Deer Resistant Plants
and Tips
Page 1 of 3
Let’s face it…deer happen. You love them, right until they decide that your yard is
the hottest new dining place in the neighborhood. But, we also don’t want a pack
of wolves living in the neighborhood controlling the deer population.
So, our only defense is common sense, deterrents and landscaping with plants
deer reportedly don’t want to eat. This list is not deer proof. Under drought
conditions all bets are off and your lush irrigated yard will look like a buffet.
Plants are listed by common name and genus, because other species of the
same genus are often, but not always, deer resistant.
Common Name
Abelia
Agarita
Agave
Ageratum
Alliums
Alyssum
Amaryllis
Anemones
Angel’s Trumpet
Anise
Artemesia
Asian jasmine
Aspidistra
Aster
Aucuba
Bald Cypress
Balloon Flower
Bamboo
Banana Shrub
Beautyberry
Beebalm
Begonia
Black Eyed Susan
Black Gum
Blackberry (thorny)
Blackfoot Daisy
Bleeding Heart Vine
Bluebell
Bluebonnets
Borage
Bottlebrush
Boxwood
Buckeye
Bugleweed
Butter-and-eggs
Dogwood
Dusty Miller
Dwarf Chinese Holly
15809 Tomball Parkway
Genus
Abelia
Mahonia
Agave spp.
Ageratum
Allium spp.
Lobularia
Hippeastrum
Anemone
Brugmansia
Illicium
Artemesia
Trachelospermum
Aspiditra elatior
Aster spp.
Aucuba
Taxodium distitchum
Platycodon
Bamboo
Michelia sp.
Callicarpa sp.
Monarda sp.
Begonia
Rudbecki
Nyssa sylvatica
Rubus
Melampodium
Dicentra spectabilis
Eustoma
Lupinus
Borage officinalis
Callistemon
Buxus
Aesculus
Ajuga
Linaria
Cornus Kousa
Centaurea
Ilex spp.
Common Name
Buttercups
Butterfly Bush
Butterfly weed
Calendula
Calla Lily
Canna
Cardinal flower
Carolina Jessamine
Carpet Bugle
Cast Iron Plant
Cat Whiskers
Catmint
Cedar
Celosia
Chaste Tree (Vitex)
Cherry Laurel
Chinese Fringe Tree
Chives
Chrysanthemum
Clematis
Cleome
Coleus
Columbine
Copper Canyon Daisy
Coreopsis
Cosmos
Cotoneaster
Crape Myrtle
Cross Vine
Curry Plant
Cyclamen
Daffodils
Delphinium
Desert Willow
Dianthus
Dill
Juniper
Lamb’s-ears
Houston, TX 77086
Genus
Ranunculus
Buddleia
Asclepias
Calendula
Zantedeschia
Canna
Lobelia
Gelsemium
Ajuga
Aspidistra
Cleome hasslerana
Nepeta
Juniperus
Celosia
Vitex agnus-castus
Prunus laurocerasus
Chionanthus retusus
Allium
Chrysanthemum
Clematis
Tarenaya hassleriana
Solenostemon
Aquilegia ssp
Tagetes
Coreopsis
Cosmos
Cotoneaster
Lagerstroemia
Bignonia
Helichrysum
Cyclamen
Narcissus
Delphinium
Chilopsis
Dianthus
Anethum
Juniperus
Stachys
281-440-5161
Deer Resistant Plants
and Tips
Page 2 of 3
Common Name
Dwarf Yaupon
Eastern Red Cedar
Elaeagnus
Elephant Ears
Esperanza
Evergreen sumac
Ferns
Fig
Flame Acanthus
Flame Sumac
Flowering Quince
Flowering Tobacco
Forget-me-not
Four Nerve Daisy
Four O’Clocks
Foxglove
Fragrant Mimosa
Gardenia
Garlic Chives
Gaura
Gayfather
Geranium
Gingko
Goldcup
Golden Rain Tree
Goldenrod
Green Ash
Gulf Muhley Grass
Heliotrope
Hummingbird Bush
Hummingbird Bush
Impatiens
Indian Blanket
Indigo Spires
Inland Sea Oats
Iris
Japanese Aralia
Japanese Barberry
Japanese Black Pine
Japanese Yew
Jerusalem Cherry
Petunia
Phlox
Pigeonberry
Pineapple Guava
Plumbago
Polka Dots
15809 Tomball Parkway
Genus
Ilex vomitoria
Juniperus virginiana
Elaeagnus
Colocasia
Tecoma stans
Rhussse
Assorted
Ficus
Anisacanthu
Rhus
Chaenomele
Nicotian
Myosotis
Hymenoxys
Mirabilis
Digitalis
Mimosa
Gardenia
Allium
Gaura
Liatris
Pelargonium
Gingko biloba
Hypericum spp.
