Deer and Rabbit Resistant Plants

No plant is deer- or rabbit-proof! Garden plants are often browsed by hungry animals if there is little or no greenery to eat in the surrounding area. Also, animal likes and dislikes may vary regionally. The plants listed below are resistant or considered the second or third choice when dining on plant material. A rule of thumb is that most plants with fuzzy leaves, a strong odor, a strap leaf or a needle, and drought tolerant natives fall into the resistant list.

Annuals, Perennials and Bulbs

Yarrow
Agave
Columbine
Pink Sea Thrift
Astible
Impatiens
Begonia
Bleeding hearts
Balsam
Coreopsis
Cranesbill
Butterfly bush
Day Lily
Lamium
Bee Balm
Allium
Catnip
Crocus
Straw Flower
Dahlia
Daffodil
Siberian Squill
Swan River Daisy
Siberian Bellflower
Snow-in-Summer
Iris
Naked Lady
Aster
False Spiraea
Centaurea
Fleabane
California Poppy
Blue Fescue
Blanket Flower
Eurphorbia
Ferns
Many Species of Herbs
Candytuft
Dead Nettle
Red-Hot Poker
Lupine
Crown-pink
Blackfoot daisy
Forget-me-not
Oregano
Beard Tongue
Santolina
Saxifrage
Gloriosa Daisy
Pincushion Flower
Lamb’s Ears
Feather Grass
Thyme
Verbena
Sweet Violet
California Fuchsia

Shrubs

Japanese Maple
Fir
Albizia
Vine Apple
Hackberry
Cedar
Hawthorn
Redbud
Cypress
Ash
Magnolia
Maidenhair Tree
Pine
Spruce
Oak
Douglas Fir
Texas Mountain Laurel
Glossy Abelia
Bamboo
Barberry
Butterfly Bush
Manzanita
Boxwood
Flowering Quince
Fairy Duster
Cotoneaster
Littleleaf Cordia
Delea
Daphne
Brittlebush
Turpentine bush
Holly
Jojoba
Buckwheat
Juniper
Chuparosa
Kerria Japonica
Lantana
Lavender
Leucophyllum
Oregon Grape
Cinquefoil
Heavenly Bamboo
Firethorn
Sumac
Currant, Gooseberry
Rosemary
Sage
Lilac
Viburnum

Ground Covers

Carpet Bugle
Dwarf Plumbago
English Ivy
Japanese Spurge
Virginia Creeper
Periwinkle