Garden Design by Chris Farnam     /Deer Resistant Plants

The plants listed below have been deer resistant in my Whidbey Island garden. Deer can and will eat plants they normally dislike if their preferred foods are scarce. Their tastes can change and will vary by location. All young plants seem to be at risk until they've firmly rooted. I recommend spraying deer repellent on young plants until they are established.

Perennials for Sun

Sweet Rocket (Hesperis matronalis)

Corsican Hellebore (Helleborus argutifolius)

Verbascums, Yarrows & Foxgloves

Germanders, Oregano, Catmints & Sage

Ice Plant (Delosperma) & Groundcover Sedums

Foxtail Lilies (Eremurus) & Euphorbias

Iris, Daffodils, Shasta Daisy & Erigerons

Shrubs For Sun

Daphne 'Eternal Fragrnace'

Rosemary & Lavender

St. John's Wort (Hypericum)

Black Lace & Black Beauty Elderberrry

Cistus 'Sunset'

Boxwood (Buxus)

Bluebeard (Caryopteris)

Annual Flowers

California Poppy & Oriental Poppy

Sweet Alyssum & Lobelia

Perennials for Shade

Geranium macrorrhizum

Luzula sylvatica 'Aurea'

Sword Fern & Soft Shield Fern

Primrose & Ajuga

Dicentra formosa & Dicentra exima

Euphorbia robbiae

Corydalis lutea

Shrubs For Shade

Mexican Orangeblossom (Choisya ternata)

All Pieris species & cultivars

Dapne 'Zuiko Nishiki'

'Rufa' Bamboo

Oregon Grape (Mahonia aquifolium)

Japanese Skimmia (Skimmia japonica)

Trees

Cupressus macrocarpa (Monterey Cypress)

Vine Maple (must protect young plants)

Dwarf Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris cultivars)

Thunderhead Pine & Mugo Pines

Portugal Laurel

Boxleaf Azara & Leyland Cypress

Ornamental Grasses

Most are deer resistant,

(but many are NOT rabbit resistant!)