Deer in your garden? Discover 20 plants the uninvited guest avoids!
Are uninvited guests visiting your garden? Deer often forage where food is easiest to find—even in gardens and vegetable patches. We’ve compiled a list of plants that these hoofed visitors typically avoid!
Deer can be a source of frustration for many home gardeners, as these graceful creatures often find garden plants irresistibly tasty.
In summer, deer feed on grasses, berries, mushrooms, lichens, and mosses. In winter, they eat twigs—especially blueberry twigs—as well as deciduous tree buds and junipers. Since they can’t dig through thick snow with their hooves, they may also nibble on pine saplings.
In areas with abundant deer populations, the toll on garden plants can feel excessive. However, by choosing certain plants, you can reduce the damage, as not all species appeal to these elegant creatures. We’ve compiled a list of plants that deer typically avoid. Try these ideas in your own garden!
Which deer?
The white-tailed deer mainly inhabits the southern coast and Southwest of Finland, and the Tavastia province. The significantly smaller roe deer has spread as far north as Southern Lapland and is considered the true gourmet among our deer species. The third species you might find in Finnish gardens is the fallow deer, though it’s only found in a few areas in Southern and Southwest Finland.
These perennials are unappealing to deer
Foxglove
Due to their toxicity and perhaps their scent, deer avoid foxgloves [in Finnish], such as the yellow foxglove (Digitalis grandiflora), shown here. Plant this perennial, which grows up to 80 cm tall, in a sheltered, warm spot with light, sandy soil. It blooms from July to August. The yellow foxglove self-seeds to some extent but less so than the more widely known common foxglove.
Iris
Irises are also unattractive to deer due to their toxicity and possibly their scent. For example, the bearded iris ‘Hiisi’ (Iris germanica) shown here is a hardy and elegant variety with large, multicolored flowers. Plant it in light, lime-rich soil; this species doesn’t thrive in wet soil. Since the thick, horizontal rhizome tends to rise above the ground, make sure there’s always a couple of centimeters of soil covering it. Divide the plants when growth begins to thin in the center.
Catmint
Catmint (Nepeta × faassenii) blooms from spring up until autumn frosts. It tolerates drought well but is sensitive to waterlogged soil during winter. The flowers are bluish-violet, sometimes white. Its spicy aroma attracts butterflies and other insects. Flowering continues all summer if you cut back the faded flower stems. If the growing site doesn’t get a snow cover, protect the plants during winter.
Lamb’s ear
Lamb’s ear (Stachys byzantina ‘Silver Carpet’) has thick, soft, gray, hairy leaves that resemble the ears of a lamb. The small magenta flowers have little ornamental value and can be removed entirely, allowing the low-growing stems and leaves to grow robustly. Plant it in well-drained, nutrient-poor sandy soil. Lamb’s ear is highly sensitive to waterlogged soil during winter. Divide the plants when growth starts to thin in the center.
Trees and shrubs that deer avoid
Dwarf Serbian spruce
Dwarf Serbian spruce (Picea omorika ‘Nana’) grows almost as wide as it is tall. It’s a very slow-growing, dense conifer with small needles. It is undemanding regarding soil conditions. It doesn’t suffer from spring desiccation, so seedlings don’t need protection from the sun in early spring. Thrives in sun to partial shade.
Shiny cotoneaster
In sunny locations, the glossy leaves of the shiny cotoneaster (Cotoneaster lucidus) turn brilliant red during fall! This shrub grows about 1.5–2 meters tall and thrives in sun to partial shade.
Elm-leaved spirea ‘Martti’
Elm-leaved spirea ‘Martti’ (Spiraea chamaedryfolia ‘Martti’) is a profusely flowering, winter-hardy deciduous shrub. It produces root suckers and thrives in various locations, from sun to partial shade.
Lilac
Lilacs, such as the ‘Tammelan Kaunotar’ (“Tammela Beauty”) Lilac (Syringa × henryi), are unappealing to deer. ‘Tammelan Kaunotar’ is a hardy, profusely flowering variety. The fragrant, upright inflorescences are large and white, with slightly pinkish buds. This long-lived variety is a Finnish-named nursery strain. It thrives in sun to partial shade and blooms in June–July.
Deer also avoid these plants:
- Deer usually leave birches and spruces alone.
- Among ornamental shrubs, plants like rhododendrons are poisonous, which may be why deer avoid them.
- Thorny shrubs like barberries and hawthorns are typically avoided by deer.
- Strongly scented plants appear to deter deer. Consider planting garlic [in Finnish], parsley, and thyme in your herb garden. Ornamental herbs also make great additions to perennial beds!
- Deer also shun plants with a spicy scent, such as yarrow, sweet rocket, and wormwood [in Finnish].
- Among bulbous plants, daffodils [in Finnish] repel not only deer but also voles.
