No plant is impervious to deer. However, they’ll definitely go for some plants before others.
If you are luckily to live near a wooded or less densely populated area, you might be unlucky enough that deer are a menace in your garden. They are lovely, gentle creatures but they can destroy prized plants in a matter of moments.
The easiest way to deal with deer is simply to avoid the plants that they love best. Granted, if deer are hungry enough, they’ll eat about any green thing, but avoiding their favorites (roses, tulips, etc.) will minimize damage.
The University of Minnesota horticulture extension put together this list of annuals and perennials that deer are less likely to eat.
Click here for a printer-friendly Acrobat.pdf version of this list.
Deer-Resistant Annuals
Amaranth
Castor bean
Chinese forget-me-not
Cosmos
Creeping zinnia
Cupflower/nierembergia
Dusty miller
French marigolds
Globe amaranth
Mexican tulip (poppy/golden cup)
Ornamental pepper
Periwinkle
Polygonum
Salvia
Signet marigold
Snapdragon
Snow-on-the-mountain (Euphorbia marginata)
Spider flower (Cleome)
Sweet alyssum
Wax begonia
Zinnia
Deer-Resistant Perennials
Ajuga/bugleweed
Allium
Amsonia
Baby’s-breath
Bleeding-heart
Butterfly weed
Coralbells
Coreopsis
Cranesbill
Flax
Foxglove
Gas plant
Gayfeather/liatris
Globe thistle
Golden marguerite
Lamb’s ears
Lily-of-the-valley
Lungwort
Lupine
Monkshood
Oriental poppy
Pachysandra
Peony
Plume poppy
Rose campion
Sage
Speedwell
Turtlehead
Wormwood
Yarrow
Repellents Don’t Work
By the way, studies show that those repellents designed to prevent deer don’t work. Irish spring soap hanging on a tree, human hair, fox urine (human urine!). At best, some commercially available formulations may deter them for a short time until there is a rain.
The only absolute way to deter deer is with fencing and possibly some of the mechanisms that startle them, like a motion-activated sound or light.
Other Links Of Interest:
Deer-Resistant Trees And Shrubs For Iowa
Understanding Cool-season And Warm-season Annuals
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