Thanks to their fuzzy leaves, strong fragrance, or bitter taste, the following plants aren’t among deer’s favorite nibbles.
Spring-blooming perennials
Bleeding heart (Dicentra spectabilis) Shade-loving, fernlike plant with pendulous heart-shaped flowers; hardy to -35° F.
- Bluebell (Hyacinthoide hispanica) Bulb plant with small bell-shaped blue, white, or pink flower clusters; hardy to -25°F.
- Crocus (Crocus sp.) Low, clumping bulb plant with white, yellow, or purple flowers; hardiness varies.
- Daffodil (Narcissus sp.) Bulb plant with showy yellow or white blooms; hardiness varies.
- Fritillaria (Fritillaria imperialis) Bulb plant with bell-shaped orange, yellow, or red flowers atop stalklike stems; hardy to -5°F.
Summer-blooming perennials
- Bluebeard (Caryopteris) Shrubby plant with deep-blue flower clusters; hardy to -5° F.
- Catmint (Nepeta faassenii) Compact relative of mint; small purple flowers; hardy to -25° F.
- Hyssop (Hyssopus officianalis) Large-leaved plant with purplish flower spikes; hardy to -5° F.
- Lavender (Lavandula) Sun-loving, aromatic flowering herb; many varieties; hardiness varies.
- Monkshood (Aconitum) Shade tolerant, with hoodlike purple-blue flowers; hardy to -35° F.
- Mullein (Verbascum) Woolly leaf rosettes with tall flower spikes; hardy to -15° F.
Groundcovers
- Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans) Creeping evergreen with dark blue flower whorls; hardy to -35° F.
- Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) Bell-shaped waxy white flowers; hardy to -45° F.
- Pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis) Shade lover; small white or pink flowers; hardy to -25° F.
- Spotted deadnettle (Lamium) Variegated leaves with white or pink flowers; hardy to -25° F.
Shrubs
- Aralia (Araliaceae) Large, bright green foliage with small white flowers; hardy to 5° F.
- Andromeda (Pieris japonica) Rounded shrub with hanging white or pink flowers clusters; hardy to -5° F.
- Boxwood (Buxus) Compact, tiny-leaved hedging shrub; hardy to -5° F.
- Bush cinquefoil (Potentilla fruticose) Extremely cold-hardy; roselike flowers; hardy to -35° F.
- Oleander (Nerium) Tall, evergreen shrub with large white or pink flowers; hardy to 15° F.
- Russian olive (Elaeagnus augustifolia) Willowlike leaves and yellowish summer flowers; hardy to -35° F.