Deer-Resistant Plants
We’ve assembled a set of links to deer-resistent plants, as well as the tables below the links. Consider these as you plan your garden. See also this blog post on controlling deer.
Trees
| Botanical Name |
Common Name |
Xeric? |
Notes |
| Abies concolor |
Concolor Fir |
|
|
| Acer glabrum |
Rocky Mtn Maple |
|
|
| Acer circinantum, A. palmatum |
Maple |
|
|
| Aesculus parviflora |
Bottlebrush Buckeye |
|
|
| Alnus tenuifolia |
Alder |
|
|
| Amelanchier arborea |
Downy Serviceberry |
x |
|
| Celtis occidentalis |
Common Hackberry |
|
|
| Cercis occidentalis |
Western redbud |
|
|
| Cercocarpus montanus |
Mountain Mahogany |
|
|
| Chamaecyparis pisifera |
Japanese Falsecypress |
|
|
| Crataegus sp. |
Hawthorn |
x |
|
| Cryptomeria japonica |
Japanese Cedar |
|
|
| Physocarpus monogynus |
Ninebark |
x |
|
| Picea |
Spruce |
x |
|
| Picea pungens |
Colorado Blue Spruce |
x |
|
| Pinus contorta |
Lodgepole Pine |
x |
|
| Pinus edulis |
Pinon Pine |
x |
|
| Pinus sylvestris |
Scotch Pine |
x |
|
| Prunus americana |
Wild plum |
|
|
| Pseudotsuga menziesii |
Douglas Fir |
|
|
Annuals, Perennials, and Bulbs
| Botanical Name |
Common Name |
Xeric? |
Notes |
| Acanthus mollis |
Bears breetches |
|
z? |
| Achillea spp. |
Yarrow |
x |
|
| Aconitum spp. |
Monkshood |
|
|
| Agave parryii (& utahensis) |
Agave/Century Plant |
x |
these varieties hardy in CO |
| Ageratum houstonianum |
Flossflower |
|
annual |
| Allium (family) |
Onions & Garlic |
x |
|
| Allium cernuum |
Nodding onion |
x |
|
| Aloe |
Aloe Vera |
x |
succulent (not winter hardy in CO) |
| Althea |
Hollyhock |
x |
|
| Alyssum saxatile |
Basket-of-gold |
x |
|
| Anaphalis margaritacea |
Pearly Everlasting |
|
|
| Anemone patens |
Pasque flower |
x |
|
| Anethum graveolens |
Common Dill |
|
annual herb |
| Antennaria rosea |
Pussytoes, rose |
x |
groundcover |
| Antirrhinum majus |
Snapdragon |
|
|
| Aquilegia spp. |
Columbine |
x |
|
| Arabis spp. |
Rockcress |
x |
|
| Armeria maritima |
Thrift, Sea Pink |
x |
|
| Artemisia |
Sage/Silver Sage |
x |
|
| Arunda donax |
Giant Reed Grass |
|
z? |
| Asarum caudatum |
Wild Ginger |
|
z? |
| Asparagus falcatus |
Asparagus |
|
veggie |
| Astilbe |
False Spiraea |
|
shade |
| Aubrieta deltoides |
Purple False rockcress |
x |
|
| Aurinia saxatilis |
Basket-of-Gold |
x |
|
| Bamboos |
Bamboo |
H2O |
grass family |
| Beaucarnea recurvata |
ponytail palm |
|
z? |
| Begonia tuberhybrida |
Tuberose Begonia |
|
annual |
| Bergenia spp. |
Bergenia |
|
|
| Beriandiera lyrata |
Chocolate Flower |
x |
|
| Bougainvillea |
Bougainvillea |
H2O |
annual |
| Calendula officinalis |
marigold |
|
annual (reseeds) |
| Calochortus gunnisonii |
Mariposa lily |
|
|
| Calycanthus occidentalis |
California allspice |
|
z? |
| Campanula rotundifolia |
Mountain harebell |
|
|
| Carex |
Sedge |
H2O |
grass |
| Celosia |
Cockscomb |
|
|
| Centaurea |
Perennial Bachelor Button |
x |
|
| Cerastium tomentosurn |
Snow-in-summer |
x |
|
| Ceratostigma plumbaginoides |
Leadwort |
|
|
| Chrysanthemum frutescens, C.maximum |
Mum |
|
|
