Deer Resistant Plant List for the Rogue Valley

One of the most common challenges to gardening in the Rogue Valley is the plentiful deer population. Selecting deer resistant plants is often hit-and-miss, and, to compound the problem, not all deer have the same tastes. What is deer resistant in Jacksonville may not be deer resistant in Eagle Point or Ashland. Shooting Star has gained expertise working with customers throughout the region, designing landscapes that incorporate deer resistant plants.

Hesperaloe

It is important to remember that deer resistant does not mean deer proof! Deer may develop a taste for any new plant, depending on the season, when it was planted, how much water it gets, and a host of other factors. If you find deer nibbling the tender growth of your newly planted flowers or shrubs, be patient and observe their behavior. They may simply try it and then leave it alone.

Putting a wire cage around all new trees is recommended. Whether they are deer resistant or not, deer may nibble on the new or lower growth, or scrape their antlers on the trunk causing damage that can be irreversible.

Our deer resistant list is a work in progress, so let us know what has and hasn't worked for you and we will incorporate into our list!

Botanical Name	Common Name	Comments
*very deer resistant, usually deer resistant, *can be deer resistant but depends on deer population, try one first
Ferns - Deer will avoid most ferns
Athyrium niponicum 'Pictum'	Japanese Painted Fern	** - silvery/purple foliage
Blechnum spicant	Deer Fern	**- native
Cyrtomium fortunei	Hardy Holly Fern	***- glossy, holly like fronds
Dryopteris erythrosora	Autumn Fern	** - rusty fall color
Polystichum munitum	Western Sword Fern	***- native
Grasses and Grasslike Plants - Deer will avoid most ornamental grasses
Agave neomexicana	Hardy Agave	***
Bamboo varieties	Bamboo varieties	***
Calamagrostis 'Karl Foerster'	Feather Reed Grass	***
Carex species	Sedges	***
Cortaderia selloana	Pampas Grass	***
Festuca species	Fescue	**- small evergreen clumps
Hakonechloa macra	Japanese Forest Grass	*** - good for moist shade
Helictotrichon sempervirens	Blue Oat Grass	***
Hesperaloe parviflora	Red False Yucca	**- may eat flowers
Imperata cylindrica	Japanese Blood Grass	***- red tips
Juncus species	Rush	***- many native, wet sites
Liriope spicata	Lily Turf	* - may eat flowers
Miscanthus varieties	Maiden Grass varieties	***
Muhlenbergia capillaris, rigens	Pink Muhly Grass, Deer Grass	***- great for meadow look
Nasella or Stipa tenuissima	Mexican feather grass	*** - will naturalize
Panicum varieties	Switch grass	*** - nice fall color
Pennisetum varieties	Fountain Grass	***
Phormium varieties	New Zealand Flax varieties	*** - place in protected location
Schizachyrium scoparium	Little Bluestem	*** - fall color, prairie native
Seslaria autumnalis	Autumn Moor Grass	*** - evergreen, meadowy look
Stipa gigantea	Giant Feather Grass	***- evergreen, showy bloom
Yucca filamentosa and other species	Adam's Needle	*** - showy flower spikes
Perennials - Strongly scented, highly textured (sharp or fuzzy), or poisonous choices are best
Acanthus mollis	Bears Breech	**
Achillea millefolium varieties	Yarrow	*** - many colors available
Aconitum varieties	Monkshood	*** - poisonous
Agapanthus varieties	Lily of the Nile varieties	* - may eat flowers
Agastache species	Anise Hyssop, Licorice or Hummingbird Mint	*** - fragrant foliage
Allium species and varieties	Garlic and onion relatives, ball shaped flowers	*** - strong smell
Ajuga repens varieties	Carpet Bugle	***
Anenome varieties	Japanese Anenome	** - poisonous, but sometimes flowers get eaten
