Deer and Rabbit Resistant Perennials

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Having trouble with pests eating your plants? These perennials resist both deer and rabbits. Note: nothing is deer and rabbit PROOF, but these aren't their first choice for snacking.

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Allium (Ornamental Onion)

Onion may be a big part of the human diet, but the flavor is a turn off for the grazers. They'll only touch this plant as a last resort. The flowers, however, attract pollinators!

Full to Part Sun | Zones: 4-8 | Blooms: Mid - Late Summer

Variety Pictured: Allium 'Serendipity'

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Nepeta (Catmint)

This is part of the mint family, so its foliage is fragrant, which deters deer and rabbits. It may, however, attract cats (they might rub against it and smell it).

Full Sun | Zones: 3-8 | Blooms: Early - Midsummer

Variety Pictured: Nepeta 'Cat's Pajamas'

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Kniphofia (Red Hot Poker)

This genus comes in a variety of warm shades like reds, oranges, and yellows, and are generally left alone so you can enjoy the spiky flowers in summer.

Full Sun | Zones: 5b-9 | Blooms: Early - Late Summer

Variety Pictured: Kniphofia PYROMANIA™ 'Backdraft'

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Lavandula (Lavender)

This herb may smell nice to us, but the strong scent scares away deer and rabbits.

Full Sun | Zones: 5-9 | Blooms: Early - Late Summer

Variety Pictured: Lavandula angustifolia Sweet Romance®

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Achillea (Yarrow)

The aromatic leaves of Yarrow are what keep the pests away.

Full Sun | Zones: 3-8 | Blooms: Early - Late Summer

Variety Pictured: Achillea 'Firefly Sunshine'

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Aconitum (Monkshood)

A clue into why this plant is resistant to pests is another common name, Wolfsbane (in addition to other "-banes"). That's right – this plant is poisonous. So deer and rabbits avoid eating it, but you as the gardener should too.

Full to Part Sun | Zones: 4-8 | Blooms: Late Summer - Early Fall

Variety Pictured: Aconitum fischeri

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Anemone

You'll have a chance to enjoy these fall-blooming varieties since they probably won't get chewed down throughout the summer.

Full Sun to Part Shade | Zones: 4-8 | Blooms: Late Summer - Early Fall

Variety Pictured: Anemone FALL IN LOVE™ 'Sweetly'

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Euphorbia (Spurge)

If you ever cut one of these plants, you'll notice a white sap that oozes from the stem. This substance is why deer and rabbit steer clear of these beautiful foliage perennials. The sap may irritate your skin if you are sensitive, so if picking for a bouquet, avoid the bottom of the stems or wear gloves.

Full to Part Sun | Zones: 4-8 | Blooms: Late Spring

Variety Pictured: Euphorbia polychroma

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Epimedium (Barrenwort)

Epimedium has some medicinal purposes, so is not toxic to humans (or critters). That being said, it's not high on the list of things that taste good to deer.

Full to Part Shade | Zones: 5-8 | Blooms: Mid - Late Spring

Variety Pictured: Epimedium 'Domino'

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Delphinium (Larkspur)

It's rare to find a true blue color for the garden, so how handy is it that deer and rabbits leave Delphinium alone? They also come in purples, whites, and pinks.

Full to Part Sun | Zones: 3-7 | Blooms: Early Summer

Variety Pictured: Delphinium elatum 'Million Dollar Blue

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Autumn Fern

Ferns as a group are often left alone by critters. It's a perfect deer and rabbit resistant option for shade.

Full to Part Shade | Zones: 5-9 | Blooms: Grown for Foliage

Variety Pictured: Dryopteris erythrosara 'Brilliance'

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Alchemilla (Lady's Mantle)

The fuzzy leaves of this classic green perennial are the turn off to the unwanted critters.

Full Sun to Part Shade | Zones: 3-7 | Blooms: Late Spring - Early Summer

Variety Pictured: Alchemilla mollis

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Hardy Geranium

Not to be confused with the red annual Geraniums (Pelargonium), the foliage on Geraniums have a slight scent that smells nice to us but not to deer and rabbits.

Full Sun to Part Shade | Zones: 4-8 | Blooms: Early - Late Summer

Variety Pictured: Geranium 'Boom Chocolatta'

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Artemisia

Deer and rabbits tend to avoid silver leaved plants, but that's probably because they don't like the fuzzy texture of the foliage.

Full Sun | Zones: 3-7 | Blooms: Grown for Foliage

Variety Pictured: Artemisia schmidtiana 'Silver Mound'

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Helleborus (Lenten Rose)

Not all deer and rabbit resistant plants are toxic, but Lenten Rose definitely is. It's toxic to humans, too. Normal handling is absolutely safe, just make sure not to ingest the plant.

