Plants That Deer Avoid (But You’ll Still Love)

A guide to growing smarter in deer-prone gardens

Just about any gardener in Northwest Arkansas has battled the grazing nemesis: deer. As charming as they are from a distance, deer can do serious damage in the garden:chewing flowers to the ground, nibbling tender new shoots, and leaving once-beautiful beds looking pitiful.

The truth is, there’s no such thing as a completely deer-proof plant. If they’re hungry enough, they’ll sample just about anything. But there are plants that deer tend to leave alone—thanks to strong scents, bitter tastes, or fuzzy textures—and (lucky you) many of them are beautiful additions to your landscape.

Whether you’ve just had your first hosta heartbreak or you’re tired of watching your roses get raided, this guide is for you.

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What Makes a Plant Deer-Resistant?

Deer are browsers by nature, which means they’ll nibble their way across your garden and try a little bit of everything. But over time, they learn what they like—and what they don’t.

Most deer-resistant plants share a few key traits:

• Strong scent – Anything that smells when you crush its foliage. Think herbs like rosemary or flowers like marigolds.
  
  
• Tough or fuzzy leaves – These are less pleasant to chew, I guess.
  
  
• Bitter taste – Some plants just taste bad to deer.
  
  

That’s why a garden full of lamb’s ear and lavender will often fare better than one packed with hostas and daylilies. (Sorry, hosta lovers—we know.)

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Westwood’s Favorite Deer-Resistant Picks

We carry dozens of beautiful plants that deer tend to leave alone. Here are a few of our go-to favorites for Northwest Arkansas:

🌿 Perennials

Perennials give you long-term structure and reliable color. These picks hold up well season after season of deer foraging.

• Russian Sage – Airy lavender blooms and a strong scent deer dislike.
  
  
• Yarrow – Drought-tolerant and pollinator-friendly with ferny leaves.
  
  
• Lamb’s Ear – Soft, fuzzy, silver foliage that deer usually skip.
  
  
• Coreopsis – Cheery, low-maintenance blooms in yellow and gold.
  
  
• Coneflower (Echinacea) – A native favorite that’s both tough and beautiful.
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• Catmint (Nepeta) — Fragrant, easy-growing, and loved by pollinators, just not by deer.
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• LungWort – Speckled leaves and early blooms that thrive in shade and go untouched.
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• Butterfly Bush – Loved by pollinators, ignored by deer.
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🌸 Annuals

Add seasonal color without inviting a deer buffet.

• Lantana – Heat-loving and vibrantly colored; deer rarely touch it.
  
  
• Marigold – Classic deterrent with a strong scent and sunny blooms.
  
  
• Snapdragon – Deer-resistant and perfect for cool-weather color.
  
  
• Dusty Miller – Silvery, textured leaves they don’t enjoy.
  
  
• Nicotiana (Flowering Tobacco) – Scented blooms that shine in evening light.
  
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🌳 Shrubs

Anchor your landscape with these reliable, less-tasty options.

• Boxwood – Dense, evergreen structure with a scent deer avoid.
  
  
• Spirea – Easy-care and colorful throughout the season.
  
  
• Abelia – Glossy foliage, long bloom time, and low browsing risk.
  
  
• Barberry – Thorny and bitter, this one is generally left untouched.
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• Forsythia – Early spring flowering shrub, a woody shrub that’s not as tasty.
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• Juniper - Tough, drought-tolerant, and strongly scented.
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• False Cypress - Graceful texture and year-round color with very low browsing risk.
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• Weigela – Hummingbirds love these trumpet-shaped blooms.
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• Crapemyrtle – A Southern classic with bark, blooms, and beauty.
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• Beautybush – Arching branches with soft pink flowers.

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🌾 Herbs (Beautiful + Functional)

Herbs are garden workhorses: edible, fragrant, and often unappetizing to deer.

• Lavender – Aromatic, drought-tolerant, and deer-resistant.
  
  
• Rosemary – Woody, evergreen, and great in both pots and borders.
  
  
• Thyme – Groundcover-friendly and strong-scented.
  
  
• Sage – Hardy and ornamental with soft leaves.
  
  

Gardener’s Tip: Interplanting herbs or other deer-resistant varieties around your more vulnerable plants can act as a natural deterrent—plus it adds interest and texture to your beds.

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Design Smart for Deer-Prone Areas

It’s not just what you plant—it’s how you plant. Here are a few quick layout tricks to protect your space:

• Layer wisely. Put less-palatable plants around the outer edges of beds as a buffer.
  
  
• Go vertical. Use containers, trellises, or raised beds to keep vulnerable plants out of easy reach.
  
  
• Keep prized plants close. Tulips or hostas? Try planting them near your front porch, where deer are less likely to venture.
  
  
• Group for scent. Cluster strong-scented plants together for a bigger deterrent effect.

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Know When to Reinforce

Even the best plant choices may not stand up to extreme pressure. During dry spells or food shortages, deer may try anything. That’s when it may be time to bring in reinforcements:

• Repellent sprays (organic) can be applied regularly to discourage nibbling.
  
  
• Physical barriers like temporary fencing or netting may be necessary for high-value crops or prized blooms.
  
  
• Motion lights or noise deterrents can help in rural or wooded areas, especially during peak browsing times.
  
  

Final Thoughts: You Don’t Have to Stop Planting

If you’ve been tempted to give up on gardening because of deer damage, we get it. But with the right plant choices and a little strategic planning, you can still grow something beautiful. There’s a whole world of plants that deer don’t love,but you definitely will.

Stop by Westwood Gardens, and we’ll show you our top picks for deer-resistant gardening. We’re always happy to help you grow with confidence. Even when the deer are watching.

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