If you love gardening but struggle with deer destroying your plants, you’re not alone. Many homeowners in the northeast face the challenge of keeping their landscapes beautiful while deterring hungry deer. The good news? There are plenty of attractive, resilient, deer-resistant flowers, trees, and shrubs that you can plant this spring, summer, or fall. Whether you’re looking for the familiar plants you see in your neighborhood or native, non-invasive options, there are tons of options to choose from.
These are the most popular deer-resistant plants.
You’re likely to recognize most of these plants. They’re all great choices for homeowners who want vibrant gardens without worrying about deer damage.
Flowers (perennial)
- Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) – Doesn’t everyone love these sunny perennials? Rudbeckia has a bright,
Rudbeckia cheerful flower with golden-yellow petals and a tough, deer-resistant nature.
- Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) – As lovely in your garden as your teacup, echinacea is hardy, long-blooming, and attractive to pollinators –– but not to deer.
- Lavender (Lavandula spp.) – Classic lavender has a strong fragrance that keeps deer at bay while adding a touch of purple beauty.
- Peonies (Paeonia spp.) – Gorgeous peonies come in a wide array of colours. Their large, fragrant blooms deter deer and bring elegance to any garden.
- Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) – While you may not recognize the name, Russian Sage is a popular perennial. Its tall, airy blue-purple flowers have aromatic foliage that deer dislike.
- Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) – While yellow is the most commonly seen color, yarrow may also be red or pink.In any hue, it is a hardy, drought-tolerant plant with delicate clusters of flowers and feathery foliage. Its aromatic fragrance is unappealing to deer.
Trees and shrubs
- Japanese andromeda (Pieris japonica) – This shade-loving evergreen has toxic (but lovely) early-spring blooms that deer tend to avoid. Japanese andromeda are hardy and available in a variety of cultivars.
Japanese Andromeda - Boxwood (Buxus spp.) – If you’ve been with Connecticut Green for a few years, you know we love Boxwood. It’s a classic and versatile landscape shrub with dense foliage that deer rarely touch.
- Butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii) – This beautiful deciduous shrub is popular because it successfully attracts butterflies and other pollinators while resisting deer. Be careful with butterfly bush, though –– it can be invasive, choking out native plants and spreading beyond the boundaries of your property.
- Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) – Spicebush seems to attract birds the way butterfly bush attracts pollinators. Even better, it’s a fragrant, native shrub that deer avoid, perfect for Connecticut landscapes.
- Winterberry holly (Ilex verticillata) – Winterberry holly puts on a show with vibrant red berries in winter and
Common Boxwood is mostly ignored by deer. Be forewarned though: To get those beautiful berries, you’ll need both a male and a female plant.
- Dogwood (Cornus spp.) – While not all dogwoods are unappealing to deer, some species are more deer-resistant than others. Native varieties like the red osier dogwood, the red twigged dogwood, and the stunning Kuosa dogwood tree can hold their own.
Native, Non-Invasive Alternatives
If, while keeping deer at bay, you’d also like to support Connecticut’s local ecosystems, these native and non-invasive plants are excellent choices.
Perennial flowers
- Wild geranium (Geranium maculatum) – Wild geranium is a charming, shade-tolerant perennial with lavender-pink flowers.
Bee balm - Bee balm (Monarda didyma) – Festive-looking bee balm is loved by pollinators and avoided by deer thanks to its fragrant leaves.
- Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) – Graceful columbine is a delicate native flower that thrives in shade or sun. While there are many varieties of columbine, ours has a red and yellow bloom.
- Goldenrod (Solidago spp.) – While not everyone’s favorite, goldenrod does provide bright late-season color and nectar without inviting deer. It can bring height and a nice pop of yellow to a well-planned perennial garden.
- Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia) – Where goldenrod brings height, foamflower provides a fantastic ground cover with delicate white blooms.
Trees and shrubs
- Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) – A tough, evergreen tree, the eastern red cedar isn’t a cedar at all! It’s actually a juniper that deer tend to ignore.
Serviceberry tree - Serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis) – This small native tree produces edible berries birds love (including the beautiful cedar waxwing). Serviceberries are edible for humans too –– but apparently unpopular with deer.
- Sweet pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia) – The sweet pepperbush is a pretty, fragrant summer-blooming shrub that grows in partial shade and resists deer.
- Bayberry (Morella pensylvanica) – Great for homes closer to the shore, bayberry (also known as wax myrtle) is a native, salt-tolerant shrub with aromatic leaves that repel deer and many insects. They’re fast-growing and can make great privacy hedges. The berries can be tough for some birds to eat, but they are popular with eastern bluebirds and red-bellied woodpeckers.
- New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus) – While we may have a bit of a rivalry with our friends in The Garden State, we can all agree that New Jersey tea is a great choice for native gardens in the New York Metro. This small shrub is easy to care for, and its white flowers are popular with pollinators. It makes a great ground cover that is unappealing (but not impervious) to deer.
Planting for Success
What’s the best time to plant? Well, that depends on the species.
- Spring and early summer: The warmer (but not warmest) moths are ideal for perennials like coneflower, bee
New Jersey Tea balm, and peonies.
- Late summer and fall: Before the ground freezes, it’s a perfect time to plant trees and shrubs like dogwood, serviceberry, and winterberry, allowing roots to establish before winter.
By choosing the right deer-resistant plants, you can enjoy a thriving garden without the frustration of losing your hard work to hungry visitors. Whether you’re looking for popular options or native alternatives, Connecticut Green is here to help you create a beautiful, sustainable landscape.
Have questions about which plants will work best for your yard? Contact us today for expert advice!
More resources
If you’re interested in learning about more options for deer-resistant plants and their native alternatives, check out these expert resources:
- University of Connecticut (UConn) Extension – Deer-resistant plant recommendations for Connecticut gardens.
Bee balm - Audubon Connecticut — Start with this list of 15 deer-resistant native plants with images.
- Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) – Lists of invasive species and native plant alternatives.
- The Native Plant Trust – Expert advice on non-invasive plants for New England.
- Rutgers University Deer-Resistant Plant Database – Research-backed rankings of plants based on deer resistance.
- Missouri Botanical Garden & Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center – Extensive plant databases with native species information.
We’re always here to answer your questions, and with more safe solutions for your lawn and garden.
