, Russian sage is just beginning to put on its display.

    Because it is a sub-shrub, care for Russian sage is a bit different from that for the average perennial flower. It will grow up to 5 feet tall, but it is a good idea to prune it heavily to encourage new growth. The flowers bloom on new wood, so prune it down to within 6 inches of the ground in spring. In warm areas, deadheading may even result in a second blooming.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 9
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained
    Continue to 5 of 32 below
  • 05 of 32

    Lungwort (Pulmonaria officinalis)

    Closeup of pink and blue flowers on common lungwort.
    David Beaulieu

    This member of the Boraginaceae family may be best known for its speckled foliage. But its floral display is also interesting, giving you pink flowers and blue flowers at the same time. Perhaps most important to gardeners with lots of trees on their properties, it can be grown in the shade garden. Lungwort is one of the earliest plants to bloom in spring.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8
    • Sun Exposure: Part shade to full shade
    • Soil Needs: Organically rich, well-drained, moist
  • 06 of 32

    Speedwell (Veronica spp.)

    Veronica plant with long and thin pink flowers spikes on thin stems

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    This long-bloomer begins flowering in late spring to early summer and continues for the rest of the growing season with a little help from you: You can make its display of blue flowers last longer by shearing.

    There are many kinds of speedwells. One of the most popular among home gardeners is a cultivar called Veronica spicata 'Royal Candles'. From a distance, the plant looks a bit like a small blue salvia. It is another plant suited to zones 3 and 4.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained
  • 07 of 32

    Common Bleeding Hearts (Lamprocapnos spectabilis)

    bleeding hearts

    The Spruce / Autumn Wood  

    The most widely grown bleeding heart is Lamprocapnos spectabilis (formerly known as Dicentra spectabilis). This deer-resistant perennial can become quite large under the right growing conditions. When that happens, it is a spectacular plant, as the species name suggests.

    Fortunately, for those with shaded areas, common bleeding heart (and its relatives, fringed bleeding heart and Dutchman's breeches) thrives in partial shade. You can grow it in full shade, too, but it won't get as large.

    Even as a smaller plant, it can be a real looker, as your attention is drawn to the uniquely shaped individual flowers. The shape of a bleeding heart's flower lives up to the plant's common name, right down to the little droplet dripping out from the bottom.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 6 to 9
    • Sun Exposure: Full shade to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Moist, fertile, well-drained, slightly acid
  • 08 of 32

    Fringed Bleeding Hearts (​Dicentra eximia)

    Dicentra eximia
    Gratysanna / Getty Images

    Fringed bleeding hearts is a smaller plant than its showier cousin, Lamprocapnos spectabilis. Some gardeners prefer this spring bloomer for not only its size, but also its attractive fern-like foliage that lasts through the summer heat, unlike that of common bleeding hearts. It is also hardier, so it's great for those gardening in zones 3 and 4.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9
    • Sun Exposure: Full shade to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Moist, fertile, well-drained
    Continue to 9 of 32 below
  • 09 of 32

    Dutchman's Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria)

    Dutchman's Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria), Ontario, Canada
    Doug Gordon / Getty Images

    Yet another spring-blooming plant in the Dicentra genus is Dutchman's breeches. One look at this plant's unique flowers tells you where it gets its common name.

    Another distinctive feature of this deer-resistant perennial is its short seasonal life. Its leaves do not hang around for very long at all, and soon after it is done flowering, the whole plant (above ground) disappears. You will not see it again until the next spring. But, its hardiness makes it great for those gardening in zones 3 and 4.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 7
    • Sun Exposure: Part shade to full shade
    • Soil Needs: Moist, rich, well-drained, acid
  • 10 of 32

    Yellow Alyssum (Aurinia saxatilis)

    Yellow alyssum plant with bunches of tiny yellow flower clusters

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    You may know yellow alyssum better by such common names as "Basket of Gold," a reference to both the abundance of its flowers and their striking color. This yellow alyssum, when planted in masses and displayed to best advantage, will give your landscape jaw-dropping beauty in spring.

