31 Best Deer Resistant Flowers And Plants To Grow

Lavender, poppies, daffodils, vincas, and bleeding hearts are among the spring and summer flowering plants that deer hate the most. Many deer-resistant flowers for pots or container gardens to consider are coneflowers, daffodils, and verbena. Meanwhile, some flowering bushes that deer do not eat include rose of Sharon and butterfly bush. Flowers that keep away deer are often overly fragrant, toxic, or have a rough or odd texture. If you’re wondering what smell deer hate the most, marigold, sage, and lavender are among the smelliest to deer. Deer do not eat marigolds or zinnias but if you have magnolias, shelter them from deer; they favor magnolia blooms. Read on for details about many more deer-resistant flower and plant options for sun, shade, and various seasons. 

USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 9Color Varieties: Pink, red, whiteSun Exposure: Shade to part shadeSoil Needs: Rich and moist

USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9Color Varieties: Purple, white, pink, lavender, red, yellow, orangeSun Exposure: Full sun to part sunSoil Needs: Well-drained fertile soil high in organic matter

USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 7Color Varieties: Blue, yellowSun Exposure: Part to full shadeSoil Needs: Well-drained, humus-rich, consistently moist soil 

USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 9Color Varieties: Yellow, orange, pink, red, maroonSun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Needs: Well-draining, sandy soil

USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8Color Varieties: Yellow, white, orange, apricot, pinkSun Exposure: Full sun to partial shadeSoil Needs: Moist but well drained

USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9Color Varieties: Purple, violet-blue, rose, pale pink, white, and yellow (rare)Sun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs: Well-draining soil, preferably sandy

USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8Color Varieties: Brilliant blue, pink, and whiteSun Exposure: Part shade to full shadeSoil Needs: Organically rich, well-drained, moist soil

USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9, depending on the varietyColor Varieties: White, pink, red, orange, yellow, purpleSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs: Average well-drained soil

USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 9Color Varieties: White, red, purple, many shades of pink, peach, and lavender; comes in solid colors or with a contrasting eyeSun Exposure: Full or part sunSoil Needs: Average well-drained soil

USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 7Color Varieties: Bright yellowSun Exposure: Full sun in winter, shade in summerSoil Needs: Organically rich, medium moisture, well-drained soils

USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8Color Varieties: Pink, red, purple, whiteSun Exposure: Full, partialSoil Needs: Loamy, moist

USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9Color Varieties: Purple, pink, whiteSun Exposure: FullSoil Needs: Moist, well-drained

USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8Color Varieties: Dark purplish-blueSun Exposure: FullSoil Needs: Well-drained

USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9Color Varieties: WhiteSun Exposure: Full, partialSoil Needs: Loamy, moist but well-drained

USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9Color Varieties: WhiteSun Exposure: Partial, shadeSoil Needs: Well-drained

USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9Color Varieties: Purple, pink, blue, white, yellowSun Exposure: FullSoil Needs: Moist, well-drained

USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 11Color Varieties: Yellow, orange, white, red, gold, bicolorSun Exposure: FullSoil Needs: Moist, well-drained

USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 11Color Varieties: Yellow, red, mahogany, bicolorsSun Exposure: FullSoil Needs: Well-drained

USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 10Color Varieties: Pink, purple, red, white, yellowSun Exposure: Full, partialSoil Needs: Loamy, well-drained

USDA Growing Zones: 9 to 11Color Varieties: White, lavender, purpleSun Exposure: FullSoil Needs: Well-drained

USDA Growing Zones: 9 to 11Color Varieties: White, lavender, purpleSun Exposure: FullSoil Needs: Well-drained

USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 7Color Varieties: Lavender, purple, white, pink, magentaSun Exposure: FullSoil Needs: Moist but well-drained, loamy, sandy, clay

USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 8Color Varieties: YellowSun Exposure: Full, partialSoil Needs: Moist, well-drained

USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 8Color Varieties: Pink, purple, lavender, red, blue, white; often with dark throatsSun Exposure: Full, partialSoil Needs: Moist, well-drained

USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 11Color Varieties: Purplish blue; pink and whiteSun Exposure: Full, partialSoil Needs: Moist, well-drained

USDA Growing Zones: 8 to 11Color Varieties: White, red, purple, pink, lavender, bi-coloredSun Exposure: FullSoil Needs: Well-drained

Snapdragons bloom in intensely saturated colors (almost every hue) during cooler weather in spring and fall. Flower production slows down once the weather heats up. Snapdragons are considered “rarely damaged” by deer, according to the Rutgers University School of Environmental and Biological Sciences.

USDA Growing Zones: 7 to 11Color Varieties: White, yellow, pink, red, orange, peach, purple, violetSun Exposure: Full, partialSoil Needs: Moist, well-drained

USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9Color Varieties: Red, purple, pink, white, lavenderSun Exposure: Full, partialSoil Needs: Moist

USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8Color Varieties: Blue, purple, white, yellow, pinkSun Exposure: Full, partialSoil Needs: Moist, well-drained

USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9Color Varieties: Red, orange, yellow, blue, purple, brown, white, pink, and many bicolorsSun Exposure: FullSoil Needs: Well-drained

USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9Color Varieties: White, pink, rose, red, deep purple, and coralSun Exposure: FullSoil Needs: Well-drained