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One visit from a deer to an avid plant lover's beloved garden can turn a sworn pacifist into a raging maniac begging for a shotgun. It's amazing how much damage can be done in just one night! Rather than let your violent tendencies get the best of you, it's best to take a deep, calming breath and start adjusting your plant palette to include more deer-resistant options.
Labeling plants as "deer-resistant" is a risky business. After all, if a deer is hungry enough, it will eat anything. And we do mean anything. But there are a few plant traits to look for when trying to avoid making your garden a buffet for those voracious varmints. Deer tend to dislike nibbling on fuzzy-leaved plants. Aromatic or strong-tasting plants, like most herbs and Onions, are usually a safe bet, too. Ornamental grasses are often overlooked, as are poisonous plants like Datura. Beyond these options, we've compiled a list of plants that are reported to have some level of deer resistance. We make no guarantees, but this is a good place to start. Good luck!
Vegetables
Artichokes
Asparagus
Beets in summer and fall
Pak choi
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage
Cardoons
Carrots
Cauliflower
Cucumbers
Eggplant
Endive
Escarole
Fava Beans
Fennel
Garlic
Ground Cherry
Horseradish
Hot Chile Peppers
Kale in summer and fall
Leeks
Melons
Onions
Potatoes
Pumpkins
Radicchio
Rhubarb
Rutabagas
Shallots
Shiso
Summer Squash
Sweet Peppers
Sweet Corn
Swiss Chard in summer and fall
Tomatoes
Tomatillos
Winter Squash
Herbs
Basil
Borage
Catnip
Chamomile
Chives
Chinese Chives
Cilantro
Dill
Fennel
Anise Hyssop
Lavender
Lemon Balm
Marjoram
Spearmint
Oregano
Parsley
Rosemary
Sage
Savory
St John’s Wort
Thyme
Flowers
Amaranth
Baby’s Breath
Bachelor's Buttons
Balloon Flower
Bee Balm
Black-Eyed Susan
Blanket Flower
Blazing Stars
Blue Flax
Browallia
Calamint
Calendula
California Poppy
Carnation
Catmint
Celosia
China Asters
Chinese Lantern
Cinquefoil
Cock's Comb
Coleus
Columbine
Coneflower
Coreopsis
Cosmos
Creeping Zinnia
Cutting Ageratum
Datura
Dahlias
Delphinium
Cottage Pinks
English Daisy
Euphorbia
Wild Blue False Indigo
Forget-Me-Not
Foxglove
Globe Amaranth
Globe Thistle
Helichrysum
Heliotrope
Heuchera
Honeywort
Immortelle
Lace Flower
Larkspurs
Love Lies Bleeding
Maltese Cross
Marigolds
Milkweed
Millet
Money Plant
Moss Rose
Nasturtiums
Nictoiana
Nigella
Ornamental Gourds
Ornamental Grasses
Pincushion Flower
Poppies
Red Hot Poker
Salvia
Shasta Daisies
Snapdragon
Soapwort
Spider Flower
Statice
Strawflower
Stock
Sunflowers
Sunset Hyssop
Sweet Alyssum
Verbena
Vinca
Yarrow
Zinnias
