Spring planting season is finally underway here in West Michigan’s plant hardiness zone 6. One thing everyone wants to know: What can I plant that deer won’t eat? Nobody wants to put all the time, energy, and money into planting if their plants are just going to be eaten by wildlife.
When deer are traveling through your property it can be tough to stop them from eating plants that they come across. But even hungry deer will bypass certain types of vegetation. Think plants with strong aromatics, fuzzy or prickly textures, and natural toxins.
While no plant is categorically deer “proof,” many plants with these characteristics have come to be known as “deer resistant.” They are classic, functional, standout plants that deer avoid for the most part – unless they are starving or have nothing else tastier or softer to graze on nearby.
We’ve compiled a list of perennials, shrubs, and trees to consider if you are in search of plants that are least likely to be eaten by deer. You can find most of these plants on a regular basis at Knapp Valley Gardens.
Deer Resistant Plants, Shrubs, Trees
Perennials:
- Ajuga
- Amsonia
- Astilbe
- Baptisia
- Black Eyed Susan
- Brunnera
- Clematis
- Daisy
- Dianthus
- Echinacea
- Eupatorium
- Geranium
- Geum
- Iris
- Joe Pye Weed
- Lady’s Mantle
- Lamb’s Ear
- Lenten Rose
- Lavender
- Myrtle
- Nepeta / Catmint
- Ornamental Grass
- Sage
- Sedum
- Speedwell
- Tickseed
- Veronica
- Vinca
- Wisteria
- Yarrow
Shrubs:
- Barberry
- Bayberry
- Butterfly Bush
- Boxwood
- Forsythia
- Honeysuckle
- Hydrangea
- Holly
- Juniper
- Lilac
- St. Johns Wort
- Rose of Sharon
- Pieris
- Potentilla
- Rhododendron
- Spirea
- Summersweet
- Weigela
- Viburnum
Trees:
- Ash
- Beech
- Cherry
- Fir
- Flowering Dogwood
- Ginkgo
- Hawthorn
- Honeylocust
- Larch
- Magnolia
- Oak
- Pine
- Redbud
- Red Maple
- River Birch
- Spruce
- Sweetgum
- Tulip Tree
- Willow
Deer Deterrents and Repellents
If deer visit your yard regularly and feast on even your “deer resistant” plants, you might want to try another method of prevention. Deterrents or repellents can be good options to keep deer grazing at bay.
Knapp Valley Gardens carries Epic Deer Scram granules and Liquid Fence repellent. They both work by using odors to which the animals are naturally averse so deer are deterred without needing to take a bite of your plants. Spray Liquid Fence liberally on all plants and their perimeter and repeat a week later. Then, reapply monthly and after heavy rains. Or, sprinkle Epic Deer Scram granules around the perimeter of your garden and directly around individual plants to establish a protective barrier that deer will not cross. Reapply monthly or after heavy rains.
Other deer deterrents include motion-activated ones like lights, noises, or water sprinklers. Fencing around your garden or netting over your plants can also be effective. Or, you can try hanging mesh pouches filled with scent deterrents (one popular filler is Irish Spring soap) around the garden at 10 x 10 foot intervals, at a height of about four feet (roughly deer nose height).
Visit or call our Garden Center with any questions you may have, and follow these tips to help keep pesky deer away from your beloved plants this season.
