I know gardeners love wildlife and nature. But we can't always help both at the same time. I mean, we can't always help wildlife by feeding our hard-earned plants and trees. In Zone 6, it's now a major issue for the gardeners how they are munching on our garden plants. To help the Zone 6 gardeners, I have made lists of deer-resistant plants and trees.
Here's a note from my end. ( From the day 1, I created this site, I promised to be honest with you )
There are only a few (really very few) plants that deer don't eat. Deer eat almost every greenery. You can find a lot of deer-resistant plants on the internet and I tried those myself. Believe me, most of the deer-resistant plants are eaten by deer and I am a witness.
So I am writing this article?
The point is to aware you of the fact: The lists are the plant names that deer don't like to eat that much.
The best advice is to use strong fences if possible.
List of Deer Resistant Plants and Trees
Deer generally leaves a few plants due to their taste, texture, or toxicity. Keep in mind, that if there is a lack of food for deer, they might eat up everything.
My list is going to be short and I am mentioning a few plants for each category below:
- Perennials
- Annuals
- Shrubs
- Trees
- Herbs
- Bulbs
A few of the plants are recommended by my relatives surrounded by deer (who live near the forest ) and the rest are experienced by me.
If you find this list long, remember there are a lot of plants and trees that we can't even count at that ease. I have listed only selected a few plants.
Deer-Resistant Perennials for Zone 6
| Plant Name | Flowering Plant | Why Deer Avoid It |
|---|---|---|
| Lavender (Lavandula) | Yes | Strong fragrance |
| Bee Balm (Monarda) | Yes | Aromatic foliage |
| Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) | Yes | Bitter and aromatic |
| Bleeding Heart (Dicentra spectabilis) | Yes | Toxic foliage |
| Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) | Yes | Highly toxic |
| Lamb’s Ear (Stachys byzantina) | No | Fuzzy texture |
I have created a list of perennials that we can grow in Zone 6 you can check them.
Annuals - Deer resistant
| Plant Name | Flowering Plant | Why Deer Avoid It |
|---|---|---|
| Marigold (Tagetes) | Yes | Strong odor |
| Snapdragon (Antirrhinum) | Yes | Bitter taste |
| Zinnia | Yes | Unpalatable foliage |
| Salvia (Salvia splendens) | Yes | Aromatic leaves |
| Dusty Miller (Jacobaea maritima) | No | Fuzzy texture |
Marigold should be the winner in this section. They simply don't like it.
I love marigolds as they repel insects and bugs as well. You can consider this as the best vegetable companion plant as well.
Shrubs
| Plant Name | Flowering Plant | Why Deer Avoid It |
|---|---|---|
| Boxwood (Buxus) | No | Strong scent |
| Barberry (Berberis) | No | Thorny and bitter |
| Oleander (Nerium oleander) | Yes | Highly toxic |
| Spirea (Spiraea) | Yes | Rarely palatable |
| Butterfly Bush (Buddleja) | Yes | Unpleasant taste |
I have seen deer smelling boxwood and refused to eat.
Trees
| Tree Name | Tree Category | Why Deer Avoid It |
|---|---|---|
| Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) | Ornamental | Foul smell of fruit; tough leaves |
| American Holly (Ilex opaca) | Ornamental | Prickly leaves |
| Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) | Ornamental | Thorny branches |
| Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) | Fruit Tree | Unpalatable bark |
| Eastern Redcedar (Juniperus virginiana) | Ornamental | Strong scent and resinous texture |
For trees, we need to worry only when they are small in size, once they get taller, deer will not be able to eat them.
Herbs
- Thyme (Thymus spp.) – Strong aroma.
- Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) – Aromatic and woody.
- Oregano (Origanum vulgare) – Scent deters deer.
Bulbs
- Daffodil (Narcissus) – Toxic to deer.
- Allium (Ornamental Onion) – Strong smell.
- Hyacinth (Hyacinthus) – Bulbs are unpalatable.
- Fritillaria – Pungent odor.
I try to give something bonus with my every article. This time I will give you a few plant names that squirrels don't like to eat or damage.
Squirrels are opportunistic feeders with a broad diet that makes it easy to find squirrel-resistant plants for zone 6. Still, I have something for you.
The number one is Daffodils again.
Why squirrels avoid: Contains lycorine, a compound toxic to squirrels and other animals.
Then I will pick Alliums, Lamb’s Ear, and mint.
Share this with your friends who are frustrated with deer. Don't forget to subscribe as I will be back with another Zone 6 gardening tip soon.