| Chrysanthemum spp. |
Shasta Daisy |
|
|
| Cimicifuga racemosa |
Snakeroot |
|
|
| Consolida ambigua |
Larkspur |
|
|
| Convallaria majalis |
Lily-of-the-valley |
|
|
| Convolvulus cneorum |
bush morning glory |
|
annual |
| Coreopsis |
Coreopsis |
x |
|
| Coreopsis verticillata ‘Moonbeam’ |
Threadleaf Coreopsis |
x |
|
| Coreopsis, except C. gigantea, C. grandiflora |
Coreopsis |
x |
annual & perennial var. |
| Cortaderia selloana |
False Dracaena? |
|
|
| Cowania neo-mexicana |
Cowania |
|
z? |
| Cyclamen |
Cyclamen |
H2O |
annual |
| Cyperus |
Umbrella plant |
H2O |
papyrus family |
| Dalea purpurea |
Purple Prairie Clover |
x |
(a legume… adds nitrogen to soil) |
| Delphinium nelsonii |
Larkspur |
|
|
| Delphinium spp. |
Delphinium |
|
|
| Dicentra spectabilis |
Bleeding Heart |
|
shade |
| Digitalis spp. |
Foxglove |
|
|
| Dryopteris marginalis |
Wood Fern |
|
shade |
| Echinacea purpurea |
Purple Coneflower |
x |
|
| Echinops spp. |
Globe Thistle |
|
|
| Epimedium spp. |
Barrenwort |
|
|
| Eriogonum except: arborescens, giganteum |
Buckwheat |
|
z? |
| Eryngium amethystinum |
Sea Holly |
x |
|
| Erysimum asperus |
Western wallflower |
|
|
| Euphorbia spp. |
Euphorbia |
x |
|
| Ferns, except Pellaea |
fern |
H2O |
many not hardy in CO |
| Festuca ovina glauca |
Fescue |
x |
grass |
| Fragaria sp. |
Strawberry |
|
|
| Freesia |
|
|
bulb |
| Fritillaria spp. |
Fritillary |
|
bulb |
| Gaillardia |
Blanket Flower |
x |
|
| Galanthus spp. |
Snow drops |
|
bulb |
| Galium odoratuim |
Sweet Woodruff |
|
herb/shade |
| Gazania |
|
|
|
| Geranium |
Cranesbill |
x |
shade |
| Gerbera |
|
|
annual |
| Hedera helix var. |
English ivy |
|
vine/ groundcover |
| Helianthemum nummyiarium |
Rock Rose |
x |
|
| Helianthus |
Sunflower |
|
|
| Hemerocallis spp |
Daylily |
|
|
| Hemmerocallis ‘Stella de Oro’ |
Stella de Oro Daylily |
|
|
| Hesperis matronalis |
Dame’s Rocket |
|
|
| Hosta |
Hosta |
H2O |
shade |
| Hyacinthus orientalis |
Hyacinth |
|
bulb |
| Impatiens walleriana |
Impatiens |
H2O |
annual |
| Ipomopsis aggregata |
Scarlet gilia |
|
|
| Iris spp. |
Iris |
|
|
| Kniphofia spp. |
(Red Hot) Poker/Torch Lily |
x |
|
| Lamium |
Dead Nettle |
x |
shade |
| Lantana |
|
|
annual |
| Lavandula spp. |
Lavender |
x |
|
| Leonotis leonurus |
Lion’s Mane |
|
tender herb (annual? in CO) |
| Liatris punctata |
Dotted Gayfeather /Blazing Star |
x |
|
| Linaria vulgaris |
Toadflax |
|
|
| Linum spp. |
Flax |
x |
|
| Lobelia erinus |
|
|
|
| Lobularia maritima |
Sweet Alyssum |
|
annual |
| Lupinus |
Lupine |
|
|
| Lupinus argenteus |
Lupine, silver |
|
|
| Lychnis coronaria |
Rose Campion |
x |
biennial? |
| Lysimachia nummularia |
creeping jenny/moneywort |
|
groundcover |
| Marjoram spp. |
Marjoram |
|
herb |
| Matteuccia struthiopteris |
Ostrich Fern |
|
shade |
| Mentha spp. |
Mint |
|
herb, spreads |
| Mertensia spp. |
Mertensias |
|
|
| Mirabilis jalapa |
four-o’clock |
|
annual |
| Monarda |
Bee Balm |
|
shade? |
| Muehlenbeckia complexa |
|
|
grass |
| Muscari |
Grape hyacinth |
|
bulb |
| Myosotis |
Forget-me-not |
|
annual? |
