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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Erythrina herbacea 'Fire Tower'
Item #: 18361
Zones: 7a to 10b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 72" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $29.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Eucalyptus neglecta
Item #: 1001
Zones: 7a to 10b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 360" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: Australia
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $30.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Sold outEucomis comosa 'Sparkling Burgundy'
Item #: 1796
Zones: 6b to 9b, at least
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 20" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: South Africa
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $27.00Regular priceUnit price per
Next crop available: 06/19/2026Sold out -
Eupatorium purpureum 'Baby Joe' PP 20,320
Item #: 9664
Zones: 4a to 8b, at least
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 36" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: Canada, United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $25.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Euphorbia x martinii 'Ascot Rainbow' PP 21,401
Item #: 8887
Zones: 6b to 8b, guessing
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 20" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $21.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Euphorbia myrsinites
Item #: 4041
Zones: 5a to 8b, at least
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 6" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: Southern Europe
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $21.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Euphorbia 'Nothowlee'
Item #: 7575
Zones: 6a to 9b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 18" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $21.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Euphorbia robbiae
Item #: 1293
Zones: 6a to 8b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 18" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Shade
Origin: Asia Minor
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $21.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Farfugium japonicum 'Crazy Curls'
Item #: 16031
Zones: 7a to 10b, at least
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 18" tall
Culture: Light Shade to Shade
Origin: China, Japan, Korea
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $25.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Fargesia robusta 'Ping Wu'
Item #: 6634
Zones: 7a to 8b, at least
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 96" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: China
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $42.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Fargesia robusta 'Wolong'
Item #: 9288
Zones: 7a to 8b, at least
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 180" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: China
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $45.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Sold outFargesia rufa
Item #: 6563
Zones: 5a to 8a, at least
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 72" tall
Culture: Sun to Light Shade
Origin: China
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $42.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Fargesia sp. 'Jiuzhaigou I'
Item #: 6564
Zones: 5a to 7b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 120" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: China
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $42.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Fatshedera lizei 'Angyo Star'
Item #: 7230
Zones: 7b to 10b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 60" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $30.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Festuca 'Cool as Ice' PP 27,651
Item #: 11754
Zones: 4a to 7b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 10" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $23.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Festuca glauca 'AmiGold'
Item #: 18549
Zones: 4a to 7b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 10" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: Balkans
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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Galanthus elwesii var. monostictus
Item #: 16958
Zones: 4a to 8a, at least
Dormancy: Summer, Fall
Height: 12" tall
Culture: Light Shade
Origin: Turkey
Pot Size: 2.5" pot (7.9 fl. oz/233 ml)
Regular price $24.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Sold outGalanthus 'Mt. Everest'
Item #: 18598
Zones: 4a to 8b, at least
Dormancy: Summer, Fall
Height: 12" tall
Culture: Light Shade
Origin: Turkey
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $24.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Sold outGalanthus nivalis 'Viridapice'
Item #: 2504
Zones: 3b to 8b, at least
Dormancy: Summer, Fall
Height: 10" tall
Culture: Light Shade
Origin: Europe, Netherlands
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $20.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Sold outGalanthus 'S. Arnott'
Item #: 2517
Zones: 4b to 8b, at least
Dormancy: Summer, Fall
Height: 12" tall
Culture: Light Shade
Origin: Turkey
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $20.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Sold outGaura lindheimeri 'Pink Cloud'
Item #: 3989
Zones: 6a to 10b, possibly colder
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 30" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: United States Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $22.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Geranium 'Rozanne'
Item #: 5111
Zones: 5a to 8b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 15" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $21.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Helianthus angustifolius 'Berkeley Gold'
Item #: 18028
Zones: 6a to 9b, guessing
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 36" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $23.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Sold outHelicodiceros muscivorus
Item #: 8667
Zones: 6a to 10b, possibly colder
Dormancy: Summer, Fall
Height: 12" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Mediterranean Europe
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $27.00Regular 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.