Ranked by real gardener saves
The Best Deer-Resistant Perennials
No plant is deer-proof — a hungry enough deer will try anything once. But these perennials are the ones deer reliably walk past, and they are the ones gardeners in browsed neighborhoods actually plant.
Asclepias tuberosa
The most-saved pick here — saved by 604 gardeners, genuinely low-maintenance, shrugs off dry spells, deer usually pass it by, native to North America, blooms mid-summer.
Echinacea purpurea 'Cheyenne Spirit'
Saved by 574 gardeners, genuinely low-maintenance, shrugs off dry spells, deer usually pass it by, native to North America, blooms summer to fall.
Asclepias tuberosa 'Gay Butterflies Mix'
Saved by 382 gardeners, genuinely low-maintenance, shrugs off dry spells, deer usually pass it by, native to North America, blooms summer.
Zones 4–9Care, zones & prices →
Echinacea purpurea 'Butterfly Kisses'
Saved by 378 gardeners, genuinely low-maintenance, shrugs off dry spells, deer usually pass it by, native to North America, blooms mid-summer.
Asclepias tuberosa 'Gay Butterflies'
Saved by 376 gardeners, genuinely low-maintenance, shrugs off dry spells, deer usually pass it by, native to North America, blooms mid-summer.
Asclepias tuberosa 'Deluxe Butterfly Garden'
Saved by 375 gardeners, genuinely low-maintenance, shrugs off dry spells, deer usually pass it by, native to North America, blooms early summer.
Zones 5–8Care, zones & prices →
Asclepias tuberosa 'Hello Yellow'
Saved by 369 gardeners, genuinely low-maintenance, shrugs off dry spells, deer usually pass it by, native to North America, blooms summer.
Echinacea purpurea 'Rainbow'
Saved by 366 gardeners, genuinely low-maintenance, shrugs off dry spells, deer usually pass it by, blooms mid-summer.
Asclepias x hybrida
Saved by 366 gardeners, genuinely low-maintenance, shrugs off dry spells, deer usually pass it by, blooms mid-summer.
Salvia nemorosa 'May Night'
Saved by 358 gardeners, genuinely low-maintenance, shrugs off dry spells, deer usually pass it by, blooms late spring to early summer.
Nepeta faassenii 'Walker's Low'
Saved by 358 gardeners, genuinely low-maintenance, shrugs off dry spells, deer usually pass it by, blooms late spring to fall.
Rudbeckia hirta 'American Gold Rush'
Saved by 353 gardeners, genuinely low-maintenance, shrugs off dry spells, deer usually pass it by, native to North America, blooms mid-summer to fall.
Gaillardia x grandiflora 'Mixed Border'
Saved by 340 gardeners, genuinely low-maintenance, shrugs off dry spells, deer usually pass it by, native to North America, blooms early summer.
Zones 4–10Care, zones & prices →
Asclepias incarnata 'Cinderella'
Saved by 336 gardeners, genuinely low-maintenance, deer usually pass it by, native to North America, blooms mid-summer.
Echinacea purpurea 'Cheyenne Spirit Mix'
Saved by 332 gardeners, genuinely low-maintenance, shrugs off dry spells, deer usually pass it by, native to North America, blooms mid-summer.
Zones 4–9Care, zones & prices →
Rudbeckia hirta 'Autumn Colors Mix'
Saved by 329 gardeners, genuinely low-maintenance, shrugs off dry spells, deer usually pass it by, native to North America, blooms late summer.
Zones 4–8Care, zones & prices →
Lupinus perennis
Saved by 324 gardeners, genuinely low-maintenance, shrugs off dry spells, deer usually pass it by, blooms late spring.
Zones 4–9Care, zones & prices →
Aster novae-angliae 'Lou Williams'
Saved by 320 gardeners, genuinely low-maintenance, deer usually pass it by, native to North America, blooms late summer.
Zones 4–8Care, zones & prices →
Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldsturm'
Saved by 318 gardeners, genuinely low-maintenance, shrugs off dry spells, deer usually pass it by, native to North America, blooms mid-summer.
Aquilegia x hybrida 'Mix'
Saved by 317 gardeners, genuinely low-maintenance, deer usually pass it by, blooms late spring.
About this list
How was this the best deer-resistant perennials list ranked?
By how many gardeners actually saved and planted each one in Sow — 7.5k saves across this list. Nobody paid to appear here, and no nursery sponsors the order. It is a popularity signal from real gardens, filtered to plants that genuinely meet the criteria.
What makes a plant deer resistant?
Aromatic foliage (salvia, nepeta, herbs), fuzzy or leathery textures (lamb’s ear, hellebore), and toxic or bitter compounds (daffodil, foxglove). Deer sample first and remember what they dislike.
Will deer ever eat "deer-resistant" plants?
Under pressure — drought, deep snow, or high populations — deer will try almost anything, and young spring growth is most vulnerable. Resistance stacks with repellents and smart placement; it doesn’t replace them.
Keep exploring
Browse the full list
See these in your own yard before you buy
Snap a photo of your space and Sow places any of these in it at true mature size — so you know it fits before the nursery run.
