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.
-
Colocasia esculenta 'Black Coral' PP 23,896
Item #: 9580
Zones: 7b to 10b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 42" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: Eastern Asia
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $27.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Colocasia esculenta 'Black Magic'
Item #: 1818
Zones: 7b to 10b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 60" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: Eastern Asia
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $27.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Colocasia esculenta 'Black Runner'
Item #: 4867
Zones: 7b to 10b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 54" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: Eastern Asia
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $26.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Colocasia esculenta 'Blue Hawaii' PP 20,003
Item #: 8042
Zones: 7b to 10b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 30" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: Eastern Asia
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $27.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Colocasia esculenta 'Coal Miner'
Item #: 6901
Zones: 7a to 10b, at least
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 54" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: Eastern Asia
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $27.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Colocasia esculenta 'Diamond Head' PP 19,939
Item #: 7245
Zones: 7b to 10b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 48" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $27.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Colocasia esculenta 'Elepaio'
Item #: 5370
Zones: 7b to 10b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 36" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: Eastern Asia
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $30.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Colocasia esculenta 'Hawaiian Punch' PP 24,596
Item #: 2469
Zones: 7b to 10b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 36" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: Eastern Asia
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $27.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Colocasia esculenta 'Jack's Giant'
Item #: 7400
Zones: 7a to 10b, at least
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 84" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: Eastern Asia
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $27.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Colocasia esculenta 'Lemonade'
Item #: 8067
Zones: 7b to 10b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 84" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: Eastern Asia
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $27.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Colocasia esculenta 'Lemon-Lime Gecko'
Item #: 4915
Zones: 7b to 10b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 54" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: Eastern Asia
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $27.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Colocasia esculenta 'Maui Gold' PP 24,482
Item #: 2032
Zones: 7b to 10b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 48" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: Eastern Asia
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $27.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Colocasia esculenta 'Maui Sunrise' PP 31,175
Item #: 14267
Zones: 7b to 10b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 36" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: Eastern Asia
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $27.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Colocasia esculenta 'Mojito' PP 21,995
Item #: 8545
Zones: 7b to 10b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 36" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: Eastern Asia
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $27.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Colocasia esculenta 'Pharaoh's Mask' PP 33,772
Item #: 15723
Zones: 7b to 10b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 42" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: Eastern Asia
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $35.00Regular priceUnit price perNext crop available: 06/28/2024Sold out -
Colocasia esculenta 'Redemption' PP 34,729
Item #: 17918
Zones: 7b to 10b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 48" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: Eastern Asia
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $35.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Colocasia esculenta var. antiquorum 'Black Beauty'
Item #: 7727
Zones: 7a to 10b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 30" tall
Culture: Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Eastern Asia
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $26.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Colocasia esculenta 'Waikiki' PP 34,615
Item #: 17034
Zones: 7b to 10b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 42" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: Eastern Asia
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $28.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Colocasia esculenta 'White Lava' PP 24,481
Item #: 2867
Zones: 7b to 10b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 36" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: Eastern Asia
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $27.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Colocasia fallax
Item #: 2600
Zones: 7b to 10b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 18" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Shade
Origin: China, Thailand, Vietnam
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $26.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Colocasia (Leucocasia) gigantea 'Survivor'
Item #: 4692
Zones: 7b to 10b, at least
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 96" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: China
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $28.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Colocasia (Leucocasia) gigantea 'Thailand Giant'
Item #: 5896
Zones: 8a to 10b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 108" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: Thailand
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $28.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Comptonia peregrina
Item #: 616
Zones: 2a to 7b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 24" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: North America
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $25.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Coniogramme emeiensis 'Golden Zebra'
Item #: 6949
Zones: 7b to 9b, at least
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 24" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: China
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $25.00Regular priceUnit price per
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.