Dawn Gardens is surrounded by an 8′ tall fence and deer cannot get in unless someone leaves the gate open. One day that happened and 4 deer got in and thought they were in heaven. They helped themselves to everything especially the vegetables and roses. It took us 4 days to get them out and now they hang out at the front gate in case it stays open long enough to squeeze in.

The following are photos of plants that have been eaten by deer. When you see this type of damage you need a better fence, deer resistant plants or chemical deterrents.

In spite of their thorns deer love roses

Agapanthus – most of the flowers are chewed off and the leaves have been eaten.

If you see these droppings on the ground you know you have deer nearby.

The following are deer resistant plants categorized by type – shrub, ground cover, perennial, grass and fern. The deer may eat some of these in the fall when the native vegetation turns brown.

Most shrubs and trees will not be eaten if they are taller than 5-6′ because the deer cannot reach them.

SHRUBS & TREES:

Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus-castus) can get to 20-25′. This is very reliably deer resistant. It has been growing out along the street in front of my house with foliage to the ground for 16 years with no damage.

Silverberry (Elaeagnus pungens) is a large barrier plant with thorns and bristles on the leaves which make it an excellent deer resistant plant.

California Buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum) Most of the other buckwheats are deer resistant too.

Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) (Salvia yangii – new name) is deciduous and has a strong aromatic smell.

All Buddlejas are deer resistant. This is Buddleja ‘Buzz Purple’All Lavenders are deer resistant.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Prostratus’) (Salvia rosmarinus is the new name)

Daphne odora ‘Marginata’ There are many cultivars of this plant all of which are deer resistant. California Holly Grape (Mahonia pinnata) has very prickly leaves which the deer don’t like.Chinese Holly-Grape (Mahonia lomariifolia) as well as other Mahonias with prickly leaves are deer resistant.

All Euphorbias are very deer resistant because of their milky sap.

Australian Fuchsia (Correa pulchella)

Boxwood: All Boxwoods are deer resistant.

Golden Barberry (Berberis ‘Golden Nugget’)

Plants with thorns or needle-like leaves are usually deer resistant such as Berberis, Hakea, Leptospermum, Agave.

Breath of Heaven (Coleonema pulchellum)

Plants that have smelly foliage such as Coleonema, Salvia, Nepeta, Santolina, Choisya, Tulbaghia, Origanum, Thymus, Artemisia, Achillea, Myrtus, Laurus are usually deer resistant.

Grevillea ‘Noellii’ and G. ‘Canberra’

Plants that have fuzzy, hairy or prickly foliage such as Grevillea, Fremontodendron, Echium, Gaillardia, Lamium, Rudbeckia hirta, Stachys are usually deer resistant.

Foxglove (Digitalis purpureus)

Plants that have toxins in their sap such as Digitalis, Oleander, Papaver, Eucalyptus are usually deer resistant.

Cordyline ‘Design-A-Line’

Plants that have strap-shaped or grass-like leaves such as Cordyline, Iris, Sisyrinchium, Phormium, Callistemon, Liriope are usually deer resistant.

Norway Spruce

Alberta Spruce

Mugo Pine

Most Pines, Spruces, Cedars with needle-like leaves are deer resistant.

California Anemone (Carpenteria californica)

All Peonies are deer resistant.

Lily of the Valley Shrub (Pieris sp.). They are all deer resistant. There are varieties that go from 1′ tall to 16′ feet tall.

Wallflower (Erysimum ‘Bowles Mauve’) is deer resistant due to their cabbage-like smell.

PERENNIALS AND GROUND COVERS:

Heath (Erica carnea) also Heathers (Calluna) are deer resistant mostly because of their tiny leaves.

Gayfeather (Liatris spicata) is a bulb that blooms in the summer and the deer rarely eat it.

All Daffodils and Narcissus are deer resistant and gopher resistant.

Matilija Poppy (Romneya coulteri) is a deer resistant native California plant.

Some books list Agapanthus as deer resistant but as you can see in one of my client’s gardens, they love it.

Cone Flowers (Echinacea) are all deer resistant.

Fleabane (Erigeron karvinskianus ‘Moerheimii’) is a low groundcover and edging plant.

Carpet Bugle (Ajuga reptans)

Oriental Hellebore (Helleborus orientalis)

GRASSES:

Lomandra longifolia ‘Breeze’

Karley Rose Grass (Pennisetum ‘Karley Rose’

Dwarf Golden Bamboo: Most bamboos are deer resistant.

Almost all grasses are deer resistant

FERNS

Autumn Fern (Dryopteris erythrosora)

Tasmanian Tree Fern (Dicksonia antarctica)

Almost all ferns are deer resistant.