Deer Resistant Groundcovers
Sedums (variety)
Evergreen succulents with colorful fleshy foliage in shades of green, blue, burgundy, and red. Grows 2 to 10 inches tall. Ideal for rock gardens, containers, troughs, and drought tolerant plantings. Zones: 3 to 9.
Deer resistant groundcovers provide practical solutions for difficult garden spaces while helping reduce browsing pressure in areas where plant damage can be frustrating. Many spread steadily to cover exposed soil, stabilize slopes, and reduce weed growth, creating a more finished appearance with less ongoing effort. Selected for foliage texture, fragrance, or other naturally resistant traits, these plants offer an effective way to fill spaces beneath shrubs, along pathways, and across larger planting areas while helping create a landscape that requires less monitoring and seasonal replacement.
Considerations for Deer Resistant Plants
Deer Activity Patterns: Consider where deer typically travel through your landscape, as groundcovers often occupy open areas, woodland edges, and pathways that deer frequently cross. Plants located along these travel routes may experience more browsing pressure than those near active garden spaces.
Growth Habit & Coverage: Choose groundcovers based on how quickly they spread and the type of coverage they provide. Dense, expanding plantings can recover more easily from occasional browsing and help fill bare areas over time.
Foliage Texture & Scent: Many deer-resistant groundcovers rely more on foliage characteristics than flowers for protection, including aromatic leaves, fuzzy surfaces, leathery textures, or strongly scented foliage. These features can make plants less appealing while adding visual interest throughout the season.
Aesthetic Preferences: Since groundcovers create the visual base of a garden, think about foliage color, texture, seasonal changes, and flowering habits. Low-growing plants often contribute as much through leaf patterns and massing as through blooms.
Maintenance Requirements: Consider how much upkeep the planting will require as it spreads and matures. Some groundcovers benefit from occasional thinning, trimming, or cleanup to maintain a tidy appearance and prevent overcrowding.
Establishment Period: Newly planted groundcovers often require extra attention while filling in. Temporary protection during the first season can help plants establish before they form a more durable, interconnected planting.
Water & Growing Conditions: Match plants to the site’s moisture, light, and soil conditions to encourage healthy growth. Stressed or poorly placed plants may struggle to recover from occasional browsing or spread as intended.
Planting Strategy: Mixing several deer-resistant groundcovers with different textures, bloom periods, and growth habits can create a more layered and resilient planting. Diversity also adds visual interest throughout the year.
Seasonal Growth Patterns: Some groundcovers are evergreen while others disappear or die back seasonally. Understanding how plants perform throughout the year helps maintain coverage and avoid bare areas.
Observe Local Performance: Watch which groundcovers perform well in nearby gardens and landscapes, since deer preferences vary considerably by region. Plants that consistently succeed locally often provide the most dependable results.
BUGLOSS (Brunnera)
03
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12 to 18 in tall
18 to 24 in wide
Parti to full shade
Deciduous
Moderate growth
High resistance
Not aromatic
Flowers
Bugloss combines textured foliage and naturally unpalatable leaves with qualities that make it especially useful in deer-resistant perennial plantings. Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’ (shown here) is grown for its heavily silvered foliage traced with green veining and airy sprays of small blue flowers that appear in spring. Its rough-textured leaves and dense habit help discourage browsing while providing lasting interest in shaded garden spaces.
In woodland settings and shaded borders, brunneras help brighten darker areas with reflective foliage that remains attractive well beyond the flowering season. Brunnera macrophylla ‘Silver Heart’ adds larger heart-shaped silver leaves with darker green margins, creating stronger contrast among ferns, hostas, and neighboring shade perennials. Their bold foliage patterns contribute texture and visual interest long after spring blooms have faded.
OREGANO (Origanum)
01
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8 to 12 in tall
18 to 24 in wide
Full sun
Deciduous
Moderate growth
High resistance
Aromatic foliage
Flowers
Ornamental oreganos combine aromatic foliage and trailing growth with characteristics that make them useful choices for deer-resistant groundcover plantings. Origanum x hybrida ‘Kirigami’ (shown here) is grown for its gray-green foliage and cascading chains of blush-pink and soft green bracts accented by small lavender-purple flowers that spill over walls and garden edges. Their fragrant leaves help reduce browsing while adding texture and seasonal interest across mixed plantings.
Low-growing forms and colorful foliage allow these plants to fill gaps and introduce contrast in sunny planting areas. Origanum vulgare ‘Aureum’ offers bright golden foliage that remains colorful through much of the season, while Origanum laevigatum ‘Herrenhausen’ contributes rosy-purple blooms above darker green foliage for added depth. Their trailing habits and changing foliage tones create layered interest across borders and rocky spaces.
