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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Amsonia hubrichtii
Item #: 759
Zones: 5a to 9b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 36" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $22.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Sold outAmsonia rigida 'Black's Dwarf'
Item #: 17144
Zones: 6a to 9b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 15" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $26.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Amsonia tabernaemontana 'Storm Cloud'
Item #: 12043
Zones: 5a to 8b, at least
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 24" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $22.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Andropogon gerardii 'Blackhawks' PP 27,949
Item #: 13009
Zones: 4a to 8b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 48" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: North America
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $25.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Andropogon gerardii 'Lord Snowden'
Item #: 18284
Zones: 4a to 8b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 84" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: North America
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $26.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Anemonella thalictroides 'Cameo'
Item #: 8403
Zones: 4a to 8b, at least
Dormancy: Winter, Summer, Fall
Height: 6" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 2.5" pot (7.9 fl. oz/233 ml)
Regular price $35.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Anemonella thalictroides 'Schoaf's Double Pink'
Item #: 4993
Zones: 4a to 8b
Dormancy: Winter, Summer, Fall
Height: 6" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 2.5" pot (7.9 fl. oz/233 ml)
Regular price $35.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Anisacanthus wrightii
Item #: 5119
Zones: 7a to 10b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 48" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: Mexico, United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $23.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Antirrhinum glutinosum 'White Hot'
Item #: 11833
Zones: 7b to 9b, at least
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 8" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: Spain
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $22.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Antirrhinum hispanicum
Item #: 8364
Zones: 5a to 8b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 12" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: Morocco, Spain
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $22.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Arachniodes simplicior 'Variegata'
Item #: 1428
Zones: 7a to 9b, possibly colder
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 18" tall
Culture: Light Shade
Origin: China, Japan, Korea, Tibet, Vietnam
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $24.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Arachniodes standishii
Item #: 6234
Zones: 4a to 8b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 18" tall
Culture: Light Shade
Origin: China, Japan, Korea
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $25.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Arachniodes standishii 'Mt. Daisen'
Item #: 16902
Zones: 4a to 8b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 18" tall
Culture: Light Shade
Origin: China, Japan, Korea
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $26.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Aralia cordata 'Sun King'
Item #: 9133
Zones: 4a to 8b, at least
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 72" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Japan
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $22.00Regular priceUnit price per
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Sold outArisaema consanguineum
Item #: 2524
Zones: 5a to 8b, possibly colder
Dormancy: Winter, Spring
Height: 30" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: China
Pot Size: Bare Root / 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $29.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Arisaema costatum
Item #: 6171
Zones: 6a to 8b, at least
Dormancy: Winter, Fall
Height: 40" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Nepal
Pot Size: Bare Root / 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $29.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Arisaema fargesii
Item #: 3126
Zones: 5a to 8b
Dormancy: Winter, Fall
Height: 18" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: China
Pot Size: Bare Root / 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $30.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Arisaema ringens
Item #: 2531
Zones: 5a to 9b
Dormancy: Winter, Fall
Height: 24" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: China, Japan, Korea
Pot Size: Bare Root / 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $30.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Sold outArisaema speciosum 'Himalayan Giant'
Item #: 7474
Zones: 7a to 8b, at least
Dormancy: Winter, Fall
Height: 30" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: India
Pot Size: Bare Root / 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $30.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Arisaema tortuosum
Item #: 1383
Zones: 6a to 9b, at least
Dormancy: Winter, Fall
Height: 50" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Himalayan Mountains
Pot Size: Bare Root / 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $30.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Arisarum vulgare 'Lady Lakki'
Item #: 17725
Zones: 7a to 9b, at least
Dormancy: Summer
Height: 4" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Shade
Origin: Crete, Greece, Italy, Spain
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $29.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Sold outAristolochia fimbriata
Item #: 3031
Zones: 7a to 9b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 6" tall
Culture: Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Argentina, Brazil
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $23.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Artemisia frigida 'Silver Eagle'
Item #: 17117
Zones: 3a to 8b, at least
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 18" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $23.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Arum x diotalicum 'Love Child'
Item #: 16302
Zones: 4a to 9b
Dormancy: Summer
Height: 12" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
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.