deer resistant

Deer Resistant Flowers for Gardens

In many parts of the country, deer are quite literally the biggest pests in the garden. They’ll nibble off flower heads or chomp on stems and woody plants. But, with the right plants, you can grow a gorgeous garden without the deer eating all of your hard work. The secret is planting deer resistant plants.

What are Deer Resistant Flowers?

Deer resistant plants are ones that deer generally tend to avoid eating. It doesn’t mean they won’t eat them if they’re really, really hungry. However, they’ll nibble on other plants first before resorting to deer resistant flowers. Some of the best spring deer resistant flowers, or flowers for spring planting, include astilbe, begonias, calla lilies, caladium, cannas, dahlias, ferns, gladiolus, iris, and peonies. For those planting in the fall, check out our deer resistant fall varieties including daffodils, hyacinths, alliums, iris, ferns, peonies and more!

Which Flowers Do Deer Eat?

If it’s tender, smooth and somewhat sweet, the deer will probably like it. They enjoy eating fruit trees and clovers. Some of their favorite garden flowers are hostas, English ivy and daylilies. They’ll even nibble on rose flowers.

What Flower Features Do Deer Not Eat?

Certain features on flowers deter deer. They avoid toxic foliage, like that of ferns. Fibrous or hard-to-digest foliage, like irises, is also something they’ll avoid. If plants have hairy foliage or spiky foliage—in other words, are rough on the tongue, deer will often pass those by. Deer also tend to avoid heavily scented flowers and foliage, such as herbs and peonies.

Deer Resistant Flowers

With a little planning, you can fill your garden with deer resistant flowers—or interplant deer resistant plants among your other bulbs and perennials. K. van Bourgondien offers a wide selection of deer-resistant flowers including ones that thrive in the full sun and ones that prefer the shade. Some are grown for their foliage, while others produce vividly colored flowers. Below are some of our favorites.

Allium

Alliums

Allium’s colorful spheres and enigmatic shapes add vertical interest, whimsy and charm to the garden. Available in a range of colors and sizes, alliums are easy to grow in sunny areas and attract pollinators. A member of the onion family, alliums have a strong flavor and an odor that deer find unappetizing.

  • Height: 24-60 inches tall
  • Bloom season: late spring to midsummer
  • Growing zones: 4-8
  • Planting season: fall

Astilbe

Astilbe

This showy perennial brightens up shaded or partially shaded parts of the garden, needing medium to moist soil during the growing period. Astilbe produces masses of feathery flower plumes in hues of red, pink, lavender and white. While the lacy, deep green foliage adds texture to the garden, the deer tend to pass it by.

  • Height: 24-36 inches tall
  • Bloom season: early to midsummer
  • Growing zones: 4-8
  • Planting season: fall or spring

Begonia

Begonia

A favorite for containers, window boxes and hanging baskets, begonias produce masses of colorful blooms throughout the summer months until frost. The deer do not tend to be fond of their fuzzy stems and waxy leaves. Begonias grow best in partial shade to shade and are available in a wide array of colors.

  • Height: 8-18 inches tall (depending on type)
  • Bloom season: from summer to first frost
  • Growing zones: 3-10 (lift in fall in zones 3-8)
  • Planting season: spring

Caladium

Caladiums

Grown specifically for their ornamental foliage, caladiums offer spectacular color in shaded and partially shaded areas. Their colors range from red to a pale pink, to white and deep rose and their leaves are shaped like arrows, lances or hearts. They’re also suitable for patio containers and window boxes. While gardeners love their foliage, deer tend to pass them by, most likely because their leaves produce oxalate/oxalic acid which can be toxic.

