Deer Resistant Plants


Deer are a major landscape menace -- both rural and sometimes urban -- in the Hill Country and other areas overpopulated with deer. Deer-proof landscape plants are much in demand. Deer resistant plants are often thorny, poisonous or just taste bad. Do be careful of children. Few plants are fully deer-proof, but a number of species are impalatable enough to be left alone as long as other food is available. Droughts and other situations that create a serious food shortage can cause deer to lose their inhibitions and eat otherwise impalatibe plants -- including most of those listed below.With this disclaimer in mind the below list that follows was prepared.


But first, one of my vistors sent in this idea:
I have noticed that if I pay attention to where the deer usually travel it is best not to plant anything there. I had planted daylillies on one side of my property where there are woods behind and woods across the street. The deer always follow that path. I never got to see any flowers. So I replanted lillies on the other side where there are no woods and it is closer to my house and the neighbors house is directly across the street. Since this is not in their usual traffic pattern I have lots of flowers now. You are right about deer eating ANYTHING if conditions warrant it. Three years ago we had a drought and a big ole buck commenced to jump right into the pond and eat the water lillies just 20 feet from the house! In broad daylight! I didn't mind because the lillies in the pond were getting a little overrun not to mention I got some great pictures of him. Sometimes a little sacrifice of some plants is worth the chance of seeing some wildlife up close.
 

LARGE TREES

None have been observed to be resistant enough to leave unprotected. Fortunately trees can be caged until they grow taller than the deer.

SMALL TREES OR LARGE SHRUBS

Texas Buckeye Acsuculus agruta 2 3
Golden Ball Lead Tree Leucana retusa 2
Texas Persimmon diospyros texana 2
Fig Ficus spp. Flameleaf Sumac Rhus lanceolata 2
Desert Willow Chilopsis linearis 2
Mountain Laurel Sophora secundiflora 2
Roughleaf Dogwood Cornus drummondii 2 3
SHRUBS Ceniza/Texas sage Leucophyllum spp 1 2
Jerusalem Cherry Solanum pseudocapsicum
Oleander Nerium oleander
Red-leaf or Japanese Baberry Berberis thunbergii
Rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis
Mexican Buckeye Ungnadia speciosa 2
Mexican Oregano Pliomintha longifolia
Boxwood Buxus microphylla
Cotoneaster Coral Beauty Cotoneaster dammeri 1
Dwarf Yaupon Ilex vomitoria 2
Fragrant mimosa Mimosa borealis 2
Pyracantha Pyracantha coccinea 1
Autumn Sage Salvia greggii 2 3
Mexican Silktassle Garrya lindheimeri 2
Jumiper Juniperus spp. 1 2

Agarita Berberis trifloriolata 2
Blackberry Rubus spp. thorny only 1 2
Evergreen sumac Rhus virens 2
Nandina Nandina spp. 1 3
Autum Aster Aster spp. 1
Turks cap Malvaviscus arboreus 2 3
Elaegnus Elaegnus spp.
Dwarf Chinese Holly Ilex cornuta
Japanese aralia Aralia sieboldii Acuba Acuba japonica 3
Abelia Abelia spp.
Wax myrtle Myrica cerifera 1 2
Pampas Grass Cortaderia spp
Lantana Lantana horida natives resistant, hybirds not 1 2

PERENNIAL SUCCULENTS AND LILIES

Catus Opuntia Hen and chickens Sempervivum spp spiny varieties
Yucca Yucca spp 2
Red Yucca Hesperalve pavriflora flowers eaten 2
Sotol Dasylirion spp 1 2
Sacahuista/Bear Grass/Nolina Nolina spp 2
Lily of the Nile Agapanthus spp.
Cast-iron Plant Aspidistra lurida 3

VINES

Carolina Jessamine Gelsemium sempervirens
Star Jasmine Trachelospermum jasminoides 1

GROUND COVERS

Asiatic Jasmine Trachelospermum asiaticum 1
Santolina Santolina spp 2
Aarons Beard Hypericum calycinum
Spearmint Menta spicata 3
Myrtle Vinca major 3
Carpet Bugle Ajuga reptans 1 3

FLOWERS, FERNS, HERBS

Mexican Mint Marigold Tagetes spp.
Bluebonnet Lupinus texensis 2
Black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta2
Mealy Blue Sage Salvia farinacea 2
Cedar Sage Salvia roemeriana 2 3
Vebena Verbena spp. 2 3
Zexmenia Zexmenia hispida 2
Iris Iris spp. 1 Begonia Begonia spp. 1
Indigo Spires Salvia spp.
Mexican Bush Sage Salvia leucanthis 1
Periwinkle Vinca rosea
Dusty Miller Senecio cineraria
Ageratum Ageratum spp.
Coreopsis Coreopsis spp. 2
Yarrow Achillea filipendulina 2
Cosmos Cosmos bipinnatus
Foxglove Digitalis spp. 2
Purple Cone Flower Echinacea angustifolia 1 2
Flame Acanthus Anisacanthus wrightii
Zinna Zinna spp. 1
Blackfoot Daisy Melampodium lecanthum 2
Chrysanthemum Chrysantheum spp. flowers eaten
Sword Fern Nephrolepis spp. 3
Wood Fern Dryopteris spp 2 3
(1) Observed heavily eaten under pressure
(2) Texas Native
(3) Shade tolerant