How to Keep Plant-Eating Animals at Bay

Plants Deer Dislike

Thanks to their fuzzy leaves, strong fragrance, or bitter taste, the following plants aren't among deer's favorite nibbles.

Spring-blooming perennials
• Bleeding heart (Dicentra spectabilis) Shade-loving, fernlike plant with pendulous heart-shaped flowers; hardy to -35° F.
•Bluebell (Hyacinthoide hispanica) Bulb plant with small bell-shaped blue, white, or pink flower clusters; hardy to -25°F.
•Crocus (Crocus sp.) Low, clumping bulb plant with white, yellow, or purple flowers; hardiness varies.
•Daffodil (Narcissus sp.) Bulb plant with showy yellow or white blooms; hardiness varies.
•Fritillaria (Fritillaria imperialis) Bulb plant with bell-shaped orange, yellow, or red flowers atop stalklike stems; hardy to -5°F.


Summer-blooming perennials
•Bluebeard (Caryopteris) Shrubby plant with deep-blue flower clusters; hardy to -5° F.
•Catmint (Nepeta faassenii) Compact relative of mint; small purple flowers; hardy to -25° F.
•Hyssop (Hyssopus officianalis) Large-leaved plant with purplish flower spikes; hardy to -5° F.
•Lavender (Lavandula) Sun-loving, aromatic flowering herb; many varieties; hardiness varies.
•Monkshood (Aconitum) Shade tolerant, with hoodlike purple-blue flowers; hardy to -35° F.
•Mullein (Verbascum) Woolly leaf rosettes with tall flower spikes; hardy to -15° F.




Groundcovers
•Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans) Creeping evergreen with dark blue flower whorls; hardy to -35° F.
•Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) Bell-shaped waxy white flowers; hardy to -45° F.
•Pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis) Shade lover; small white or pink flowers; hardy to -25° F.
•Spotted deadnettle (Lamium) Variegated leaves with white or pink flowers; hardy to -25° F.


Shrubs
•Aralia (Araliaceae) Large, bright green foliage with small white flowers; hardy to 5° F.
•Andromeda (Pieris japonica) Rounded shrub with hanging white or pink flowers clusters; hardy to -5° F.
•Boxwood (Buxus) Compact, tiny-leaved hedging shrub; hardy to -5° F.
•Bush cinquefoil (Potentilla fruticose) Extremely cold-hardy; roselike flowers; hardy to -35° F.
•Oleander (Nerium) Tall, evergreen shrub with large white or pink flowers; hardy to 15° F.
•Russian olive (Elaeagnus augustifolia) Willowlike leaves and yellowish summer flowers; hardy to -35° F.