Deer Resistant Annuals, Perennials, Shrubs, & Trees

Bambi. He’s so majestic, and part of the joy of living and gardening in Colorado Springs is watching the deer walk through your yard on a peaceful morning. That is, until Bambi gets hungry and devours your plants! Deer are not picky eaters and with a population of 445,000 in Colorado, it’s a problem many a local plant lovers will run into. Annuals, perennials, and even bulbs are fair game for a snack, but by choosing deer resistant plant materials and spraying safe deer repellants you can enjoy seeing the deer in your yard without feeding the neighborhood herd.

"While no plant is safe, there are some plants that are less desirable to deer like potentillas, barberries, some grasses, some spirea, Russian sage."

TL;DR: What Plants do Deer NOT Eat?

Answer:

No plant is completely safe from deer, but choosing deer-resistant varieties can make a big difference. Great options include annuals like marigolds and zinnias, perennials such as black-eyed Susan and Russian sage, and shrubs like lilac and potentilla. Trees such as spruce, fir, and serviceberry also tend to hold up well. For added protection, using sprays with strong scents or tastes—like mint, egg, or spices—can help keep deer away. These are widely available to buy, or see below how to make your own!

Deer Resistant Plants

It is important to note that no plant is 100% deer proof. A very hungry animal will eat what it must to survive. These plants are known to perform well amongst hungry deer and rabbit.

Perennials:

Black Eyed Susan

Blanket Flower

Bleeding Heart

Catmint

Columbine

Coneflower

Coreopsis

Gayfeather

Iris

Lily of the Valley

Lupine

May Night Salvia

Russian Sage

Sedum

Shasta Daisy

Yarrow

Annuals:

Alyssum

Bidens

Dusty Miller

Lobelia

Marigold

Salvia

Verbena

Zinnia

Trees:

Crape Myrtle

Maple

Serviceberry

Spruce

White Fir

Bushes & Shrubs:

Blue Mist Spirea

Butterfly Bush

Lilac

Mock Orange

Potentilla

Viburnum

Yarrow, Russian Sage, Barberry, and Coreopsis provide great color.

Bulbs:

Autumn Crocus

Daffodil

Fritillaria

Hyacinth

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

I’m Elysa Matthews with Timberline Landscaping, and today we’ll be talking about deer resistant plants.

While no plant is safe, there are some plants that are less desirable to deer like potentillas, barberries, some grasses, some spirea, Russian sage.

It really just depends on how much rain we’re getting that year and what is out in nature for the deer, because if it’s been a really dry and hot summer and winter, they’re going to be looking for other things that they don’t normally eat. They will be munching on that stuff. So, depending on the type of year we’ve had, it really just depends on how much the deer are in the yard.

Think of things that are thorny. Barberries have thorns. They’re not really going to be looking at that. Some of the viburnums have a leathery leaf, so they’re not really munching on those as much. They’re not big on texture, high scented, thorny plants.

If you’re looking at incorporating more deer resistant shrubs and trees into your landscape, please call Timberline Landscaping.

Deer Favorites to Avoid

Clematis
Coleus
Geraniums
Hosta

Pansies
Petunias
Tulips

If some of your favorite plants and flowers are in line with what deer love to lunch on you can try a deer repellant spray to deter them. The goal with these sprays is to use both a taste and smell that deer do not like. Often this is a combination of mint, egg, and spices. A variety of these sprays are available at local nurseries or you can attempt to make your own.

Deer deterrent being sprayed on flowers.