| Narcissus spp. |
Daffodil |
x |
bulb |
| Nepeta |
Catmint |
x |
herb |
| Nicotiana spp. |
Flowering Tobacco |
|
annual |
| Nolina parryi |
beargrass |
|
z? |
| Oenothera |
Evening Primrose |
x |
|
| Ophiopogon japonicus |
Dwarf Mondo Grass |
|
annual in CO? |
| Opuntia spp. |
Prickly Pear |
x |
cactus |
| Origanum spp. |
Oregano |
|
herb |
| Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis |
Royal Fern |
|
shade |
| Oxalis |
clover |
|
|
| Pachysandra terminalis |
Japanese Spurge |
x |
|
| Paeonia spp. |
Peony |
|
|
| Papaver |
Poppy |
|
|
| Papaver orientale |
Oriental Poppy |
|
|
| Pelargonium spp. |
Scented Geranium |
|
|
| Penstemon spp. |
Penstemon |
x |
|
| Perovskia atriplicifolia |
Russian Sage |
x |
shrub-like woody perennial |
| Petalostemon |
Prairie Clover |
x |
|
| Phlomis fruticosa |
Jerusalem Sage |
|
z? |
| Phlox multiflora |
Phlox |
|
|
| Phlox subulata |
Phlox |
|
|
| Phormium tenbax |
Spike/New Zealand Flax |
|
annual in CO |
| Plumbago auriculata |
Plumbago |
x |
shade |
| Polygonatum |
Solomon’s Seal |
|
|
| Prairie grandiflora |
Prairie Zinnia |
x |
|
| Pulmonaria |
lungwort |
|
|
| Pulsatilla patens |
California fuschsia |
|
shade |
| Ranunculus spp. |
Buttercup |
x |
groundcover |
| Ratibida columnifera |
Mexican Hat Prairie Coneflower |
x |
|
| Rheum rhabarbarum |
Rhubarb |
|
large leaves |
| Rosmarinus officinalis |
Rosemary |
|
tender perennial in CO |
| Rudbeckia spp. |
Coneflower, Black-eyed Susan |
x |
|
| Salvia |
Sage/Salvia |
x |
Meadow and/or culinary varieties |
| Santolina |
Lavender Cotton |
x |
|
| Saponaria spp. |
Saponaria |
|
|
| Saxifraga |
Saxifrage |
|
z? |
| Scabiosa |
Pincushion Flower |
x |
|
| Scaevola ‘Mauve Clusters’ |
fanflower |
|
annual |
| Scilla peruviana |
Scilla |
|
bulb |
| Sedum spp. |
Sedum |
|
groundcover |
| Silene acaulis |
Moss Campion |
|
z? |
| Sisyrinchium |
Blue-Eyed Grass |
H2O |
iris family |
| Solidago spp. |
Goldenrod |
|
|
| Sphaeralcea |
Orange Globe Mallow |
|
|
| Stachys byzantina |
Lamb’s Ear |
x |
spreads! |
| Stokesia laevis |
Stokes Aster |
|
|
| Tanacetum vulgare |
Common Tansy |
|
spreads? |
| Thermopsis spp. |
Golden Banner |
|
z? |
| Thymus spp. |
Thyme |
x |
herb |
| Tiarella cordifolia |
Foam Flower |
|
shade |
| Tradescantia |
spiderwort |
|
shade |
| Trillium |
|
H2O |
woodland plant |
| Tropaeolum |
Nasturtium |
|
annual |
| Tulipa |
Tulip |
|
bulb |
| Vancouveria hexandra, V. planipetala |
American Barrenwort |
|
z? |
| Verbena tenuisecta |
Verbena |
H2O |
annual |
| Vinca |
Periwinkle |
x |
groundcover |
| Viola odorata |
pansy, viola |
H2O |
reseed |
| Yucca spp. |
Yucca |
x |
(blooms are eaten by deer) |
| Zauschneria sp. |
Hummingbird Flower |
|
|
| Zinnia |
Zinnia |
|
annual |
Shrubs and Vines
| Botanical Name |
Common Name |
Xeric? |
Notes |
| Amelanchier laevis |
Allegheny Serviceberry |
x |
|
| Amorpha nana |
Dwarf Leadplant |
|
|
| Arctostaphylos uva-ursi |
Bearberry |
|
|
| Artemesia arbortanum |
Southern Sage |
|
|
| Asimina triloba |
Pawpaw |
|
|
| Atriplex canescens |
Four-wing Saltbush |
|
|
