Deer browse (feed) on young twigs, new buds, shoots, and succulent plants in flower
beds and vegetable gardens in spring, early summer, late fall and winter. They also
rub their antlers on young trees in late summer and fall causing damage to the bark
and often death of the tree. Here is a list of plants not favored for browsing by
deer according to the Cooperative Extension Service, University of Illinois at Urbana-
Trees |
Shrubs |
Hardy Perennials |
Ash (Fraxinus) |
Barberry (Berberis) |
Anemone (Anemone) |
Beech (Fagus) |
Boxwood (Buxus) |
Artemisia (Artemisia lactiflora) |
Birch (Betula) |
Forsythia (Forsythia) |
Astilbe (Astilbe) |
Catalpa (Catalpa) |
Juniper (Juniperus) |
Bee balm (Monarda) |
Cedar (Juniperus) |
Kerria Jap. rose (Kerria) |
Bergenia (Bergenia) |
Cypress (Taxodium) |
Lilac (Syringa) |
Black- |
Dawn redwood (Metasequoia) |
Oregon- |
Butterfly weed (Asclepias) |
Ginkgo (Ginkgo) |
Smoke bush (Cotinus) |
Columbine (Aquilegia) |
Hemlock (Tsuga) |
Spicebush (Lindera) |
Coreopsis (Coreopsis) |
Locust, black (Robinia) |
Spirea (Spiraea) |
Crane’s bill (Geranium) |
Locust, honey (Gleditsia) |
Sweet shrub (Calycanthus) |
Daisy (Chrysanthemum) |
Mimosa (Albizia) |
Witch- |
Foam flower (Tiarella) |
Redbud (Cercis) |
Groundcovers |
Goldenrod (Solidago) |
Sassafras (Sassafras) |
Ajuga (Ajuga) |
Hellebore (Helleborus) |
Smoketree (Cotinus) |
Bergenia (Bergenia) |
Hibiscus (Hibiscus) |
Sweet gum (Liquidambar) |
Catmint (Nepeta) |
Iris (Iris) |
Spruce (Picea) |
Epimedium (Epimedium) |
Jacob’s ladder (Polemonium) |
Sycamore (Platanus) |
Ferns (various species) |
Loosestrife (Lythrum) |
Tree lilac (Syringa reticulata) |
Ginger (Asarum) |
Peony (Paeonia) |
Tuliptree (Liriodendron) |
Juniper (Juniperus) |
Phlox (Phlox) |
Perennial Vines |
Lady’s mantle (Alchemilla) |
Pinks (Dianthus) |
Akebia (Akebia) |
Lamium (Lamium) |
Purple Coneflower (Echinacea) |
Bittersweet (Celastrus) |
Lily- |
Russian sage (Perovskia) |
Clematis (Clematis) |
Lily turf (Liriope spicata) |
Salvia (Salvia) |
Grape (Vitus) |
Lungwort (Pulmonaria) |
Sedum (Sedum) |
Honeysuckle (Lonicera) |
Pachysandra (Pachysandra) |
Snakeroot (Eupatorium) |
Ivy, Boston (Parthenocissus) |
Potentilla (Potentilla) |
Soapwort (Saponaria) |
Silver lace vine(Polygonum) |
Sedum (Sedum) |
Veronica (Veronica) |
Trumpet creeper(Campsis) |
Snow- |
Yarrow (Achillea) |
Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus) |
Sweet woodruff (Asperula) |
Hardy Bulbs |
Wisteria (Wisteria) |
Vinca (Vinca) |
Allium (Allium) |
Herbs |
Violet (Viola) |
Chionodoxa |
Angelica (Angelica) |
Annuals & Biennials |
Colchicum - |
Basil (Ocimum) |
African daisy |
Crown imperial(Fritillaria) |
Borage (Borago) |
Ageratum (Ageratum) |
Crocus (Crocus) |
Burnet (Sanguisorba) |
Alyssum (Lobularia) |
Daffodil (Narcissus) |
Catmint (Nepeta) |
Campanula (Campanula) |
Eranthis (Eranthis) |
Chamomile (Matricaria) |
Forget- |
Grape hyacinth(Muscari) |
Chives (Allium) |
Four o- |
Narcissus (Narcissus) |
Comfrey (Symphytum) |
Foxglove (Digitalis) |
Scilla (Scilla) |
Dill (Anethum) |
Heliotrope (Heliotropium) |
Snowdrop (Galanthus) |
Fennel (Foeniculum) |
Lobelia (Lobelia) |
Snowflake (Leucojum) |
Feverfew (Chrysanthemum) |
Marigold (Tagetes) |
|
Germander (Teucrium) |
Morning glory (Ipomoea) |
|
Horehound (Marrubium) |
Moonflower (Ipomoea) |
|
Hyssop (Hyssopus) |
Nasturtium (Tropaeolum) |
|
Lavender (Lavendula) |
Petunia (Petunia) |
|
Lemon balm (Melissa) |
Poppy (Papaver) |
|
Lovage (Levisticum) |
Salvia (Salvia) |
|
Mint (Mentha) |
Snapdragon (Antirrhinum) |
|
Oregano (Origanum) |
Sunflower (Helianthus) |
|
Parsley (Petroselinum) |
Sweet William (Dianthus) |
|
Perilla (Perilla) |
Mex. Sunflower (Tithonia) |
|
Rosemary (Rosmarinus) |
|
|
Rue (Ruta) |
|
|
Sage (Salvia) |
|
|
Santolina (Santolina) |
|
|
Savory (Satureja) |
|
|
Tansy (Tanacetum) |
|
|
Thyme (Thymus) |
|
|
Deer Resistant Plants
Deer damage to plants can be reduced by planting trees, shrubs, groundcovers, perennials, annuals, vines, and bulbs that are not favored by deer.