Zone 5 · winter lows -20°F to -10°F
Deer-Resistant Plants for Zone 5
5.5k deer resistant plants that are hardy through Zone 5, ranked by how many gardeners actually save and grow them.
Most-saved deer resistant plants for Zone 5
#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'
Showing the 24 most-saved of 5.5k. See all deer-resistant plants →
Deer-Resistant Plants in Zone 5
What are the best deer resistant plants for Zone 5?
The 24 above are the most-saved deer resistant plants that are also rated hardy through Zone 5. Ranking by real gardeners — not by catalog marketing — surfaces the ones gardeners keep coming back to.
Will these survive Zone 5 winters?
Every plant listed here is rated for Zone 5, where winter lows reach -20°F to -10°F. Site conditions still matter: drainage, wind exposure, and a good layer of mulch make the difference between a rated-hardy plant and a happy one.
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
Deer-Resistant Plants in other zones
Design a Zone 5 bed with these
Snap a photo of your yard and Sow places these plants in it — correctly sized, matched to your zone, with care reminders that follow your real weather.