Koelrueteria paniculat
Solidago
Fraxinus pennsylvanica
Muhlenbergia lindheimer
Heliotropium
Anisacanthus
Hamelia
Wallerana
Gaillardia
Salvia
Chasmanthium latifolium
Iris spp.
Fatsia
Berberis
Pinus thunbergiana
Taxus cuspidata
Solanum
Petunia ssp.
Phlox ssp.
Rivina
Fiejoa (Acca)
Plumbago
Hypoestes
Common Name
Lantana
Larkspur
Lavender
Leatherleaf
Lemon Balm
Lentin Rose
Leucothoe
Ligularia
Ligustrum
Lily of the Nile
Live Oak
Lobelia
Loquat
Loropetalum
Loropetalum
Magnolia
Maiden Grass
Marigold
Mesquite
Mexican Buckeye
Mexican Bush Sage
Mexican Mint Marigold
Mexican Oregano
Mexican Petunia
Milkweed
Mimosa
Mints
Mock Orange
Monkey Grass
Mountain Laurel
Nandina
Nasturtiums
Oleander
Oregano
Ornamental Pepper
Oxalis
Pampas Grass
Parsley
Pawpaw
Penta
Periwinkles
Sotol
Split leaf Philodendron
Squill
Star Jasmine
Star Magnolia
Sweet Bay Magnolia
Houston, TX 77086
Genus
Lantana
Delphinium
Lavendula
Mahonia
Melissa
Helleborus
Leucothoe axillaris
Ligularia
Ligustrum
Agapanthus
Quercus virginiana
Lobelia
Eriobotrya japonica
Loropetalum
Loropetalum chinensis
Magnolia grandiflora
Miscanthus sinensis
Tagetes
Prosopis
Ungnadia
Salvia
Tagetes
Poliomintha
Ruellia
Asclepias
Albizia
Mentha
Philadelphus
Ophipogon
Sophora
Nandina spp.
Tropaeolum
Nerium
Oreganum
Caspicum
Oxalis
Cortaderia
Petroselinum
Asmina triloba
Pentas
Catharanthus
Dasylirion texanum
Phillodendron
Scilla
Trachelospmum
Magnolia stellata
Magnolia virginica
281-440-5161
Deer Resistant Plants
and Tips
Page 3 of 3
Common Name
Pomegranate
Prickley Pear
Primrose
Primrose Jasmine
Purple Cone Flower
Purple Fountain Grass
Purple Heart
Pyracantha
Red Hot Poker
River Birch
Rock Rose
Rosemary
Rough Leaf Dogwood
Rue
Russian Sage
Sago
Salvias
Santolina
Sedum
Senna
Snapdragons
Snow-on–the-mountain
Society Garlic
Spiderwort
Spirea
Sweet Olive
Genus
Punica
Opuntia
Primula
Jasminum mesnyi
Echinacea
Pennisetum
Setcreasia
Pyracantha
Kniphofia
Betula nigra
Pavonia
Rosmarinus
Cornus
Ruta
Perovskia
Cycas revoluta
Salvia
Santolina
Sedum
Cassia
Antirrhinum
Euphorbia
Tulbaghia
Tradescantia
Spirea
Osmanthus fragrans
Common Name
Sweet Shrub
Sweet Violets
Tansy
Texas Ash
Texas Betony
Texas Persimmon
Texas Sage
Thryallis
Thyme
Toad Lily
Tulip Magnolia
Turks Cap
Viburnum
Vinca (annual)
Vinca Major
Wax Myrtle
Wedelia
Windmill Palm
Winecup
Wisteria
Yarrow
Yaupon Holly
Yuccas
Zexmenia
Zinnia
Genus
Calycanthus floridus
Viola odorata
Tanacetum
Fraxinus texensis
Stachys coccinea
Diospyros
Leucophyllum
Galphimia
Thymus
Trycyrtis hirta
Magnolia X soulangiana
Malvaviscus
Viburnum
Catharanthus
Vinca
Myrica
Wedelia
Trachycarpus fortunei
Callirhoe
Wisteria
Achillea
Ilex
Yucca
Wedelia
Zinnia
Other helpful hints include:
•
using Milorganite fertilizer; deer seem to dislike the smell,
•
tying small mesh bags of human hair in and around your plants.
•
spraying shrubs with a solution of one egg beaten with a quart on water.
Remember to clean your sprayer thoroughly afterwards. The deer will be able to smell rotten eggs,
but you will not.
•
Several commercial deterrents are available and they may work quite well.
Remember: This list is not deer proof.
Under drought conditions all bets are off and your irrigated yard will look like a lush buffet.
If you have successful methods to deter our furry friends let us know! We’ll add it to the list.
Good luck!
15809 Tomball Parkway
Houston, TX 77086
281-440-5161