Curated by real gardeners
Deer-Resistant Plants
No plant is deer-proof when the herd is hungry, but strong scents, fuzzy leaves, and bitter sap send deer looking for easier meals. These picks have the best track record in real gardens.
The 24 most-saved picks
#1 most savedButterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa
#2 most savedCheyenne Spirit Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea 'Cheyenne Spirit'
#3 most savedPink Muhly Grass
Muhlenbergia capillaris
Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa 'Gay Butterflies Mix'
Butterfly Kisses Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea 'Butterfly Kisses'
Butterfly Weed Gay Butterflies Milkweed
Asclepias tuberosa 'Gay Butterflies'
Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa 'Deluxe Butterfly Garden'
Hello Yellow Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa 'Hello Yellow'
Purple Coneflower Rainbow
Echinacea purpurea 'Rainbow'
Butterfly Milkweed
Asclepias x hybrida
May Night Sage
Salvia nemorosa 'May Night'
Walker's Low Catmint
Nepeta faassenii 'Walker's Low'
Black-eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta 'American Gold Rush'
Pugster Amethyst Butterfly Bush
Buddleja davidii 'Pugster Amethyst'
Pugster Pink Butterfly Bush
Buddleia davidii 'Pugster Pinker'
Blanket Flower
Gaillardia x grandiflora 'Mixed Border'
Zinnia Raggedy Ann
Zinnia elegans 'Raggedy Ann'
Cinderella Milkweed
Asclepias incarnata 'Cinderella'
Cheyenne Spirit Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea 'Cheyenne Spirit Mix'
Black-eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta 'Autumn Colors Mix'
Wild Lupine
Lupinus perennis
Lou Williams New England Aster
Aster novae-angliae 'Lou Williams'
Black-eyed Susan
Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldsturm'
Trio Butterfly Bush
Buddleja davidii 'Trio'
Deer resistant questions
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
More collections
Find the right deer resistant plants for YOUR yard
Sow matches plants to your zone, sun, and style — then designs the bed and reminds you how to care for it.