    Aurinia saxatilis is a short, mat-forming plant, making it an effective ground cover. Its blue-grey leaves only add to its value, as does your ability to grow it in zones 3 and 4.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 7
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained, poor
  • 11 of 32

    Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)

    foxglove

    The Spruce / Autumn Wood  

    There is a good reason why deer leave this spring bloomer alone: it's poisonous. Digitalis plants are tall, slender perennials at 2 to 5 feet tall and just 1 to 2 feet wide. Their height makes them good choices for the back row of a layered flower bed. Meanwhile, as plants that tolerate dry shade, they are useful for filling up spots in your landscaping where many other plants would be unhappy.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 10
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained, loamy
  • 12 of 32

    Salvia (Salvia spp.)

    blue salvia

    The Spruce / Margot Cavin

    The hardy perennial salvia plants are known for their blue/purple flowers. They are ornamental "sage" plants and related to the herb of the same name. They include a range of species, most of which are considered deer-resistant for the same reason that deer do not eat many other deer-resistant perennials: they stink (to the deer, at least).

    If deer do eat one of these plants, they'll likely go for the flowers before the foliage. Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna' is a favorite for its dark, graceful flower spikes. If you deadhead them, perennial salvias will bloom from late spring until the first fall frosts.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 10
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained, dry to medium moisture
    Continue to 13 of 32 below
  • 13 of 32

    Bearded Iris (Iris germanica)

    Bearded iris plant with purple and white ruffled petals on stems

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Many irises are hardy enough to be grown in zones 3 or 4. It is not just poisonous plants and plants with strong, sharp odors that deer mostly avoid. For some reason, ornamental grasses are not a favorite food, either. And, in addition to plants with unpleasant odors, deer, strangely enough, do not eat plants that smell perfumy.

    That works out well for people who love to grow perennials with sweet-smelling flowers, such as many plants in the Iris genus. Not all irises are equally fragrant. When in doubt, try to find the old-fashioned bearded varieties. Irises come in numerous colors: orange, yellow, reddish, blue, purple, brown, white, black, and pink. Bloom time depends on variety (spring or summer).

    • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Sandy or gravelly, well-drained, medium moisture
  • 14 of 32

    Lamb's Ear (Stachys byzantina)

    Lamb's ear plant with silvery-green leaves on white stems

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Lamb's ear is another case of a deer-resistant perennial that is hard to figure. It is easy to see why deer would not want to eat prickly plants; it is not so easy to figure out why deer are turned off by the velvety leaves of lamb's ear. Maybe they are too dry (like eating wool).

    Lamb's ear spreads easily, making it an effective ground cover. A drought-tolerant perennial, it also works well in rock gardens. Its soft, silver leaves provide a nice backdrop for companion plants. It does flower (in pink, purple, or white), but it is grown mainly for its foliage.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 7
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained, dry to medium moisture, slightly acid
  • 15 of 32

    Lenten Rose (Helleborus orientalis)

    lenten rose

    The Spruce / Kara Riley

    Lenten rose is one of those spring flowers that bloom early in the season. For this reason, it is much-valued by those who must endure long bouts of cabin fever every winter. It is also valued as a shade plant.

    Technically, the showy feature of this deer-resistant perennial is called a "sepal," as opposed to a true flower petal. Call this feature what you like, but what is impressive is how long the plant retains it, giving you something interesting to look at in the garden for months. The sepals come in purple, red, yellow, green, blue, lavender, and pink.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 9
    • Sun Exposure: Part shade
    • Soil Needs: Rich, moist, well-drained
  • 16 of 32

    Peony (Paeonia lactiflora)

    peony

    The Spruce / Autumn Wood

    The splendid peony has large, beautiful, fragrant, spring-blooming flowers. It does not need to be fussed over. These flowers live a long life; your peonies may outlive you! If you have never given them a try before, you now have an excuse to do so if you are seeking deer-resistant perennials, especially if you live in zone 2, in which few of the common garden plants are hardy.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 9
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Fertile, well-drained, neutral to slightly acid
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  • 17 of 32

    Oriental Poppy (Papaver orientale)

    Oriental poppy flower with vibrant orange petals next to buds

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Large, brightly-colored, spring-blooming flowers with the texture of crepe paper have long made oriental poppies a favorite in the garden, especially for those seeking cut flowers. Like some of the other deer-resistant perennials, this classic cottage garden plant is toxic. It is another plant suited to zones 3 and 4.

    This is a specimen you will want to locate somewhere where you can fully appreciate the beauty of its flowers during the blooming period (May or June, depending on where you live). Oriental poppies put on a spectacular, although brief, floral show. Dry the pods left over after the blooming period for craft projects.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained, fertile
  • 18 of 32

    Jack Frost Bugloss (Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost')

    Jack frost brunnera plant with variegated white and green leaves with tiny blue flowers

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost' is one of those plants that you grow primarily as a foliage plant. Such plants are like true friends: You can count on them to be there for you after many a fickle flower has deserted you.