THYME (Thymus)
02
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2 to 4 in tall
12 to 18 in wide
Full sun
Evergreen
Moderate growth
High resistance
Aromatic foliage
Flowers
Thymes combine aromatic foliage and low-growing habits with characteristics that make them especially useful in deer-resistant groundcover plantings. Thymus serpyllum ‘Coccineus’ (shown here) is grown for its dense green foliage and carpets of deep rosy-red flowers that cover the plant during bloom season. Their fragrant leaves release scent when brushed or stepped on, helping discourage browsing while contributing texture and seasonal interest in sunny gardens.
Used between stepping stones and along pathways, these low-growing plants add color and detail close to the ground where finer textures become more noticeable. Thymus serpyllum ‘Alba’ offers crisp white flowers, while Thymus x citriodorus contributes lemon-scented variegated foliage that introduces additional fragrance and foliage interest. Their compact growth and varied leaf characteristics create subtle changes in texture across borders, rock gardens, and open spaces.
CANARY CLOVER (Dorycnium)
03
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18 to 24 in tall
24 to 36 in wide
Full sun
Evergreen
Moderate growth
High resistance
Aromatic foliage
Flowers
Canary clover combines silvery foliage and a softly textured habit with characteristics that make it a useful choice for deer-resistant groundcover plantings. Dorycnium hirsutum (shown here) is grown for its fine gray-green leaves and clusters of pea-like flowers that open white and gradually deepen to pink as they age. Its softly hairy foliage and aromatic qualities help reduce browsing while contributing texture and long-lasting interest in sunny garden settings.
In gravel gardens and dry borders, this low mounding perennial introduces a lighter texture that contrasts with broader foliage and bolder flower forms nearby. The silvery foliage remains visually effective even when not in bloom, helping brighten planting combinations and soften transitions between stone, pathways, and neighboring plants. Its compact habit adds subtle structure without creating a heavy appearance in the landscape.
SWEET FLAG (Acorus)
04
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8 to 12 in tall
12 to 18 in wide
Full to part sun
Evergreen
Moderate growth
High resistance
Aromatic foliage
Flowers
Sweet flag offers colorful strappy foliage and a compact spreading habit that makes it especially useful in deer-resistant groundcover plantings. Acorus gramineus ‘Ogon’ (shown here) is grown for its arching golden-yellow and green variegated leaves that create bright ribbons of color across the garden. Its aromatic foliage and grassy texture help reduce browsing while contributing long-lasting interest in moist borders and shaded planting areas.
Near ponds, pathways, and woodland gardens, this low-growing perennial introduces color in places where broader leaves and darker foliage often dominate. The narrow blades create a different texture than neighboring hostas or ferns, helping break up heavier foliage patterns while maintaining a clean, organized appearance. Its year-round presence adds subtle structure and contrast without overpowering surrounding plants.
SAGE (Salvia)
05
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12 to 18 in tall
12 to 15 in wide
Full sun
Deciduous
Moderate growth
High resistance
Aromatic foliage
Flowers
Sages combine aromatic foliage and textured leaves with qualities that make them dependable choices for deer-resistant perennial plantings. Salvia Hybrid ‘Amistad’ is grown for its deep green foliage and long spikes of rich violet-purple flowers held above dark stems that create extended seasonal color. Its fragrant leaves and slightly coarse texture help make it less appealing to browsing deer in mixed plantings.
With fragrant foliage and long-lasting flower spikes, these perennials bring structure and season-long color to borders, cottage gardens, and deer-resistant plantings. Salvia microphylla ‘Heatwave Glow’ offers soft peach flowers, while Salvia nemorosa ‘Rose Marvel’ (shown here) adds bright pink flower spikes with a compact habit for stronger contrast in the landscape. Together, these selections provide lasting color, seasonal interest, and a refined presence in the garden.
Related: Explore All Sage ➔
LUNGWORT (Pulmonaria)
06
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12 to 18 in tall
18 to 24 in wide
Part to full shade
Semi-evergreen
Moderate growth
High resistance
Not aromatic
Flowers
Lungwort combines textured foliage and naturally unpalatable leaves with qualities that make it a dependable choice for deer-resistant perennial plantings. Pulmonaria ‘Twinkle Toes’ is grown for its silver-speckled foliage and clusters of flowers that open pink before maturing to lavender. Its slightly rough leaves and dense growth help maintain seasonal interest while making it less appealing to browsing deer in mixed plantings.
In woodland settings, these perennials help brighten shaded spaces with colorful flowers and patterned foliage. Pulmonaria ‘Trevi Fountain’ (shown here) offers intense cobalt-blue flowers above heavily silver-spotted foliage, while Pulmonaria ‘Raspberry Splash’ adds raspberry-pink blooms and bright silver-marked leaves. Together, these selections provide lasting texture, seasonal interest, and a refined presence in the garden.
