Deer Resistant Cover Plants

About Deer Resistant Cover Plants

The ornamental plants and shrubs in your garden should be a feast for the eyes, not a banquet for the local deer population. Although it’s impossible to make a backyard completely deer-proof, you can fill it with plants deer hate. For a natural look, this deer-resistant wildflower mix is great, otherwise check out the suggestions below.
“You can still have a lush, thriving garden by making smart choices. Many stunning plants are unpalatable to deer because of their poisonous compounds, fuzzy or aromatic leaves, and tough, spiny, or bristly textures,” says Ruth Rogers Clausen, author of 50 Beautiful Deer-Resistant Plants. We’ve included some of Clausen’s smart choices here, along with a few top picks of our own.
More and more people are discovering the virtues of perennial ground covers and mulching. Compared to lawn grass, they save on water. And, if deer are a problem in your area, learn about ground cover plants that are good for deer control. These are some low-growing perennials that deer will not generally eat.
Fortunately, there is no shortage of such perennial ground cover plants, plus short shrubs such as Blue Rug juniper and Blue Star juniper. Many deer-resistant ground covers are also shade-tolerant, which solves yet another landscaping challenge. Plants that humans find aromatic often have the opposite effect on deer. The deer find their smell offensive and leave them alone, making these plants effective for deer control.