    Jack Frost bears small blue flowers in spring, but its most interesting feature is its variegated silver leaves with green veins. It is cold-hardy enough to grow in zones 3 and 4 and takes shade well.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9
    • Sun Exposure: Part shade to full shade
    • Soil Needs: Rich, moist
  • 19 of 32

    Columbine (Aquilegia spp.)

    Columbine plant with small pink flowers on thin stems

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Columbine plants display colorful flowers against a backdrop of attractive, clover-like foliage. They come in many different colors, including bicolored varieties, yellow, white, red, blue, pink, and purple. Columbine is truly one of the stars of the spring garden. It's not only deer-resistant, but it's also drought-tolerant and is attractive to bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Gardeners in zones 3 and 4 will appreciate its hardiness.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Rich, well-drained
  • 20 of 32

    Columbine Meadow Rue (Thalictrum aquilegifolium)

    Columbine meadow rue plant with frilly pink flowers and buds on thin stems

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    If you like the foliage of columbine, then you would probably also enjoy a plant called Columbine meadow rue. It is called that because of its columbine-like leaves, which make it attractive long after its flowers have disappeared. The plant can produce white, purple, or mauve flowers, which bloom in spring. This is a tall plant, reaching about 3 feet in height, so it's suitable for the back row of a flower bed. Columbine meadow rue is a great choice for woodland gardens because it likes a little shade.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 8
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Rich, well-drained, loamy, medium moisture
    Continue to 21 of 32 below
  • 21 of 32

    Rose Campion (Lychnis coronaria)

    Rose campion plant with small and flat pink flowers on thin stems

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Rose campion has silvery foliage. It blooms in late spring with vibrant rose-magenta flowers that last for a long time. This perennial is an invasive plant, so do not make a snap decision about growing it. Many gardeners find that, once established, they have to go around the yard and pull it up from places where it does not belong. To help contain the plants, deadhead the flowers as soon as the bloom is over to prevent the natural spreading of seeds.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Moist to dry, well-drained
  • 22 of 32

    Larkspur (Delphinium spp.)

    Larkspur plant with bright blue flower clusters on thin stems

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Delphinium is another old-time favorite for cottage gardens. Plant it next to a south-facing fence with companion plants sprawling at its feet, and let its graceful flower stalks shoot skywards. In addition to their deer resistance, these perennials are valued for their true-blue flowers (although they also bloom in pink, purple, or white). For some types, the sky-blue color is as stunning as it is on the blue morning glory vines (Ipomoea tricolor).

    The center of the flower of larkspur is called the "bee." It has nothing to do with the insect. These bees are sometimes white or black, and they may or may not be distinct. Most larkspurs bloom in early summer.

    Larkspurs are a "live fast, die young" kind of plant. They shoot up quickly and stand head and shoulders above most other flowers but are very short-lived for a perennial.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 7
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Fertile, well-drained, evenly moist
  • 23 of 32

    Daffodil (Narcissus)

    Narcissus Replete flower.

    David Beaulieu 

    The daffodil grows from a bulb and is another hardy plant suitable for zones 3 and 4. Such bulb plants are often grouped together in their own category. Since, however, daffodils come up every year, they can also be grouped with perennials.

    The daffodil is not only deer-resistant but also resistant to most other pests. In fact, perhaps a bigger pest problem for many growers of bulbs is squirrels, which tend to undo all your hard work by coming along and digging up the bulbs you so carefully planted. But the daffodil is one bulb that squirrels won't touch.

    It is a spring bloomer, nicely complementing the late bloomers on this list in the pursuit of spring-to-fall color in the yard. Besides the classic yellow, it also comes in white, orange, apricot, and pink. Some daffodils have bi-colored flowers.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Moist but well drained
  • 24 of 32

    Forget-Me-Not (Myosotis sylvatica)

    Closeup of forget-me-not flowers.
    David Beaulieu

    A member of the borage family (like lungwort), blue is the signature color for forget-me-nots, although other colors (white, yellow, pink) do exist. Depending on the variety and the conditions, they bloom in spring or summer. These perennials with tiny but numerous blossoms are fast growers, so they're perfect for impatient gardeners. They are hardy enough to grow in zones 3 and 4.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained, moist
    Continue to 25 of 32 below
  • 25 of 32

    Tickseed (Coreopsis spp.)