WINDFLOWER (Anenome)
07
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30 to 36 in tall
24 to 30 in wide
Full to part sun
Deciduous
Moderate growth
Moderate resistance
Not aromatic
Flowers
Fall-blooming anemones bring movement and late-season color to the garden while remaining among the less appealing choices for browsing deer. Anemone ‘Royal Blush’ (shown here) is grown for its soft pink flowers that gradually deepen in color and rise above mounds of deeply divided foliage as summer transitions into fall. Their slightly coarse leaves and fibrous growth contribute seasonal interest while helping reduce browsing pressure in mixed plantings.
As many perennials begin fading for the year, these windflowers continue extending color into woodland edges and layered borders. Anemone hupehensis var. japonica ‘Pamina’ offers rich semi-double rosy-pink blooms, while Anemone x hybrida ‘Honorine Jobert’ adds elegant white flowers that brighten shaded garden spaces later in the season. Their tall stems and open habit create texture and contrast as the garden shifts toward autumn.
SPEEDWELL (Veronica)
08
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20 to 24 in tall
16 to 20 in wide
Full sun
Deciduous
Moderate growth
Moderate resistance
Not aromatic
Flowers
Speedwells combine textured foliage and colorful flower spikes with qualities that make them well suited to deer-resistant perennial plantings. Veronica longifolia ‘Perfectly Picasso’ (shown here) is grown for its tidy green foliage and dense flower spikes that open soft pink and gradually deepen to richer rose-pink tones as they mature. Its slightly coarse leaves and sturdy growth make it less appealing to browsing deer while contributing long-lasting seasonal interest in mixed plantings.
In borders and cottage-style gardens, speedwells help connect upright and mounding plants while introducing strong color and contrast among neighboring perennials. Their long flowering period extends seasonal interest and pairs especially well with ornamental grasses and softer-textured foliage plants. These qualities create a layered garden display with texture and structure that continues beyond peak bloom.
DAFFODIL (Narcissus)
09
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16 to 18 in tall
4 to 6 in wide
Full to part shade
Deciduous
Moderate growth
High resistance
Not aromatic
Flowers
Daffodils combine early seasonal color with natural defenses that make them dependable deer-resistant perennials for gardens and naturalized plantings. Narcissus ‘Actaea’ (shown here) is grown for its white petals surrounding a small yellow cup edged in orange-red, creating a clean and elegant spring display. Their naturally toxic bulbs and foliage make them far less appealing to browsing deer in mixed plantings.
Planted in borders and naturalized settings, these perennials bring strong spring color while remaining less appealing to browsing deer. Narcissus ‘Apricot Whirl’ offers layered creamy petals with soft apricot tones, while Narcissus ‘Bellabombe’ adds fully double yellow and orange blooms for stronger contrast in the landscape. Together, these selections provide lasting color, seasonal interest, and a refined presence in the garden.
Related: See All Daffodils ➔
BLUESTAR (Amsonia)
10
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15 to 18 in tall
18 to 24 in wide
Full to part sun
Deciduous
Moderate growth
High resistance
Not aromatic
Flowers
Bluestars offer finely textured foliage and naturally unpalatable growth that make them especially useful in deer-resistant perennial plantings. Amsonia orientalis ‘Blue Ice’ (shown here) is grown for its tidy mounds of green foliage and clusters of deep steel-blue, star-shaped flowers that create rich color in late spring. Its milky sap and naturally bitter compounds helps reduce browsing pressure while contributing long-lasting seasonal interest in mixed garden settings.
As the season progresses, bluestars continue contributing well beyond their flowering period through changing texture and foliage effects. Amsonia hubrichtii develops exceptionally fine thread-like foliage that softens neighboring plantings before turning brilliant golden-yellow in fall. Their airy character pairs especially well with ornamental grasses and broader-leaved perennials, creating contrast that evolves across multiple seasons.
ALLIUM
11
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24 to 36 in tall
8 to 12 in wide
Full sun
Deciduous
Moderate growth
High resistance
Aromatic foliage
Flowers
Alliums combine aromatic foliage and bold flower forms with characteristics that make them especially useful in deer-resistant perennial plantings. Allium aflatunense ‘Purple Sensation’ (shown here) is grown for its globe-shaped clusters of rich violet-purple flowers held on tall stems above strappy foliage in late spring. Their onion-scented leaves and naturally unpalatable qualities help reduce browsing while contributing strong seasonal interest in mixed plantings.
Rising above neighboring perennials, these ornamental onions introduce distinct shapes and clean architectural lines across the garden. Allium unifolium offers looser clusters of soft lavender-pink flowers, while Allium stipitatum ‘Mt. Everest’ adds large white flower spheres that brighten planting combinations and create contrast among surrounding foliage. Their unusual forms and changing bloom sequence help extend interest across the season.
