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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Sold outIris japonica 'Wuhan Angel'
Item #: 8518
Zones: 7b to 10b, at least
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 20" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Shade
Origin: China
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $25.00Regular priceUnit price perSale price $25.00Sold out -
Iris x louisiana 'Red Velvet Elvis'
Item #: 8905
Zones: 6a to 10b
Dormancy: Summer
Height: 36" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: United States Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $27.00Regular priceUnit price perSale price $27.00 -
Iris x pseudata 'Shiryukyo'
Item #: 10879
Zones: 5a to 9b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 54" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $27.00Regular priceUnit price perSale price $27.00 -
Iris x pseudata 'Yarai'
Item #: 10881
Zones: 5a to 9b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 24" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $27.00Regular priceUnit price perSale price $27.00 -
Iris x robusta 'Gerald Darby'
Item #: 1708
Zones: 4a to 9b, at least
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 24" tall
Culture: Sun to Light Shade
Origin: United States Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $27.00Regular priceUnit price perSale price $27.00 -
Iris 'Roy Davidson'
Item #: 10614
Zones: 5a to 9b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 36" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $27.00Regular priceUnit price perSale price $27.00 -
Sold outIris tectorum 'Snow on the Roof'
Item #: 17609
Zones: 5a to 9b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 15" tall
Culture: Sun to Light Shade
Origin: China
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $25.00Regular priceUnit price perSale price $25.00Sold out -
Sold outIris unguicularis 'Dazzling Eyes'
Item #: 9823
Zones: 6b to 9b, at least
Dormancy: Summer
Height: 15" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: Mediterranean Europe, Northern Africa
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $29.00Regular priceUnit price perSale price $29.00Next crop available: 01/02/2026Sold out -
Juncus inflexus 'Afro'
Item #: 2925
Zones: 4a to 10b
Dormancy:
Height: 15" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: Europe
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $23.00Regular priceUnit price perSale price $23.00 -
Juniperus conferta 'All Gold'
Item #: 9909
Zones: 6a to 8b, at least
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 18" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: Japan
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $25.00Regular priceUnit price perSale price $25.00 -
Juniperus horizontalis 'Copper Harbor'
Item #: 13858
Zones: 3a to 8b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 12" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: Canada, United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $25.00Regular priceUnit price perSale price $25.00 -
Lantana camara 'Miss Huff'
Item #: 826
Zones: 7b to 10b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 36" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: Central America, Mexico, South America
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $21.00Regular priceUnit price perSale price $21.00 -
Lantana camara 'Southern Fried'
Item #: 8508
Zones: 7b to 10b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 36" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: Central America, Mexico, South America
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $21.00Regular priceUnit price perSale price $21.00 -
Lantana 'Chapel Hill Yellow' PP 19,548
Item #: 8970
Zones: 7b to 10b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 24" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $21.00Regular priceUnit price perSale price $21.00 -
Lavandula x intermedia 'Bridget Chloe' PP 27,182
Item #: 15018
Zones: 4a to 7b, at least
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 30" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $22.00Regular priceUnit price perSale price $22.00Sold out -
Lavandula x intermedia 'Phenomenal' PP 24,193
Item #: 6216
Zones: 4a to 7b, at least
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 30" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $22.00Regular priceUnit price perSale price $22.00 -
Sold outLavandula stoechas 'Anouk' PP 16,685
Item #: 8236
Zones: 7b to 10b, possibly colder
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 24" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: Spain
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $22.00Regular priceUnit price perSale price $22.00Sold out -
Lavandula stoechas 'Javelin Forte Deep Purple' PP 27,493
Item #: 18299
Zones: 7b to 10b, possibly colder
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 24" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: Spain
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $22.00Regular priceUnit price perSale price $22.00 -
Leonotis leonurus
Item #: 6158
Zones: 8a to 10b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 48" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: South Africa
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $22.00Regular priceUnit price perSale price $22.00 -
Lespedeza thunbergii 'Gibraltar'
Item #: 2003
Zones: 4a to 9b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 72" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: Japan
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $27.00Regular priceUnit price perSale price $27.00 -
Lespedeza thunbergii 'Little Volcano'
Item #: 6312
Zones: 6a to 9b, guessing
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 84" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: Japan
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $27.00Regular priceUnit price perSale price $27.00 -
Lespedeza thunbergii 'Spilt Milk'
Item #: 7142
Zones: 4a to 9b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 72" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: Japan
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $27.00Regular priceUnit price perSale price $27.00 -
Lespedeza thunbergii 'White Fountain'
Item #: 1512
Zones: 4a to 9b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 72" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: Japan
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $27.00Regular priceUnit price perSale price $27.00 -
Ligularia japonica 'Chinese Dragon'
Item #: 9018
Zones: 4a to 8b, at least
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 36" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: China
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $26.00Regular priceUnit price perSale price $26.00
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.
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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.
