Aquilegia varieties	Columbine	*
Armeria maritima	Sea thrift	** - may eat flowers
Artemisia varieties	Wormwood	*** - aromatic foliage
Astilbe varieties	Astilbe	* - may eat in bad areas
Canna varieties	Canna lily	**
Ceratostigma plumbago	Plumbago	*** - late summer color
Coreopsis varieties	Tickseed varieties	*** - reliable, long bloom
Crocosmia varieties	Crocosmia	* - may eat flowers
Delosperma congesta, nubigenum	Yellow Ice Plant	** - tighter variety is better
Dianthus varities	Carnations or Pinks	***- strong smell
Dicentra varieties	Bleeding Heart	**
Digitalis purpurea	Foxglove	*** - poisonous
Echinacea purpurea	Coneflower	** - may eat flowers/petals
Echinops	Globe Thistle	*** - spiny leaves/flowers
Epimedium species	Bishop's Hat	** - good for dry shade
Erigeron species and varieties	Fleabane Daisy	*** - long blooming
Erodium varieties	Cranesbill	***
Eryngium species/varieties	Sea Holly	*** - spiny flowers
Erysimum 'Bowle's Mauve'	Purple Wallflower	***
Euphorbia varieties	Spurge	*** - toxic sap in stems
Fragraria chiloensis	Wild Strawberry	**
Gaillardia	Blanket Flower	** - may eat flowers
Gaura varieties	Gaura	* - may eat flowers
Geranium varieties	Geranium varieties, best is 'Biokovo'	* - only scented varieties
Geum species	Geum/Avens	** - fuzzy leaves, may eat flowers
Hedera varieties	Ivy	*
Helianthemum varieties	Sunrose varieties	** - better once established
Hellebore orientalis and other species	Lenten Rose	*** - poisonous, for shade
Hemerocallis 'Stella de Oro' and other varieties	Daylily	** - may eat flowers
Hypericum calycinum	St. John's Wort	***
Iberis	Candytuft	**
Ipheion uniflorum 'Wisley Blue'	Spring Star Flower	* - may eat tender growth
Iris siberica, tenax and other species	Siberian Iris, Toughleaf Iris, Bearded Iris and others	***
Kniphofia varieties	Red hot poker	***
Lamium maculatum	Dead nettle	***
Laurentia fluviatilis	Blue Star Creeper	*** - mat forming
Leucanthemum varieties	Shasta Daisy	**- may eat foliage after bloom finishes
Liatris spicata	Gayfeather	** - may eat flowers
Linum lewisii	Blue Flax	**
Monarda varieties	Bee balm	** - fragrant foliage
Narcissus	Daffodils	***
Nepeta varieties	Catmint	*** - aromatic foliage
Oenothera species	Evening Primrose, Sundrops	** - may eat when new
Origanum varieties	Oregano	*** - fragrant foliage
Paeonia varieties	Peony	***
Papaver orientale	Oriental Poppy	** - fuzzy foliage, may eat
Perovskia atriplicifolia	Russian Blue Sage	*** - aromatic foliage
Phlomis fruticosa, russeliana	Jerusalem Sage	*** - large, fuzzy leaves
Phlox subulata	Creeping Phlox	*** - needle like foliage
Rubus calycinoides/pentalobus	Creeping Bramble	*** - tough leaves, prickly stems
Rudbeckia 'Goldstrum'	Black Eyed Susan	* - may eat flowers
Salvia officinalis	Edible Sage varieties	*** - fragrant foliage
Salvia nemorosa, greggii, muelleri, hardy hybrids	Sage	*** - smellier foliage is best
Santolina chamaecyparissus, virens	Lavender Cotton	*** - fragrant foliage
Solidago	Goldenrod	**
Stachys byzantina	Lambs Ear	*** - fuzzy foliage
Tanacetum densum amani	Partridge Feather	*** - fuzzy textured leaves
Teucrium chamaedrys	Trailing Germander	*** - aromatic foliage
Thymus species and varieties	Creeping Thyme and Upright Thyme	*** - aromatic foliage
Verbena bonariensis	Upright Verbena	***
Verbena	Trailing Verbena	** - may eat flowers
Veronica varieties	Veronica Georgia Blue or other varieties	**
Vinca minor or major	Vinca	***
Zauschneria	California Fuschia	* - may eat
Shrubs - Aromatic, resinous/sticky, thorny/prickly or poisonous choices are the most reliable
Arctostaphylos d. 'Howard McMinn', other species/varieties	Manzanita	** - may eat when new, better once established
