1,970
Rarely damaged
Sources call the plant deer resistant, or note that deer leave it alone. That includes every hellebore, salvia, lavender and boxwood here. Established foliage usually holds. New growth and open flowers get sampled first.
Is it deer resistant?
Search plants
Not in our plant database. Try the scientific name or check spelling.
Deer-resistant plants, checked one by one
Search 2,486 plants by common or scientific name. Each one is rated for how often deer damage it.
English LavenderLightFull sunRatingRarely Damaged
Balkan ClaryLightFull sunRatingRarely Damaged
PeonyLightFull sunRatingRarely Damaged
Christmas RoseLightPartial shadeRatingRarely Damaged
BoxwoodLightFull sunRatingRarely Damaged
Russian SageLightFull sunRatingRarely Damaged
Common FoxgloveLightFull sunRatingRarely Damaged
Donkey's EarsLightFull sunRatingRarely Damaged
Common YarrowLightFull sunRatingRarely Damaged
Browse by light
Full sun means six hours or more of direct sun, partial shade two to six, and shade under two. A plant can appear in more than one group, because sources often record a range.
Deer resistant plants for full sun
Deer resistant plants for partial shade
Deer resistant plants for shade
Every page carries light, water, height and hardiness from the source records, across 699 genera and 78 collections.
Featured plants
A few genera that garden references rate rarely damaged. Start here when you want a shortlist.
Lavender(Lavandula)
Photo: Kslnml · CC BY-SA 4.0 · cropped
Sage(Salvia)
Photo: Rhododendrites · CC BY-SA 4.0 · cropped
Garden Peony(Paeonia)
Photo: InnaTallinn · CC BY-SA 4.0 · cropped
Browse by plant type
These collections list rarely damaged plants only, filtered by the traits the sources record.
- Perennials1,497Plants that die back in winter and return from the root.
- Shrubs480Woody plants that branch from the base, from low hedges to flowering specimens.
- Trees339Single-stemmed plants for shade, screening and autumn colour.
- Ground covers229Low, spreading plants for banks, bare soil and the front of a border.
- Ferns93Foliage for damp shade and woodland edges.
- Ornamental grasses64Clump-forming grasses for movement and winter structure.
- Climbing vines93Plants that need a wall, fence or pergola to climb.
- Bulbs141Spring and summer flowers that spend most of the year underground.
Browse by situation
Collections built around a job: a boundary, a bank, a pot, or a bed you would rather not water.
- Hedge plants218Dense shrubs and conifers that take clipping.
- Shrubs for privacy122Evergreen and semi-evergreen screening for a boundary.
- Trees for privacy89Taller screening where there is room for roots.
- Ground covers for slopes82Plants that spread and hold soil on a bank.
- Flowers for containers453Annuals and perennials that cope with life in a pot.
- Low maintenance1,465Plants recorded as needing little pruning or watering.
- Drought tolerant450Plants for dry soil in full sun.
- Evergreen shrubs225Structure that stays green through winter.
Frequently asked questions
What does deer resistant mean?
The label means deer are less likely to eat the plant. It does not mean they never will. Garden references use it for plants that survive browsing, and it says nothing about a starving herd in late winter.
Do deer eat hostas and tulips?
Yes. Every hosta, daylily and tulip here is rated frequently damaged. Hellebores, salvias, lavenders and boxwoods are rated rarely damaged, which makes them safer swaps in the same beds.
Which plants do deer leave alone?
No plant is safe in every garden. Start with the rarely damaged set: 1,970 plants, sorted by type, light and care. Grasses, ferns, hellebores, salvias, lavenders and boxwoods cover full sun to shade.
Is a deer-resistant plant also rabbit resistant?
Not necessarily. Ratings here cover deer only. A plant deer walk past can still be chewed down by rabbits, so treat the two problems separately.
How do I find deer-resistant plants for shade?
Use the shade collection for rarely damaged plants with under two hours of direct sun. For dappled light, try partial shade.
How many plants are on the site?
2,486 species and cultivars across 699 genera. Of those, 1,970 are rated rarely damaged and 516 frequently damaged. Search covers common and scientific names, and the collections sort the same plants by type, light and care.