Designing a Deer-Resistant Perennial Garden

August 30, 2025

Imagine a perennial garden where resilience is woven into every leaf and bloom, a space that doesn’t just survive deer visits but confidently shrugs them off. Designing a deer-resistant perennial garden is less about building barriers and more about curating a living mosaic of textures, scents, and shapes that deer instinctively avoid. With a thoughtful approach, your garden can flourish as a glorious defiance against nibbling intruders, turning every unfazed flower into a small triumph.

Design Ideas for a Deer-Resistant Garden

Diversify: Mixing a wide range of deer-resistant perennials reduces the risk of deer targeting any one plant species.
Planting in Masses: Deer are less likely to venture into dense plantings. Grouping deer-resistant plants together in masses can deter them from nibbling.
Incorporate Textures and Aromas: Many deer-resistant plants have strong scents, fuzzy leaves, or spiky textures that deer dislike. Use these traits to your advantage by mixing aromatic herbs and textured foliage throughout the garden.
Create Barriers: Plant less palatable species along the borders of your garden to act as a natural deterrent. Consider using thorny or highly aromatic plants to keep deer away from more vulnerable areas.
Strategic Placement: Place highly deer-resistant plants in areas most susceptible to deer traffic. More attractive plants can be positioned closer to the home or within fenced areas.
Use Hardscaping: Incorporate elements like stone paths, gravel, or decorative fencing to break up plantings and reduce deer access.
Seasonal Interest: Choose a variety of perennials that provide color and texture throughout the growing season, ensuring your garden looks vibrant year-round despite deer challenges.

Deer-Resistant Perennials

Full Sun

Allium (Allium spp.)
Non-native
Height: 1-4 ft
Bloom Season: Late spring to early summer
Bloom Color: Purple, white, pink
Bee Balm (Monarda didyma)
Native
Height: 2-4 ft
Bloom Season: Mid to late summer
Bloom Color: Red, pink, purple, white
Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
Native
Height: 1-3 ft
Bloom Season: Summer to fall
Bloom Color: Yellows, oranges, and browns with black centers
Blanket Flower (Gaillardia aristata)
Native
Height: 1-2.5 ft
Bloom Season: Early summer to fall
Bloom Color: Red, orange, yellow
Catmint (Nepeta faassenii)
Non-native
Height: 1-2 ft
Bloom Season: Late spring to early fall
Bloom Color: Lavender-blue
Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
Native
Height: 2-5 ft
Bloom Season: Summer to fall
Bloom Color: Purple, pink, white
Coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata)
Native
Height: 1-3 ft
Bloom Season: Early to late summer
Bloom Color: Yellow, pink, red
Daylily (Hemerocallis spp.)
Non-native
Height: 1-4 ft
Bloom Season: Early to late summer
Bloom Color: yellow, orange, red, pink, purple
Globe Thistle (Echinops ritro)
Non-native
Height: 3-4 ft
Bloom Season: Mid to late summer
Bloom Color: Steel blue
Lamb’s Ear (Stachys byzantina)
Non-native
Height: 6-12 in
Bloom Season: Late spring to early summer
Bloom Color: Purple
Lavender (Lavandula spp.)
Non-native
Height: 1-3 ft
Bloom Season: Late spring to early summer
Bloom Color: Purple, blue, white
Peony (Paeonia spp.)
Non-native
Height: 2-4 ft
Bloom Season: Late spring to early summer
Bloom Color: Pink, white, red, purple, yellow
Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia)
Non-native
Height: 3-5 ft
Bloom Season: Mid to late summer
Bloom Color: Lavender-blue
Salvia (Salvia nemorosa)
Non-native
Height: 1-3 ft
Bloom Season: Late spring to early summer
Bloom Color: Purple, blue, pink
Sedum (Sedum spectabile)
Non-native
Height: 1-2 ft
Bloom Season: Late summer to fall
Bloom Color: Pink, red, white
Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum)
Non-native
Height: 2-4 ft
Bloom Season: Early to late summer
Bloom Color: White with yellow centers
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Native
Height: 1-3 ft
Bloom Season: Late spring to early fall
Bloom Color: White, yellow, orange, pink, purple, red

Part-Shade to Shade

Astilbe (Astilbe spp.)
Non-native
Height: 1-4 ft
Bloom Season: Late spring to summer
Bloom Color: Pink, white, red, purple
Bleeding Heart (Dicentra spectabilis)
Non-native
Height: 1-3 ft
Bloom Season: Spring to early summer
Bloom Color: Pink, white
Brunnera (Brunnera macrophylla)
Non-native
Height: 1-2 ft
Bloom Season: Spring
Bloom Color: Blue
Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans)
Non-native
Height: 6-9 in
Bloom Season: Mid to late spring
Bloom Color: Blue, purple
Columbine (Aquilegia spp.)
Native
Height: 1-3 ft
Bloom Season: Spring to early summer
Bloom Color: red, blue, yellow, white, purple
Coral Bells (Heuchera spp.)
Native
Height: 1-2 ft
Bloom Season: Late spring to summer
Bloom Color: Pink, red, white
Ferns (Various genera)
Native & Non-native varieties
Height: 1-4 ft
Bloom Season: Non-flowering (foliage interest)
Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia)
Native
Height: 0.5-1 ft
Bloom Season: Spring to early summer
Bloom Color: White, pink
Hellebore (Helleborus spp.)
Non-native
Height: 1-1.5 ft
Bloom Season: Late winter to early spring
Bloom Color: White, pink, purple, green
Jacob’s Ladder (Polemonium caeruleum)
Non-native
Height: 1-2 ft
Bloom Season: Late spring to early summer
Bloom Color: Blue, purple, white
Japanese Painted Fern (Athyrium niponicum)
Non-native
Height: 1-2 ft
Bloom Season: Non-flowering (foliage interest)
Foliage Color: Silver, green, purple
Ligularia (Ligularia dentata)
Non-native
Height: 3-4 ft
Bloom Season: Mid to late summer
Bloom Color: Yellow, orange
Lungwort (Pulmonaria spp.)
Non-native
Height: 0.5-1 ft
Bloom Season: Early spring
Bloom Color: Pink, blue, purple
Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum biflorum)
Native
Height: 1-3 ft
Bloom Season: Spring
Bloom Color: White
Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum)
Non-native
Height: 6-12 in
Bloom Season: Mid to late spring
Bloom Color: White
Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica)
Native
Height: 1-2 ft
Bloom Season: Early spring
Bloom Color: Blue, pink
Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense)
Native
Height: 6-12 in
Bloom Season: Spring
Bloom Color: Brownish-purple

Additional Tips for Success

Physical Barriers: Even with deer-resistant plants, a fence or natural barrier may be necessary in high-pressure areas.
Scent-Based Deterrents: In addition to planting aromatic species, consider using natural sprays or predator urine in the garden.
Stay Vigilant: Even deer-resistant plants may be sampled during times of food scarcity. Regular monitoring can help you catch problems early.

Integrating deer-resistant plants and thoughtful garden design allows you to create a beautiful, resilient perennial garden that thrives despite deer activity. Whether you’re in a shaded woodland setting or a sunny open space, there are plenty of options to build a garden that balances beauty with practicality.