Deer will eat anything in the perennial garden if they are hungry enough. However, a garden composed of deer proof flowers, ferns, and ornamental grass plants will have greatly reduced or insignificant damage.
-
Brunnera macrophylla 'Alexander's Great' PP 25,789
Item #: 6251
Zones: 3a to 7b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 15" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Mediterranean Europe
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $22.00Regular priceUnit price perSale price $22.00 -
Sold outBrunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost'
Item #: 3367
Zones: 3a to 7b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 12" tall
Culture: Light Shade to Shade
Origin: Mediterranean Europe
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $22.00Regular priceUnit price perSale price $22.00Sold out -
Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack of Diamonds' PP32752
Item #: 15742
Zones: 3a to 7b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 14" tall
Culture: Light Shade to Shade
Origin: Mediterranean Europe
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $22.00Regular priceUnit price perSale price $22.00Sold out -
Brunnera macrophylla 'Queen of Hearts' PP 32,737
Item #: 15741
Zones: 3a to 7b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 18" tall
Culture: Light Shade to Shade
Origin: Mediterranean Europe
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $22.00Regular priceUnit price perSale price $22.00 -
Buddleia davidii 'Butterfly Gold' PP 33,807
Item #: 18349
Zones: 6a to 9b, at least
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 84" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3 qt. (2.8 L)
Regular price $28.00Regular priceUnit price perSale price $28.00 -
Buddleia 'Ellen's Blue'
Item #: 4260
Zones: 5a to 9b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 48" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3 qt. (2.8 L)
Regular price $29.00Regular priceUnit price perSale price $29.00 -
Buddleia 'Evil Ways'
Item #: 7905
Zones: 5a to 9b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 48" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3 qt. (2.8 L)
Regular price $29.00Regular priceUnit price perSale price $29.00 -
Buddleia 'Grand Cascade' PP 30,868
Item #: 13263
Zones: 5a to 9b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 66" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 2 qt. (1.9 L)
Regular price $30.00Regular priceUnit price perSale price $30.00 -
Sold outBuddleia 'Lilac Cascade' PP 33,844
Item #: 16775
Zones: 5a to 9b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 48" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 2 qt. (1.9 L)
Regular price $30.00Regular priceUnit price perSale price $30.00Sold out -
Sold outBuddleia lindleyana
Item #: 88
Zones: 5a to 9b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 72" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: China
Pot Size: 3 qt. (2.8 L)
Regular price $29.00Regular priceUnit price perSale price $29.00Sold out -
Buddleia 'Orange Sceptre'
Item #: 8533
Zones: 8a to 10b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 96" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3 qt. (2.8 L)
Regular price $32.00Regular priceUnit price perSale price $32.00 -
Buddleia 'Pink Cascade II' PP 35,438
Item #: 17595
Zones: 5a to 9b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 48" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 2 qt. (1.9 L)
Regular price $30.00Regular priceUnit price perSale price $30.00 -
Sold outCalamintha nepeta var. nepeta
Item #: 3501
Zones: 5a to 8a, at least
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 20" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: Southern Europe
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $21.00Regular priceUnit price perSale price $21.00Sold out -
Calycanthus 'Aphrodite' PP 24,014
Item #: 17466
Zones: 6a to 9b, at least
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 96" tall
Culture: Sun to Light Shade
Origin: United States Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $32.00Regular priceUnit price perSale price $32.00 -
Calycanthus floridus 'Burgundy Spice' PP 28,886
Item #: 14285
Zones: 6a to 9b, at least
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 96" tall
Culture: Sun to Light Shade
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $32.00Regular priceUnit price perSale price $32.00 -
Sold outCarex appalachica
Item #: 5793
Zones: 4a to 7b, at least
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 6" tall
Culture: Light Shade to Shade
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $22.00Regular priceUnit price perSale price $22.00Sold out -
Carex bromoides
Item #: 12439
Zones: 4a to 8b, at least
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 6" tall
Culture: Sun to Shade
Origin: Canada, United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $22.00Regular priceUnit price perSale price $22.00 -
Carex cherokeensis 'Crying Time'
Item #: 16663
Zones: 6a to 9b, possibly colder
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 30" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $22.00Regular priceUnit price perSale price $22.00 -
Carex eburnea
Item #: 1602
Zones: 2a to 8b, possibly warmer
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 6" tall
Culture: Sun to Shade
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $22.00Regular priceUnit price perSale price $22.00 -
Carex 'Feather Falls' PP 26,199
Item #: 16730
Zones: 6a to 9b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 24" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $22.00Regular priceUnit price perSale price $22.00 -
Carex gentilis ssp. nakaharae 'Yushan'
Item #: 9383
Zones: 7a to 9b, possibly colder
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 18" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Taiwan
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $23.00Regular priceUnit price perSale price $23.00Next crop available: 03/20/2026Sold out -
Carex howei 'Bonnie and Clyde'
Item #: 8727
Zones: 5a to 9b, guessing
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 15" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $23.00Regular priceUnit price perSale price $23.00 -
Carex howei 'Willow the Wisp'
Item #: 17608
Zones: 5a to 9b, guessing
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 18" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $23.00Regular priceUnit price perSale price $23.00 -
Carex lanceolata 'Silk Tassel'
Item #: 1197
Zones: 5a to 9b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 10" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Shade
Origin: Japan
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $23.00Regular priceUnit price perSale price $23.00
More Information About Deer Resistant Plants
Our list of deer proof plants (mainly perennials) is based on our own experiences and compiled from print and online garden plant sources around the country, but we cannot guarantee that your deer will comply with these rules. Keep in mind that deer are like people at a buffet, each has a different palette. And of course, deer don't read online lists of deer resistant flowers so bucks and does do not know which plants deer won't eat.
Deer will eat, or at least nibble on anything in the perennial garden (including the normally deer-resistant ferns and ornamental grasses) if they are hungry enough. However, a garden composed of deer proof flowers, ferns, and ornamental grass plants will have greatly reduced or insignificant damage.
Deer browse is worse if you use chemical fertilizers and force lush new plant growth, so stick to organic fertilizers. We recommend black deer netting as the only sure deer repellent for your plants (www.bennersgardens.com). Whether you are looking for deer proof perennials for shade or sun, we have a nice selection for you to choose from. Our deer tolerant plants can save you from lots of headaches in the garden.
Top 5 Deer Resistant Plants for Shade
Here are 5 of our favorite deer resistant perennials for shade. See our fern list below for deer resistant options for your woodland garden.
- Amorphophallus
- Aspidistra
- Helleborus
- Illicium
- Ruscus
Top 5 Deer Resistant Plants for Sun
If you have a sunny spot that deer love, here a some of the most popular deer resistant perennials for sun.
- Agave
- Allium
- Brugmansia
- Colocasia
- Euphorbia
Deer Resistant Ferns
We are often asked "Do deer eat ferns?" and the answer in short is, yes... if they are hungry enough. The deer resistant ferns below offer the best chances on discouraging deer from foraging in your perennial garden.
-
Adiantum (Maidenhair Fern)
-
Arachniodes (Spider Fern)
-
Athyrium (Japanese Painted Fern)
-
Cyrtomium (Holly Fern)
-
Cystopteris (Bladder Fern)
-
Dryopteris (Autumn Fern)
-
Matteuccia (Ostrich Fern)
-
Onoclea (Sensitive Fern)
-
Onychium (Cat's Claw Fern)
-
Polystichum (Christmas Fern)
-
Pteris (Table Fern)
-
Thelypteris (Maiden Fern)
Be sure to read our article Deer Deer - We're Closed for Dinner which goes into more detail on plants that deer will typically not eat.
























