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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Illicium parviflorum 'Florida Sunshine'
Item #: 6945
Zones: 6a to 9b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 96" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $27.00Regular priceUnit price per
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Ipheion uniflorum 'Greystone'
Item #: 8519
Zones: 6b to 9b, at least
Dormancy: Summer, Fall
Height: 8" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: Argentina, South America
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $21.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Sold outIris cristata 'Eco Orchid Giant'
Item #: 17856
Zones: 3a to 8b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 5" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Shade
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $25.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Sold outIris cristata 'Merle's Ruby'
Item #: 10193
Zones: 3a to 8b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 8" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $25.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Iris cristata 'Powder Blue Giant'
Item #: 2592
Zones: 3a to 8b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 12" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Shade
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $25.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Iris cristata 'Tennessee White'
Item #: 8476
Zones: 3a to 9b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 6" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $25.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Sold outIris dabashanensis
Item #: 16971
Zones: 5a to 7b, at least
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 8" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: China
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $29.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Iris ensata 'Queen's Tiara'
Item #: 7650
Zones: 5a to 8b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 36" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: Japan
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $28.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Iris ensata 'Satozakura'
Item #: 18845
Zones: 4a to 8b, at least
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 40" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: Japan
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $28.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Iris ensata 'Silverband'
Item #: 1349
Zones: 5a to 9b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 28" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: Japan
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $28.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Iris fulva 'Little Cajun'
Item #: 9206
Zones: 6a to 9b, at least
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 20" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $28.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Iris giganticaerulea 'Boutte'
Item #: 17196
Zones: 6a 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 $28.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Iris lazica
Item #: 2523
Zones: 7b to 9b, possibly colder
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 12" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Caucasus Mountains, Mediterranean Europe, Turkey
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $27.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Iris x louisiana 'Geisha Eyes'
Item #: 3912
Zones: 6a to 10b, at least
Dormancy: Summer
Height: 30" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: United States Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $28.00Regular priceUnit price per -
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 $28.00Regular priceUnit price per -
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 $28.00Regular priceUnit price per -
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 $28.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Iris 'Roy's Repeater'
Item #: 10615
Zones: 4a to 9b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 42" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $28.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Iris 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 per -
Iris unguicularis 'Francis Wolseley'
Item #: 6636
Zones: 6b to 9b, at least
Dormancy: Summer
Height: 20" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: Mediterranean Europe
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $29.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Iris unguicularis 'Front Drive'
Item #: 18523
Zones: 6b to 9b, at least
Dormancy: Summer
Height: 15" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: Africa, Mediterranean Europe, Northern Africa
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $30.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Iris unguicularis 'Winter Echoes'
Item #: 9981
Zones: 6b to 9b
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 per -
Iris versicolor 'John Wood'
Item #: 3908
Zones: 3a to 9b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 42" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $28.00Regular priceUnit price per -
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 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.