  • Height: 12-24 inches tall
  • Bloom season: foliage from July until first frost
  • Growing zones: 3-10 (lift in fall in zones 3-8)
  • Planting season: spring

Calla Lilies

Calla Lilies

Whether you find them listed under Calla Lilies or their botanical name, Zantedeschia, you’ll recognize their distinctive cup-shaped, upright trumpet-like flowers. Often used in bridal bouquets, Calla Lilies add elegance to flowerbeds and containers. They’re excellent cut flowers, lasting around 3 weeks in a vase. They will lose color but remain attractive. Deer probably avoid them because their leaves contain a toxin. Available in a wide range of vivid colors, they grow best in full sun to partial shade.

  • Height: 18-24 inches tall
  • Bloom season: in the summer
  • Growing zones: 3-10 (lift in the fall in zones 3-8)
  • Planting season: spring

Cannas

Cannas

Their lush tropical foliage and showy flowers make borders and flowerbeds come alive with bright colors all summer long. They’re a favorite for home gardens as well as in parks and public spaces. While their leathery leaves are attractive, deer prefer more tender shoots and tend to pass them by. Cannas grow best when planted in full sun. The more heat and sun they get, the better they will perform. However, be sure to give them plenty of water.

  • Height: 36-48 inches tall (also available in smaller, dwarf size)
  • Bloom season: midsummer to frost
  • Growing zones: 3-10 (lift in the fall in zones 3-7)
  • Planting season: spring

Crocus

Crocus

One of the first flowers of spring, crocus give flower beds and other areas early season pops of color. Because they bloom before most trees leaf out and before lawn mowing begins, they are often planted in woodlands, around trees and in lawns. For lots of color, plant them by the hundreds, even the thousands. Crocus are available in an array of colors naturalize well, coming back year after year. Unless food is in very short supply, deer usually won’t eat crocus.

  • Height: 4-6 inches tall
  • Bloom season: late winter to early spring
  • Growing zones: 3-9
  • Planting season: fall

Daffiodils

Daffodils

These low-maintenance perennials add cheer to the garden when they burst into bloom in the spring. Available in a range of colors, including yellow, white, orange, apricot and pink, they also make lovely cut flowers. They grow best in full sun. Daffodils contain alkaloid lycorine which is unpalatable and even poisonous to deer.

  • Height: 14-24 inches tall
  • Bloom season: spring
  • Growing zones: 4-9
  • Planting season: fall

Dahlias

Dahlias

Dahlias provide months of gorgeous flowers. They are available in a wide range of flower forms, from ball, cactus, dinnerplate and decorative, and come in an array of colors. These sun lovers also are prized as cut flowers. Their pungent aroma may deter some deer. However, if the deer are really hungry, they may eat the tender leaves and buds.

  • Height: 24-48 inches tall
  • Bloom season: midsummer to frost
  • Growing zones: 3-10 (lift in the fall in zones 3-8)
  • Planting season: spring

Ferns

Ferns

One of the easiest shade perennials to grow, ferns add lush green color and texture to woodland and shaded or partially shaded gardens, growing best in organically rich soils like woodland soil. They’re cold hardy and grow in many areas of the country. Ferns are available in a wide range of sizes, so they’re easy to fit into different garden situations. While passersby may admire their gorgeous fronds, deer tend to pass them by.

  • Height: 12-48 inches tall
  • Bloom season: Green foliage from April until first frost
  • Growing zones: 3-10
  • Planting season: fall and spring

Fritillaria

Fritillaria

One of the lesser known of the spring-blooming bulbs, Fritillaria, also called crown imperials, add height and an exotic look to gardens. Boldly colored flowers bloom on spikes and attract pollinators. They look best when planted in clumps and are striking when paired with daffodils and muscari. For the best garden performance, plant them in well-drained soil and full sun. Their fragrance makes deer pass them by.

