Your Garden Beautiful Deer- Resistant Plants
Keep
Grow ings Deer
If you’ve ever stepped outside to find your prized flowers chewed to the stem or your carefully planted shrubs turned into a buffet, you’re not alone. Deer can be charming from afar—but not when they’re
personal snack bar. Fortunately, there’s a natural way to outsmart
Deer-resistant plants offer a smart, sustainable solution to protecting your landscape. These plants are less appealing to deer thanks to their taste, texture, or scent—meaning you can enjoy a lush, thriving garden without the constant worry of damage. However, it is important to note that no plant is completely deer proof; hunger and local conditions can influence deer behavior.
WHy Choose Deer-Resistant Plants?
Less Palatable to Deer
Many deer-resistant plants have strong aromas, fuzzy leaves, or bitter flavors that naturally deter grazing.
Low Maintenance & Hardy
These selections are often tough, drought-tolerant, and adapted to local conditions—making them easy to grow and enjoy.
Beautiful & Functional
From showy blooms to fragrant herbs and structural evergreens, there’s no need to sacrifice beauty for protection.
Scan me to learn all about deer-resistant plants for homeowners om Michigan State University Extension
Here’s a list of deer-resistant plants recommended by Ray Wiegand’s. These plants are considered deer-resistant due to their taste, texture, or scent. However, keep in mind that no plant is completely deer-proof—extreme hunger or local conditions can still influence deer behavior.
Deer Resistant Trees
• Betula varieties
• Cornus orida
• Chionanthus virginiana
• Fagus americana
• Fagus sylvatica
• Ginkgo biloba
• Juniperus ‘Blue Point’
• Juniperus hetzii
• Magnolia v. ‘Green Shadow’
• Picea pungens
• Pinus ex. ‘VanderWolf’
• Styrax japonicus
• Syringa reticulata
• uja plicata ‘Green Giant’
• uja plicata ‘Spring Grove’
• Crataegus laevigata
Deer Resistant Shrubs
• Cornus kousa
• Cornus sericea
• llex cornuta
• llex glabra
• Syringa vulgaris
• Junipeus chinensis
• Pinus mugo