Arctostaphylos uva ursi varieties	Kinnickinnick varieties	** - may eat when new
Baccharis pilularis	Coyote bush	***
Berberis varieties	Barberry varieties	*** - thorny stems
Buddleia varieties	Butterfly Bush	***
Buxus species and varieties	Boxwood	**
Callistemon linearis	Bottlebrush	*** - pokey foliage
Calluna varieties	Heather	***
Caryopteris varieties	Bluebeard	*** - reliable, long bloom
Ceanothus species	California Lilac - 'Julia Phelps', 'Emily Brown' 'Blue Jeans'	** - small or holly-like leaves are best
Chaenomeles speciosa	Flowering Quince	*** - thorns
Chamaecyparis varieties	Hinoki Cypress varieties	** - may eat softer varieties
Choisya ternata	Mexican Orange	***
Cistus species and hybrids	Rockrose	* - the more resinous/sticky varieties are best
Cotinus 'Royal Purple'	Royal Purple Smoke bush	** - may eat when new
Daphne species	Daphne	*** - poisonous
Elaeagnus pungens	Silverberry	*** - thorny branches
Erica varieties	Mediterranean Heath varieties	***
Euonymous alata	Burning Bush	* - older,established plants
Feijoa sellowiana	Pineapple Guava	** - may chew tips when new
Forsythia varieties	Forsythia varieties	* - older, established plants
Fothergilla	Fothergilla	* - only in mild deer areas
Genista pilosa, lydia	Yellow Broom groundcover-	***
Grevillea 'Noellii'	Grevillea	*** - place in protected spot
Hebe cupressoides	Whipcord Hebe	*** - cypress-like foliage
Hibiscus syriacus	Rose of Sharon	* - best when limbed up above deer height
Holodiscus discolor	Oceanspray	* - native, may eat
Hydrangea quercifolia	Oakleaf Hydrangea	* - only in mild deer areas
Ilex crenata	Japanese Holly, 'Helleri' is best for heavy deer areas	** - stiffer leaves are better
Ilex species	Holly	** - the spinier, leathery leaves are best
Juniperus species/varieties	Juniper	***
Kalmia latifolia	Mountain Laurel	** - poisonous, may still eat
Kerria japonica	Kerria japonica	** - may eat
Lavandula species/varieties	Lavender	*** - fragrant foliage
Leptospermum namadgiensis, humifusum	Alpine Tea Tree	*** - aromatic foliage
Loropetalum chinensis	Fringe flower	* - only in mild deer areas
Mahonia aquifolium, nervosa, repens	Oregon Grape	*** - holly-like leaves
Myrtus communis 'Compacta'	Compact Myrtle	*** - fragrant foliage
Nandina domestica and varieties	Heavenly Bamboo	* - only in mild deer areas
Nerium oleander	Oleander	*** - poisonous
Osmanthus heterophyllus	Holly-Leaf Osmanthus	**
Philadelphus varieties	Mock Orange	* - older,established plants
Picea abies 'Nidiformis' and other dwarf varieties	Birds Nest Spruce and others	***
Pieris varieties	Andromeda or Lily of the Valley Shrub	*** - poisonous
Pinus mugo pumilo	Dwarf Mugo Pine	***
Potentilla varieties	Potentilla	**
Prunus lusitanica	Portuegese Laurel	*** - good hedge plant
Pyracantha varieties	Pyracantha	** - thorny
Rhododendron	Rhododendron - scented varieties like 'PJM' are best	** - poisonous, but may eat
Ribes sangunineum	Flowering Currant (native, pink)	** - may eat
Rosa rugosa	Rugosa Rose, Sea Tomato	* - very thorny, may still eat
Rosemarinus officianalis varieties	Rosemary	*** - fragrant foliage
Sarcococca ruscifolia, humilis	Sweetbox	** - leathery foliage
Spirea varieties	Spirea	***
Symphoricarpos alba	Snow Berry	** - native, thicket forming
Syringa species/varieties	Lilac	* - may eat when young/small
Teucrium fruticans	Bushy Germander	*** - aromatic foliage
Viburnum davidii	Viburnum davidii	* - leathery leaves
Viburnum plicatum tomentosum	Doublefile Viburnum	** - more so than other species, best when larger
Vitex agnus-castus	Chaste tree	*** - aromatic foliage
