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.
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Coniogramme intermedia 'Yoroi Musha'
Item #: 9022
Zones: 7b to 10b, possibly colder
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 36" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Shade
Origin: China, Japan, Korea
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $25.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Sold out
Coniogramme japonica
Item #: 4877
Zones: 7b to 9b, at least
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 24" tall
Culture: Light Shade to Shade
Origin: China, Japan, Korea
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $23.00Regular priceUnit price perNext crop available: 05/17/2024Sold out -
Convallaria keiskei 'Soft Stripes'
Item #: 14254
Zones: 4a to 7b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 10" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Eastern Asia
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $31.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Convallaria majalis 'Fernwood's Golden Slippers'
Item #: 8774
Zones: 3a to 7b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 9" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Europe
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $31.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Convallaria majalis 'Hardwick Hall'
Item #: 6826
Zones: 3a to 7b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 9" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Shade
Origin: Asia, Europe
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $31.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Cyclamen hederifolium
Item #: 1281
Zones: 4a to 8b
Dormancy: Spring
Height: 3" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Southern Europe
Pot Size: 2.5" pot (7.9 fl. oz/233 ml)
Regular price $22.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Sold out
Cyclamen hederifolium 'Album'
Item #: 3312
Zones: 4a to 8b
Dormancy: Spring, Summer
Height: 3" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Southern Europe
Pot Size: 2.5" pot (7.9 fl. oz/233 ml)
Regular price $22.00Regular priceUnit price perNext crop available: 09/06/2024Sold out -
Cyclamen hederifolium Long Leaf Form
Item #: 8161
Zones: 4a to 8b
Dormancy: Spring, Summer
Height: 6" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Southern Europe
Pot Size: 2.5" pot (7.9 fl. oz/233 ml)
Regular price $23.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Cyclamen hederifolium 'Mottled Madness'
Item #: 17666
Zones: 4a to 8b
Dormancy: Spring
Height: 3" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Southern Europe
Pot Size: 2.5" pot (7.9 fl. oz/233 ml)
Regular price $22.00Regular priceUnit price perSold out -
Cyclamen hederifolium 'Silverella'
Item #: 17319
Zones: 4a to 8b
Dormancy: Spring, Summer
Height: 3" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Southern Europe
Pot Size: 2.5" pot (7.9 fl. oz/233 ml)
Regular price $22.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Cyclamen hederifolium ssp. crassifolium
Item #: 1991
Zones: 4a to 8b
Dormancy: Spring, Summer
Height: 4" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Greece
Pot Size: 2.5" pot (7.9 fl. oz/233 ml)
Regular price $23.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Cyclamen hederifolium ssp. crassifolium white flowers
Item #: 17626
Zones: 4a to 8b
Dormancy: Spring, Summer
Height: 3" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Greece
Pot Size: 2.5" pot (7.9 fl. oz/233 ml)
Regular price $22.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Cyclamen x hildebrandii
Item #: 7665
Zones: 7a to 8b, at least
Dormancy: Spring, Summer
Height: 6" tall
Culture: Light Shade to Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 2.5" pot (7.9 fl. oz/233 ml)
Regular price $22.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Cynara cardunculus
Item #: 4949
Zones: 7b to 9b
Dormancy: Summer
Height: 36" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: Morocco
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $22.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Cyrtomium falcatum 'One Off'
Item #: 16863
Zones: 7a to 10b, at least
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 18" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Shade
Origin: China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $23.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Cyrtomium fortunei 'Fortunately'
Item #: 5927
Zones: 7a to 10b, possibly colder
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 36" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: China
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $23.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Sold out
Cyrtomium lonchitoides
Item #: 4873
Zones: 6a to 8b, guessing
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 12" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: China
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $23.00Regular priceUnit price perSold out -
Cystopteris protrusa
Item #: 9481
Zones: 4a to 9a, at least
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 12" 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 per -
Dasylirion gentryi
Item #: 9906
Zones: 7b to 10b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 48" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: Mexico
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $0.00Regular priceUnit price perThis plant is available for JLBG Members only.
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Dasylirion leiophyllum 'Chaves'
Item #: 16042
Zones: 5a to 10b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 48" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $27.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Sold out
Deparia lobato-crenata
Item #: 12014
Zones: 7b to 10b, at least
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 18" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Shade
Origin: Japan, Korea
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $23.00Regular priceUnit price perNext crop available: 01/27/2023Sold out -
Dicentra spectabilis 'Valentine' PP 22,739
Item #: 9243
Zones: 3a to 8b
Dormancy: Winter, Summer, Fall
Height: 24" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: China, Korea
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $22.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Dicliptera suberecta
Item #: 1285
Zones: 7a to 10b, at least
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 20" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Uruguay
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $22.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Dryopteris x australis
Item #: 3546
Zones: 5a to 9b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 50" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $23.00Regular 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.
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Adiantum (Maidenhair Fern)
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Arachniodes (Spider Fern)
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Athyrium (Japanese Painted Fern)
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Cyrtomium (Holly Fern)
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Cystopteris (Bladder Fern)
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Dryopteris (Autumn Fern)
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Matteuccia (Ostrich Fern)
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Onoclea (Sensitive Fern)
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Onychium (Cat's Claw Fern)
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Polystichum (Christmas Fern)
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Pteris (Table Fern)
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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.