  • Height: 24-48 inches tall
  • Bloom season: Mid spring
  • Growing zones: 4-8
  • Planting season: fall

Gladiolus

Gladiolus

An impressive flower for adding vertical interest and vivid summer color to the garden, gladiolus have tall, straight stalks covered with 10-12 florets. Because of their size, they’re often planted in the backs of flowerbeds or near fences. The Glamini Gladiolus is a smaller size that is suitable for containers and does not require staking. Similarly, Mixed Hardy Glads are also small, great for borders and do not require staking. While gladiolus have beautiful flowers, the deer don’t care for their rough leaves. Gladiolus perform best when planted in full sun.

  • Height: 36-60 inches tall (also available in smaller, dwarf size)
  • Bloom season: in the summer
  • Growing zones: 3-10 (lift in the fall in zones 3-7)
  • Planting season: spring

Hyacinth

Hyacinths

While the sweet perfume of hyacinths on the spring air delights most gardeners, deer don’t care for the fragrance—and the bulbs are poisonous to deer. Blooming in early to mid spring, hyacinths come in an array of colors, including white, yellow, pink, red and purple. These showy flowers are ideal for planting in beds and near walkways. They grow best in full sun.

  • Height: 8-12 inches tall
  • Bloom season: early to mid-spring
  • Growing zones: 4-9
  • Planting season: fall

Iris

Iris

Producing some of the showiest, picture-perfect flowers available, iris are easy-to-grow perennials available in a wide range of colors. Choose from German, Japanese, Dutch, Siberian, and Louisiana iris for a long bloom season and lots of variation in the garden. They are versatile and fit in a lot of different garden settings. While their grass-like or sword-like foliage provides months of appeal in the garden, the deer aren’t that fond of it. Iris grow best in full sun to partial shade.

  • Height: 30-40 inches tall
  • Bloom season: in late spring to early summer (depending on type)
  • Growing zones: 4-9
  • Planting season: fall and spring

Muscari

Muscari

Also called grape hyacinths, these petite spring bloomers create a blanket of color when planted en masse. Available in a range of colors including purple, white and blue hues, they’re good for planting under trees, in borders and with tulip and daffodils. Muscari has a musky fragrance and is poisonous to deer. These charming spring bloomers can be planted in full sun to partial shade.

  • Height: 6-8 inches tall
  • Bloom season: in mid to late spring
  • Growing zones: 3-9
  • Planting season: fall

Peonies

Peonies

Extravagant and elegant, peonies (Paeonia) are a traditional favorite in both professional landscapes and home gardens. While these perennials are slow starters—they often don’t bloom until one to three years after planting, with most peonies flowering the second spring after planting—they are long-lived. They’re prized for their fragrant, fluffy blooms and ornamental foliage, and work well as specimen plants, foundation plantings or along walkways. While their leathery leaves provide months of ornamental interest, the deer don’t find them very tasty. They grow best in full sun to partial shade.

  • Height: 24-36 inches tall
  • Bloom season: in late spring to early summer
  • Growing zones: 3-8
  • Planting season: fall and spring

Snowdrops

Snowdrops

These early blooming flowers can often be seen peeking through the snow. Snowdrops are often planted as a ground cover or in woodland areas. The white, bell-like flowers are a delight in late winter to early spring. Snowdrops naturalize well and are often planted with crocus. They grow best in well-drained soil and full sun to partial shade. They are poisonous to deer.

  • Height: 6 inches tall
  • Bloom season: late winter to early spring
  • Growing zones: 3-9
  • Planting season: fall

How To Plant Deer Proof Flowers for Your Deer Resistant Garden

Here are some more tips for planting deer resistant flowers:

  • Keep in mind that every garden is different. Some areas may only have an occasional deer wandering through while others are under heavy deer pressure. Those with heavy deer pressure may have to rely only on deer resistant flowers.
  • When deer resistant plants are young and tender, the deer may like them. Spray the tender plants with deer repellant until they become established.
  • When designing with deer resistant plants, take into account sun requirements, grow zones, height and bloom times.
  • Use additional methods to deter deer. Fencing, deer repellents and motion-activated water sprinklers are also known to deter deer.