Keep the Deer Out: Deer-Resistant Plants for Ohio Gardens

Deer in Ohio can be relentless—especially in suburban and rural areas where gardens look like salad bars to a hungry herd. While no plant is 100% deer-proof, some are far less tempting than others. The key is choosing plants with strong scents, fuzzy or spiky textures, or tough leaves that make deer say, “Nah, not worth it.”

Here’s your guide to annuals, perennials, shrubs, and trees that deer usually avoid.

Annuals 🌼 (One-season color with minimal deer damage)

• Marigolds (Tagetes spp.): Pungent scent, sunny blooms.

• Zinnias (Zinnia elegans): Bright, easy, pollinator-friendly.

• Snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus): Tall spires for borders, deer rarely bother.

• Lantana (Lantana camara): Vibrant clusters, loved by butterflies.

• Dusty Miller (Senecio cineraria): Striking silvery foliage deer dislike.

👉 Pro tip: Deer usually go for softer-leaved, mild-scented plants like impatiens and petunias. Skip those if browsing is a problem.

Perennials 🌸 (Backbone of the garden, year after year)

• Lavender (Lavandula spp.): Fragrant and calming—unless you’re a deer.

• Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia): Aromatic foliage, tall lavender-blue flowers.

• Coneflowers (Echinacea spp.): Native, colorful, pollinator magnets.

• Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta): Bright, sunny, low-maintenance.

• Catmint (Nepeta spp.): Long bloom season, aromatic foliage.

• Yarrow (Achillea millefolium): Tough, drought-resistant, feathery foliage.

• Bee Balm (Monarda spp.): Strongly scented, colorful blooms for pollinators.

• Lamb’s Ear (Stachys byzantina): Soft, fuzzy leaves deer don’t enjoy chewing.

👉 Pro tip: Deer-resistant perennials also tend to be pollinator-friendly, so you’re not only deterring deer—you’re helping bees and butterflies.

Shrubs 🌿 (Structure, blooms, and four-season interest)

• Boxwood (Buxus spp.): Classic evergreen hedge, unappetizing to deer.

• Barberry (Berberis spp.): Thorny and tough, deer don’t bother.

• Butterfly Bush (Buddleja spp.): Attracts pollinators, not deer.

• Spirea (Spiraea spp.): Low-maintenance, colorful foliage and flowers.

• Juniper (Juniperus spp.): Aromatic needles and texture deer dislike.

• Dwarf Alberta Spruce (Picea glauca var. conica): Slow-growing evergreen, rarely browsed.

• Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius): Tough, colorful foliage, deer-resistant.

👉 Pro tip: Many evergreen shrubs (arborvitae, yew) are deer candy. Stick with boxwood or juniper if browsing is heavy.

Trees 🌳 (Shade, structure, and year-round impact)

• River Birch (Betula nigra): Attractive bark, not a deer favorite.

• Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba): Unique fan-shaped leaves, highly resistant.

• Spruce (Picea spp.): Blue spruce especially tends to resist deer.

• American Holly (Ilex opaca): Prickly leaves = no deer snacking.

• Redbud (Cercis canadensis): Spring flowers, deer usually uninterested.

• Paperbark Maple (Acer griseum): Unique bark, less attractive to deer than other maples.

👉 Pro tip: Young trees are vulnerable. Even “resistant” species may get bark damage from deer rubbing their antlers in fall—so protect trunks with guards or fencing.

Quick Skim Recap 🚀

• Annuals: Marigolds, zinnias, snapdragons, lantana, dusty miller.

• Perennials: Lavender, Russian sage, coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, catmint, yarrow, bee balm, lamb’s ear.

• Shrubs: Boxwood, barberry, butterfly bush, spirea, juniper, ninebark.

• Trees: River birch, ginkgo, spruce, holly, redbud, paperbark maple.

  
  

Final Thoughts 🌱

Deer-resistant gardening doesn’t mean giving up color, fragrance, or variety—it just means picking the right plants for Ohio landscapes. Pairing annuals with hardy perennials, shrubs, and trees creates a garden that’s beautiful to you but unappetizing to deer.

And if you want to stock up on these tried-and-true deer-resistant plants, stop by Cyndi’s Gardens LLC in North Bend, Ohio. From marigolds to maples, we’ll help you build a garden that thrives—without doubling as a deer buffet.