Calling a plant “deer-proof” is like calling the Titanic “sink-proof.” So, first of all, accept this simple truth: a deer will eat ANYTHING, including your car, if he’s hungry enough. During a drought, a rise in the deer population, or any time when food is scarce, deer will expand their pallet and munch on many plants considered resistant.
The following lists include great landscape plants that, while not 100% deer proof, they will be the last ones in the neighborhood to be munched on!
Trees
Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora and others)
Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)
Desert Willow (Chilopsis linearis)
Fig (Ficus spp.)
Flameleaf Sumac (Rhus lanceolata)
Golden Ball Lead Tree (Leucana retusa)
Mountain Laurel (Sophora secundiflora)
Roughleaf dogwood (Cornus drummondii)
Texas Buckeye (Acsculus arguta)
Texas Persimmon (Diospyrus spp.)
Shrubs
Abelia (Abelia spp.)
Acuba (Acuba japonica)
Agarita (Berberis trifoliolata)
American Beautyberry )Callicarpa americana)
Autumn Aster (Aster spp.)
Autumn Sage (Salvia greggii)
Barberry (Berberis thunbergii)
Blackberry (Rubus spp.) (thorny only)
Boxwood (Buxus microphylla)
Barberry -Rose Glow, Crimson Pygmy (Berberis thunbergii)
California Fan Palm (Washitonia filifera)
Ceniza/Texas Sage (Leucophyllum spp.)
Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster dammeri)
Dwarf Chinese Holly (Ixex cornuta)
Dwarf Yaupon (Ilex vomitoria)
Eleagnus (Eleagnus spp.)
Evergreen sumac (Rhus virens)
Fragrant mimosa (Mimosa borealis)
Germander (Teucrium spp.)
Goldcup (Hypericum spp.)
Japanese arealia (Arelia sieboldii)
Jerusalem Cherry (Solanum pseudocapsicum)
Juniper (Juniperus spp.)
Lantana (Lantana spp.)
Lavender (Lavandula spp.)
Mexican Buckeye (Ungnadia speciosa)
Mexican Oregano (Poliomintha longifolia)
Mexican silktassle (Garrya lindheimeri)
Nandina (Nandina spp.)
Oleander (Nerium oleander)
Oregon Grape Holly (Mahonia aquifolium)
Pampas Grass (Cortaderia spp.)
Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia compressa)
Pyracantha (Pyracantha coccinea)
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
Sago Palm (Cycas revoluta)
Scotch Broom (Cytisus scoparius)
Turks cap (Malvaviscus arboreus)
Wax myrtle (Myrica cerifera)
Cactus & Succulents
Cactus (opuntia spp.) any with stout spines
Hen and chickens (Sempervivum spp.)
Lily of the Nile (Agapanthus spp.)
Red Yucca (Hesperalae parvifloria)
Sotol (Dasylirion spp.)
Yucca (Yucca spp.)
Vines
Carolina Jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens)
Honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.)
Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides)
Groundcovers
Aarons Beard (Hypericum calycinum)
Asiatic Jasmine (Trachelospermum asiaticum)
Carpet Bugle (Ajuga reptans)
Monkey grass (Ophiopogon japonica)
Vinca (Vinca major)
Santolina (Santolina spp.)
Spearmint (Menta spicata)
Stonecrop (Sedum)
Thyme (Thymus spp.)
Flowers, Ferns & Herbs
Ageratum (Ageratum spp.)
Begonia (Begonia spp.)
Beebalm (Monarda didyma)
Blackberry Lilly, Candy Lilly (Belamcanda chinensis)
Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
Blackfoot Daisy (Melampodium lecanthum)
Blanket Flower (Gailardia grandiflora)
Bleeding Heart (Dicentra spectabilis)
Bluebonnet (Lupinus texensis)
Blue Mist (Caryopteris x clandonensis ‘Dark Knight’)
Butterfly Weed (Aesclepias spp)
California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica)
Cast-Iron Plant (Aspidistra lurida)
Cedar Sage (Salvia roemeriana)
Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum spp.)
Coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides)
Columbine (Aquilegia spp.)
Coral Bells (Heuchera)
Coreopsis (Coreopsis spp.)
Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus)
Daffodil (Narcissus)
Dusty Miller (Senecio cineraria)
Flame Acanthus (Anisacanthus wrightii)
Foxglove (Digitalis spp.)
Gayfeather (Liatris spicata)
Holly Fern (Cyrtomium falicatum)
Hyssop (Agastache)
Indigo Spires (Salvia spp.)
Iris (Iris spp.)
Lavender, English (Lavandula angustifolia)Lamb’s Ear (Stachys byzantina)
Mealy Blue Sage (Salvia farinacea)
Mexican Bush Sage (Salvia leucanthia)
Mexican Mint Marigold (Tagetes spp.)
Perennial Hibiscus ‘Moy Grande, ‘Lord Baltimore etc. (Hibiscus moschuetos)
Periwinkle (Vinca rosea)
Purple Cone Flower (Echinacea angustifolia)
Red Hot Poker (Kniphofia uvaria)
Rosemary – Creeping & Upright (Rosemarianus officinalis)
Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia)
Savory (Satureia spp.)
Santolina (Santonlina chamaecyparissus)
Shasta Daisy (Chrysanthemum superbum)
Sword Fern (Nephrolepis spp.)
Verbena (Verbena spp.)
Wood Fern (Dryopteris spp.)
Whirling Butterflys (Guara lindheimer)
Wormwood (Artemisia schmidtiana)
Yarrow (Achillea filipendulina)
Zexmenia (Zexmenia hispida)
Zinnia (Zinnia spp.)
Grasses
Blue Oat Grass (Helictotrichon sempervirens)
Japanese Blood Grass (Imperatacylindrica Red Baron)
Japanese Silver Grass (Miscantus sinensis)
Maiden Grass (Miscantussinensis gracillimus)
Sacahuista/Bear Grass/Nolina (Nolina spp.)
Sea Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium)
Palms
All palms tend to be deer resistant!
Don’t forget about deer repellants. Ask a staff member for more details.