RUSSIAN SAGE (Perovskia)
12
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3 to 5 ft tall
2 to 4 ft wide
Full sun
Deciduous
Fast growth
High resistance
Aromatic foliage
Flowers
Russian sage combines aromatic foliage and a naturally airy habit, making it one of the more dependable deer-resistant perennials for sunny gardens and open landscapes. Perovskia atriplicifolia (shown here) is grown for its finely divided silvery-gray foliage and long wands of lavender-blue flowers that create a soft haze of color through summer and into fall. Its fragrant leaves and textured stems help maintain seasonal interest while making it less appealing to browsing deer in mixed plantings.
A dependable addition to borders, prairie-style gardens, or deer-resistant plantings, this perennial provides texture and structure throughout the growing season. Its upright branching habit and drought-tolerant nature allow it to blend easily with ornamental grasses and flowering companions while creating a light, layered presence in the landscape. Together, these characteristics provide lasting structure, seasonal interest, and a refined presence in the garden.
FEATHER REED GRASS (Calamagrostis)
13
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3 to 4 ft tall
2 to 3 ft wide
Full to part sun
Deciduous
Moderate growth
Moderate resistance
Not aromatic
Flowers
Feather reed grasses provide dependable structure and texture while remaining among the more deer-resistant perennial choices for borders and naturalistic plantings. Calamagrostis brachytricha (shown here) is grown for its arching green foliage and soft pink-tinged flower plumes that mature to silvery tan tones later in the season. Its upright habit and coarse texture help maintain seasonal interest while making it less appealing to browsing deer in mixed plantings.
A reliable addition to borders, prairie-style gardens, or deer-resistant plantings, these grasses provide texture and structure throughout the growing season. Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’ offers narrow vertical plumes held on strongly upright stems that create a more architectural appearance in the landscape. Together, these selections provide lasting structure, and seasonal interest in the garden.
Related: Explore All Grasses ➔
FALSE INDIGO (Baptisia)
14
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3 to 4 ft tall
3 to 4 ft wide
Full to part sun
Deciduous
Moderate growth
High resistance
Not aromatic
Flowers
False indigo combines sturdy stems and substantial blue-green foliage with qualities that make it a dependable choice for deer-resistant perennial plantings. Baptisia australis (shown here) is grown for its shrubby form and spires of deep indigo-blue flowers that rise above dense mounds of foliage in late spring and early summer. Its thick stems and slightly leathery leaves help maintain seasonal interest while making it less appealing to browsing deer in mixed plantings.
These perennials provide texture and structure throughout the growing season and are a great choice for prairie-style gardens, borders, or deer-resistant plantings. Baptisia x ‘Purple Smoke’ offers smoky violet-purple flowers held above blue-green foliage with darker stems that add stronger contrast in the landscape. Together, these selections provide lasting structure, seasonal interest, and a refined presence in the garden.
RED HOT POKER (Kniphofia)
15
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3 to 4 ft tall
24 to 30 in wide
Full sun
Semi-evergreen
Moderate growth
High resistance
Not aromatic
Flowers
Red hot pokers bring bold flower forms and grassy foliage to the garden while remaining among the less favored choices for browsing deer. Kniphofia ‘Fire Glow’ (shown here) is grown for its arching green foliage and torch-like flower spikes in fiery orange-red tones that rise above the leaves in summer. Its coarse foliage texture and fibrous growth help discourage browsing while adding strong vertical interest to mixed plantings.
Tall flower spikes and vivid colors allow these perennials to stand out among neighboring plants without overwhelming surrounding textures. Kniphofia ‘Citrina’ offers softer lemon-yellow flower spikes that create a lighter look and broaden the color range within the garden. Their upright forms introduce contrast among mounding perennials and ornamental grasses while extending seasonal color through the warmer months.
YARROW (Achillea)
16
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18 to 36 in tall
18 to 24 in wide
Full sun
Deciduous
Fast growth
High resistance
Aromatic foliage
Flowers
Yarrow combines aromatic foliage and finely divided leaves with characteristics that help make it a useful choice for deer-resistant perennial plantings. Achillea millefolium (shown here) is grown for its fern-like foliage and broad clusters of white flowers that rise above sturdy stems through summer. Its fragrant leaves and naturally bitter compounds help reduce browsing while contributing texture and long-lasting interest in mixed garden settings.
From prairie-style plantings to sunny borders, yarrows bring a softer texture that contrasts well with grasses and broader-leaved companions. Achillea millefolium ‘New Vintage Violet’ offers rich violet-purple flower clusters, while Achillea millefolium ‘Paprika’ adds warm red blooms that gradually soften to salmon-pink tones as they age. Their flattened flower heads create repeating patterns and extend color across the garden well into the season.