Trees - Always important to use a wire cage around any new tree and the higher the limbs, the less they can reach!
Acer buergerianum Trident Maple **
Acer circinatum, griseum	Vine Maple, Paperbark Maple	**
Acer palmatum varieties	Japanese Maple varieties	**
Acer rubrum, saccharum	Red Maple, Sugar Maple	**
Albizia julibrissin	Mimosa or Silk Tree	*** - small leaves
Betula jacquemontii and other species	Jacquemontii Birch and other Birches	**
Calocedrus decurrens	Incense Cedar	***
Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca'	Blue Atlas Cedar	***
Cedrus deodar	Deodar Cedar	***
Cercis occidentalis	Western Redbud, use Eastern Redbud with caution	*
Chamaecyparis varieties	Hinoki Cypress varieties	* - may eat softer varieties
Chamaerops humilis	Mediterranean Fan Palm	*** - thorny branches
Chitalpa 'Pink Dawn'	Pink Dawn Chitalpa (cross of Catalpa and Chilopsis)	** - long summer bloom
Chilopsis linearis	Desert Willow	*** - aromatic, narrow leaves
Cornus florida	Eastern Dogwood	**
Cornus kousa	Kousa/Chinese Dogwood	**
Crataegus	Hawthorne	*** - thorny branches
Cupressus arizonica 'Blue Ice'	Arizona Cypress	***
Cupressus s. 'Glauca'	Blue Italian Cypress	***
Cupressocyparis leylandii	Leylandi Cypress	***
Eucalyptus species	Snow gum, Cider gum, Black Sallee	*** - aromatic, leathery leaves
Fraxinus species	Ash species	**
Ginkgo biloba	Maidenhair Tree	*** - leathery leaves
Gledisia triacanthos	Honey Locust	*** - small leaves
Heptacodium miconioides	Sevon Sons Flower	** - late summer bloom, peeling bark, left alone in mild deer areas
Ficus varieties	Fig tree	** - aromatic leaves,may still eat lower growth
Juniperus varieties	Juniper	***
Lagerstoemia varieties	Crape Myrtle varieties	* - tree form are best bet
Liquidambar styraciflua	Sweetgum	**
Magnolia species	Magnolia species	*** - evergreen species is most reliable
Morus alba	Fruitless Mulberry	*** - fast growing
Nyssa sylvatica	Sour gum	**
Parrotia persica	Persian Ironwood	**
Pinus species	Pine species	***
Pistachia chinensis	Chinese Pistache	**
Populus tremuloides	Quaking Aspen	**
Prunus serrulata	Japanese Flowering Cherry	**
Pseudotsuga menziesii	Douglas Fir	***
Quercus coccinea, rubra	Scarlet Oak, Red Oak	*** - pokier, leathery leaves
Quercus garryana	Oregon White Oak	***
Robinia pseudoacacia	Black Locust varieties	*** - thorny branches
Sequoia sempervivens	Coast Redwood	***
Sequoiadendron giganteum	Giant Sequoia	***
Thuja plicata	Western Red Cedar	***
Trachycarpus fortunei	Windmill Fan Palm	***
Vines
Akebia quinata	Akebia vine	***
Bignonia capreolata	Cross Vine	**
Campsis radicans	Trumpet Vine	**
Clematis armandii	Evergreen Clematis	** - leathery leaves
Gelsemium sempervirens	Carolina Jessamine	*** - poisonous
Holboelia coriocea	China Blue Vine	** - leathery leaves
Humulus lupilus	Common Hops	*** - stiff hairs coat leaves and stems
Lonicera species/varieties	Honeysuckle	** - ususally reliable
Parthenocissus quinquefolia	Virginia Creeper	**
Polygonum auberti	Silver Lace Vine	**
Trachelospermum jasminoides	Star jasmine	*
Vitis varieties	Grape	**
Wisteria species/varieties	Wisteria	***

Polystichum Munitum - Western Sword Fern	Hellebore Orientalis	Ophiopogon Nigrescens - Black Mondo Grass
Ilex Crenata 'Helleri' - Compact Japanese Holly	Eryngium Jade Frost	Hellebore 'Pink Frost' with Mondo Grass and Juniper 'Blue Star'
Ilex Crenata 'Helleri' - Compact Japanese Holly	Fargesia 'Green Panda' - Clumping Bamboo	Pinus 'Vanderwolf' - Vanderwolf Pines

Sign up for a 'Deer Resistant Plant' class at the Seeds of Spring Garden Seminar
Sat. Feb. 25, 2012, 10:15 am
at the RCC Redwood Campus in Grants Pass
Details & registration form