Deer Resistant Plants
Gardening in the Pacific Northwest is challenging. First, we find plants that grow with limited sun exposure. Second, we consider our environment. We share this beautiful scenery with many animals, most importantly, deer. With this being the case, we now have limits on plants for our gardens. As garden experts, we recommend plants for this situation. Here are nine deer resistant plants:
Pieris japonica | ‘Little Heath’
- Evergreen shrub
- All-year color
- Blooms in Spring
- Best grown in medium moisture soil with North or East exposure and shelter from the wind
Osmanthus delavayi | Devilwood
- Evergreen shrub
- Blooms in April with fragrant flowers
- Adaptable to grow in either full sun or full shade
- Best grown in well-drained soil, but will tolerate clay or sand
- Drought tolerant but appreciates occasional watering
- Light pruning can help keep this shrub dense
Bear’s breeches | Acanthus mollis
- Part shade to shade
- 3′ x 3′ full size
- Best grown in moist well-drained soil
- Blooms in the Spring and Summer
- Lush, attractive, loped foliage
- Low maintenance
Yarrow | Achillea x moonshine
- Grown in beds, borders, or containers
- Large clusters of flowers above ferny, aromatic foliage
- Heat loving
- Blooms in summer
- Attracts bees, butterflies and hummingbirds
- Drought tolerant
- Low maintenance
Foxglove | Digitalis purpurea
- Best grown in partial sun with moist well-drained soil and shelter from the wind
- Blooms in the Summer
- Low maintenance
- Good for containers
Beardtounge | Penstemon ‘Raven’
- Best grown in full sun with well-drained soil
- Blooms all summer to the first frost
- Low maintenance
- Drought tolerant
- Attracts hummingbirds, bees and butterflies
- Great cut flower
Cat mint | Nepeta faassenii ‘Cat’s meow’
- Grown in beds, borders, or containers
- Large clusters of blue-purple flowers above aromatic foliage
- Blooms in spring and summer
- Drought and heat tolerant
- Attracts bees, butterflies and hummingbirds
- Low maintenance
Gold Heart Bleeding | Heart Dicentra spectabilis
- Grown in beds or containers
- Heart-shaped flowers above vivid gold-chartreuse foliage
- Blooms in early to late spring
- Grows best in part to full shade, with moist soil
- Low maintenance
Wallflower | Erysimum ‘Bowles’s Mauve’
- Grown in beds, borders, or containers
- Evergreen grey-green foliage, with long lasting purple flowers
- Grows in poor, well drained soils
- Drought and heat tolerant
- Needs full sun
- Attracts bees and butterflies