    Moonbeam coreopsis in bloom in mulched bed next to pavement.
    David Beaulieu

    A long-blooming perennial with daisy-like flowers, tickseed comes in a few colors (yellow, orange, pink, red, maroon). A bushy plant, it begins flowering in early summer and blooms through September if you deadhead it.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 9
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained, sandy
  • 26 of 32

    Coneflower (Echinacea spp.)

    Firebird coneflower (image) closeup showing its orange flower.
    David Beaulieu

    Coneflower is a long-blooming perennial known for attracting birds and butterflies and for bearing attractive, daisy-like flowers in summer. The best-known species is the purple-flowered purpurea, but there are many others. Many can be grown as far north as zone 3. Some of the more popular types now are cultivars such as 'Firebird,' which has orange flowers. Other colors include yellow, white, pink, lavender, and red.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial sun
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained, fertile soil high in organic matter
  • 27 of 32

    Rodgers Flower (Rodgersia pinnata)

    Rodgers flower shrub with tall white flower spikes above large leaves

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Rodgersia pinnata is one of those deer-resistant perennials that you can categorize in a number of ways. Some gardeners think of it mainly as an outdoor foliage plant (even though it does produce a plume of flowers), but it is also a shade plant and a good plant to grow in wet areas. The large plumes (1 to 1.5 feet) bloom in June and/or July.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 7
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
    • Soil Needs: Rich, moist, well-drained
  • 28 of 32

    Sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale)

    Closeup of orange flowers of a sneezeweed plant.

    AYImages/Getty Images

    Sneezeweed is a late-bloomer, beginning in late summer and continuing (potentially) right up to the first fall frosts. It's also hardy up to zone 3. These features make it invaluable to gardeners trying to squeeze that last bit of color out of the garden before winter sets in, or people who garden in areas with cold winters.

    This North American native becomes 2 to 5 feet tall, suiting it to the middle or back row of a flower bed.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Moist, well-drained
    Continue to 29 of 32 below
  • 29 of 32

    Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

    Closeup of Paprika, a red type of yarrow.
    David Beaulieu

    A good choice for zones 3 and 4, yarrow blooms during the summer and fall. Flower colors include purple, white, yellow, pink, orange, red, and bi-colored. A butterfly magnet, this long-blooming perennial sports fragrant, feathery foliage and flattened flower clusters.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained
  • 30 of 32

    Bee Balm (Monarda didyma)

    Red bee balm flower.
    vermontalm/Getty Images

    Bee balm offers an extra-hardy option, making it an excellent choice for gardeners in zones 3 and 4. Many grow this native North American wildflower for its ability to attract birds, bees, and butterflies. It bears brightly colored flowers throughout much of the summer

    • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
    • Soil Needs: Rich, moist
  • 31 of 32

    Bog Onion (Arisaema triphyllum)

    Jack-in-the-pulpit hood with stripes.

    Masahiro Nakano/a.collectionRF/Getty Images

    Also known as Jack-in-the-pulpit, this curious plant is not grown for its flowers, which appear in spring: It is grown for the unusual housing for those flowers. The "pulpit" is a hood-like structure that sits atop this perennial. "Jack" is the little spike that stands up within this hood and contains the flowers.

    If you like plants that are cute and funky, this North American native could be a good one for you to grow. You have extra reasons to grow it if you garden in the shade and your yard suffers from deer attacks.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 9
    • Sun Exposure: Part shade to full shade
    • Soil Needs: Rich, damp, acid
  • 32 of 32

    Wall Germander (Teucrium chamaedrys )

    Wall germander plant with tall thin stems clustered with tiny pink flowers

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Wall germander is another perennial herb or subshrub that deer tend not to eat. This perennial for zones 5 to 9 does wonders in the knot gardens of traditional formal landscapes since you can grow it in rows to form "living edging." Wall germander is not as well known as it once was, but it's making a comeback as a plant whose flowers attract bees. Visually, however, the lavender or purple flowers, which bloom in July, are unimpressive; the plant is grown for its foliage.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained, dry to medium moisture

Tip

Learning about deer-resistant plant types is a good start, but local gardeners and extension services will give you even more ideas for plants that thrive locally and are generally avoided by deer. Ask around!