Beautiful and hardy, deer-resistant plants make great additions to pest-prone landscapes. Gardeners in rural and semi-rural areas often have to deal with animals invading their gardens. Squirrels dig up bulbs, rabbits eat vegetables, and deer nibble almost everything. Luckily, we have a wide selection of flowering deer-resistant plants.
The plants most resistant to deer-browsing are those with inedible foliage or highly aromatic flowers. Luckily, there is enough variety among these types that you can find deer-resistant flowering plants suitable for every zone from 2 to 10 and every sun exposure. There are also plenty of choices in heights, colours and bloom times.
Deer are especially hungry in the spring, so consider filling your spring garden with deer-resistant Dutch bulbs like hyacinth, daffodils and irises. For the summer, choose plants with feathery foliage and less appetizing blossoms such as poppies, begonia, astilbe, and a variety of coneflowers. Feathery or ruffled flowers also seem to repel deer, so consider plants like queen of the prairie, goatsbeard and sea holly. Prevent deer from grazing in your fall garden with a mix of beautiful dahlias, toad lilies and hyssops.
Other good types of deer-resistant plants are those that are highly scented, particularly alliums, sages and similar plants, such as salvia, Russian sage, catmint and lavender. These flowering plants all have gorgeous flowers and fragrant foliage that bees and butterflies love.
Don't despair when you find that deer have discovered your garden. Plant some of these beauties where the deer like to browse and watch them turn up their noses.