Make sure you protect your garden with these deer-resistant plants!
While deer are definitely adorable, they can be true menaces for any garden. And if you care a lot for your landscaping and plants and these animals end up eating them more often than not, we have some great and some bad news for YOU.
The bad news is that there are no plants that are entirely deer-proof since they are resilient animals. If they are going through a drought or a harsh winter, they will give any bush they see a try before realizing they do not like it.
However, the great news is that no matter what zone you are located in, from the iciest parts of Zone 1 all the way to the south of Zone 10, there is a wide variety of plants that will deter deer from coming to your yard!
They can be either bushes, plants, evergreen foliage, or trees that can have this effect, and be it that they have a strong scent, hairy branches, or spinny leaves, they will make deer think twice before coming to your yard to feast on your carefully cared for plants!
Depending on what zone you are in, the plants will differ, but we guarantee that they are easy to care for and they are going to work!
We have talked with master gardeners and horticulturists and brought you the best deer-resistant plants on the market! Keep on reading to discover them!
Do you have a deer problem? What other animals have invaded your yard? Let us know your answers in the comments!
Juniper
Since it can vary in size range, juniper can be the best choice for a lot of gardens since you can easily find it evening really near spaces.
They are not picky about their growing conditions, as long as it is not musting with water and they can get at least partial to full sun.
Junipers have a strong smell, and it also translates to a strong taste, which is going to make deer avoid coming near them. What’s more, if they can get over the smell and want to pass by your yard, the bristle-like foliage is going to make them think twice!
They are best grown in zones 2 through 9, and they are great if you want to add a pop of color since the juniper is an evergreen plant.
If you have been thinking about using the plants in your garden, they are known to be useful for UTIs, kidney and bladder stones, along with treating an array of stomach issues.
If you want to start using it for its medicinal properties too, in addition to deer repellent, ensure that you know what you are doing and that you research before you start using it.
Soapwort
Soapwort is more or less overlooked despite having some delicate and beautiful white or pink flowers.
This perennial bloomer can be admired in summer and early fall since that is its blooming period, and once you have seen one up close, it is hard to miss it afterward.
Besides its cute flowers, the plant also has a distinctive scent!
The scent, along with the fact that the leaves are bitter tasting, is what is going to make deer not want to come near them since they are not a treat for them.
What’s more, this plant can also be used to make natural body soap, laundry detergent, and even shampoo if you want to give this hobby a try!
If you want to grow this plant, make sure that you have rocky or well-draining soil and that it will be getting at least partial sun, though it can thrive in full sun too!
The best zones are the ones 3 through 8 if you want to be successful in adding it to your landscape.
Iris
These bold flowers are not the first ones that come to mind when we think about what to add to our yards to keep deer away, but it turns out that they are one of the best plants for this.
They are hardy plants that are going to be able to thrive in zones 3 to 10, and they can easily become a staple in your yard.
Irises are beautiful, despite not having a long blooming time, but you can easily enjoy them over time.
Otherwise, they work great as deer-repellant plants since they have a strong smell and a bitter taste.
These are the two most unattractive qualities for deer, and those who have taken to planting them close to where the deer break through into their yards have seen great success in deterring the mammals from returning.
One thing to keep in mind is that while they do well in well-drained soils, you will need to be able to plant them somewhere where they will get full sun!
Elderberry
If you want to add a tall shrub to your yard but are worried about deer coming in and trying to eat them, we have just the plant for you.
Elderberry shrubs can grow up to 12 feet in height and width, so you need to be able to have ample space for them.
At the start, it may not seem like it can be this big, but with time you will see just how majestic this shrub can be.
The best part is that it is deer-resistant since they will not come close to them.
The interior pith and the bumpy stems of this plant make deer turn around when they encounter them since they know they can bring about trouble for them.
Otherwise, you can expect your yard to come alive since other types of wildlife love elderberries, especially birds, but you can also expect an increase in the pollinators that will come to your yard.
This shrub will thrive in zones 3 through 7, and you need to ensure that it will have well-drained soil and that you can provide it with full sun to partial shade.
The elderberry is a useful plant around the home as well, since you can make jam and syrup with the berries and the leaves can be dried and used in tea.
If you want to learn more about the elderberry, from growing to cooking, we recommend you read this book: Everything Elderberry by Susannah Shmurak.
Forget-Me-Not
These little dainty flowers have not crossed your mind when it comes to deterring deer, are we right?
These sweet flowers are a perfect addition to any flowerbed, and they are some of the boldest when it comes to the color they can bring to the yard.
Known as the one true blue flower, forget-me-not flowers are some of the earliest bloomers after winter, which makes them perfect if you want to start to bring more life to your garden fast after the cold season.
They can easily be planted in a lot of landscape designs, be it between rocks or cute flowerbeds, and they also come with the perk that they deter deer.
The taste of the forget-me-not foliage is bitter, and deer definitely stray away from it, even when they are pretty hungry.
So even if they may not completely stop the deer, you can rest assured that they will be left alone.
You can safely plant forget-me-not flowers in zones 3 to 10, and it will need a spot that can provide partial shade to partial sun, along with moist soil.
Heartleaf Foamflower
Another perfect plant that is going to be a great ally in deterring deer but attracting a myriad of other pollinators is going to be the Heartleaf Foamflower.
This plant has slim white blooms that are definitely popular among the likes of butterflies and bees, but due to their hairy-like leaves, deer are definitely not their fans at all.
It is likely due to the hairs tickling their noses, which makes them stay far away from these flowers.
Growing in zones 3 through 8, you can enjoy this early-blooming perennial throughout the year, with their favorite spots being in full to partial shade in well-drained but moist soil.
It is not a fussy plant, but it will bring some texture and dimension to your garden and help guard it from deer, so you can safely plant it at the border of your property and not worry if it is in a wooded area. Heartleaf foamflower thieves in the shade!
Hopefully, these plants will help you get rid of any issues you may have with deer. However, there are other plants you can grow that will definitely make your pets happy. Be it that you have a cat or dog, or even rabbits or goats, check out these easy-to-care-for plants your pets will love!