Full Sun to Full Shade | Zones: 4-9 | Blooms: Late Winter - Early Spring

Variety Pictured: Helleborus WEDDING PARTY™ 'True Love'

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Astilbe

Deer and rabbits don't like the taste of Astilbe leaves. We're not complaining! That just means we get to enjoy the flowers of this versatile (sun or shade) perennial.

Full Sun to Full Shade | Zones: 4-9 | Blooms: Mid - Late Summer

Variety Pictured: Astilbe chinensis 'Visions'

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Cerastium (Snow in Summer)

The woolly texture of the leaves are a natural deterrent to unwanted critters.

Full Sun | Zones: 3-7 | Blooms: Late Spring - Early Summer

Variety Pictured: Cerastium tomentosum 'Yo Yo'

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Perennial Salvia

If you rip a Salvia leaf and put it to your nose, you'll notice a minty scent. Not surprising, Salvia belong to the mint family. That same strong scent that seems pleasant to you actually keeps the critters away.

Full Sun | Zones: 3-8 | Blooms: Late Spring - Early Summer

Variety Pictured: Salvia nemorosa 'Pink Profusion'

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Digitalis (Foxglove)

Digitalis has been used to treat heart conditions, but on the whole, the plant is very toxic (which is why the critters stay away). A somewhat ominous common name for this plant is "Dead Man's Bells"--but don't worry, as long as you don't EAT the plant, you can enjoy the wonderful, long blooming flowers.

Full to Part Sun | Zones: 4-9 | Blooms: Early Summer

Variety Pictured: Digitalis purpurea 'Sugar Plum'

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Cimicifuga (Black Snakeroot)

This perennial gets left alone in the shade garden because it's considered a poisonous plant.

Full to Part Shade | Zones: 4-8 | Blooms: Late Summer - Early Fall

Variety Pictured: Cimicifuga ramosa 'Hillside Black Beauty'

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Asarum (Wild Ginger)

Although the common name is Ginger, this isn't the stuff you eat (that's Zingiber!). This genus is actually toxic.

Full to Part Shade | Zones: (5)6-9 | Blooms: Early Spring

Variety Pictured: Asarum splendens

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Siberian Iris

When you're walking by some Iris, you may enjoy that pleasant scent coming from the flowers. That same scent is what drives the critters away--the scent is too strong for their liking.

Full to Part Sun | Zones: 3-9 | Blooms: Early Summer

Variety Pictured: Iris sibirica 'Swans in Flight'

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Liriope (Blue Lily-turf)

This is a great option for a perennial groundcover that will be left alone for the most part by deer and rabbits. Although it looks like a grass throughout most of the year, a special surprise is when it blooms in late summer.

Full Sun to Full Shade | Zones: 5-10 | Blooms: Midsummer

Variety Pictured: Liriope muscari 'Big Blue'

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Pulmonaria (Lungwort)

The leaves on Lungwort are covered with coarse hair--and deer and rabbits tend to leave "hairy" plants alone.

Full to Part Shade | Zones: 3-9 | Blooms: Late Spring

Variety Pictured: Pulmonaria 'Pretty in Pink'

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Ophiopogon (Black Mondo Grass)

This perennial (not actually a grass) is one of the more deer resistant. It looks like Liriope but in a cool black color.

Full Sun to Part Shade | Zones: 5-9 | Blooms: Grown for Foliage

Variety Pictured: Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Niger'

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Yucca (Adam's Needle)

The flowers may not be deer resistant, but the foliage definitely is. Most people like to enjoy this as a foliage interest in their garden anyway.

Full to Part Sun | Zones: (4)5-10 | Blooms: Early - Midsummer

Variety Pictured: Yucca filamentosa 'Excalibur'

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Stachys (Betony)

Like Salvia, this is a member of the mint family. Deer and rabbits tend to leave smelly plants alone.

Full to Part Sun | Zones: 4-8 | Blooms: Early - Midsummer

Variety Pictured: Stachys monieri 'Hummelo'

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Ostrich Fern

Ostrich ferns need plenty of space to grow since they are rapid spreaders. They spread by dense underground runners which extend out in all directions, quickly forming colonies.

Full Sun to Full Shade | Zones: 3-7 | Blooms: Grown for Foliage

Variety Pictured: Matteuccia struthiopteris

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Sempervivum (Hens and Chicks)

Sempervivum is comprised of one large rosette called the "hen" which sprouts many smaller rosettes around it called "chicks". As the plants age, the "hen" may die out and be replaced by the "chicks". Plants can be divided easily at any time by pulling up some of the "chicks" and replanting them elsewhere.

Full Sun | Zones: 3-8 | Blooms: Midsummer

Variety Pictured: Sempervivum 'Purple Beauty'