| Baccharis pilularis |
Coyote Brush |
|
|
| Berberis spp. |
Barberry |
x |
|
| Buddleia |
Butterfly Bush |
x |
|
| Calastrus scandens |
American Bittersweet |
|
|
| Caryopteris x clandonensis |
Blue mist spiraea |
x |
|
| Cercocarpus ledifolius |
Curl-leaf Mtn. Mahogany |
x |
|
| Chaenomeles spp. |
Quince |
|
|
| Chamaebatiaria millefolium |
Fernbush |
|
|
| Chrysothamnus spp. |
Rabbitbush |
x |
|
| Clematis ligusticifolia |
Ligusticifolia Clematis |
|
vine |
| Clematis orientalis |
Oriental Clematis |
|
vine |
| Clematis paniculata |
Sweet Autumn Clematis |
|
vine |
| Clematis tangutica |
Tangutica Clematis |
|
vine |
| Cornus sericea |
Red Osier Dogwood |
|
|
| Cotinus coggygria |
Smokebush |
x |
|
| Cotoneaster buxifolius |
Cotoneaster |
|
|
| Cymbalaria muralis |
Kenilworth ivy |
|
vine |
| Cytisus scoparius |
Scotchbroom |
x |
|
| Euonymus alatus |
Winged Euonymus |
|
|
| Fallugia paradoxa |
Apache Plume |
x |
|
| Forsythia |
Forsythia |
|
|
| Hebe pinguifolia ‘Pagei’ |
figwort |
|
|
| Hedera helix |
English Ivy |
|
vine/groundcover |
| Hibiscus syriacus |
Rose of Sharon |
|
|
| Holodiscus dumosus |
Rock Spirea |
|
|
| Hypericum |
St John’s Wort |
|
shrub or creeping variety |
| Ilex except thornless |
Holly |
|
|
| Ilex x ‘John T Morris’ |
John T Morris Holly |
|
|
| Ilex x ‘Lydia Morris’ |
Lydia Morris Hollies |
|
|
| Juniperus |
Juniper |
x |
|
| Juniperus communis |
Common Juniper |
x |
|
| Juniperus copulorus |
Rocky Mountain juniper |
x |
|
| Leucothoe spp. |
Leucothoe |
|
|
| Lonicera tatarica |
Tatarian Honeysuckle |
|
|
| Mahonia aquifolium |
Oregon Hollygrape |
x |
|
| Mahonia repens |
Creeping Mahonia |
x |
groundcover |
| Parthenocissus quinquefolia |
Virginia creeper |
x |
vine |
| Philadelphus mexicanus |
Mock Orange |
|
(’Cheyenne’ cultivar is xeric) |
| Physocarpus monogynus |
Mountain Ninebark |
x |
|
| Pinus mugo mughus |
Mugo pine |
x |
|
| Potentilla spp. |
Potentilla/cinquefoil |
x |
|
| Prunus americana |
Wild Plum |
|
|
| Prunus tomentosum |
Nanking Cherry |
|
|
| Quercus gambelii |
Gambel’s Oak |
x |
|
| Rhamnus cathartica |
Common Buckthorn |
x |
|
| Rhus trilobata |
Fragrant Sumac |
|
|
| Ribes alpinum |
Alpine Currant |
|
|
| Ribes aureum |
Golden Currant |
|
|
| Rosa f. “Persiana” |
Persian Yellow Rose |
|
|
| Rosa foetida “bicolor” |
Austrian Copper Rose |
|
|
| Rubus deliciosus |
Boulder Raspberry |
|
|
| Rubus idaeus |
Wild red raspberry |
|
|
| Sambucus canadensis |
Blueberry Elder |
|
|
| Sarcoccoca hookeriana var. humilis |
Dwarf Sweet Christmas Box |
|
|
| Sheperdia argentea |
Silver Buffaloberry |
|
|
| Spartium junceum |
Spanish Broom |
x |
|
| Spiraea “Anthony Waterer” |
Anthony Waterer Spirea |
|
|
| Spiraea Van Houttei |
Van Houtte Spirea |
|
|
| Symphoricarpos albus |
Snowberry |
|
|
| Symphoricarpos X “Hancock” |
Hancock Coralberry |
|
|
| Syringra spp. |
Lilacs |
|
|
| Viburnum tinus, V. burkwoodii, V. davidii |
viburnum |
|
|
| Wisteria |
Wisteria |
H2O! |
vine |
This entry was posted
on Tuesday, April 14th, 2009 at 11:33 am and is filed under Deer and Other Pests, Gardening.
