One of our favorite deer-resistant perennials are bleeding hearts ( Lamprocapnos spectabilis, aka Dicentra spectabilis).

Plants such as lamb’s ear are not on their preferred menu.

Would you want to eat something prickly? Neither do deer (unless they’re desperate).

Deer also tend to turn their noses up at fragrant plants with strong scents. Herbs such as sages, ornamental salvias, and lavender, as well as flowers like peonies and bearded irises, are just “stinky” to deer.

Daffodils, foxgloves, and poppies are common flowers with a toxicity that deer avoid. Not surprisingly, deer tend to stay away from poisonous plants.

Interestingly, several participants in the study noted that deer seem to prefer plants that have been fertilized to those that haven’t. Deer also show a particular preference for hostas, daylilies, and English ivy, according to researchers from the University of Rhode Island, who have studied white-tailed deer damage to nurseries.Avoid planting narrow-leafed evergreens, especially arborvitae and fir.Some plant qualify as “deer candy.” We certainly don’t want to be laying out a deer buffet with our hard-earned dollars. They won’t choose your plants unless they’re desperate. Would you eat your least-favorite food if your favorite sweets were around the corner? Well, don’t grow deer’s favorites (like tender hosta)! Instead, get to know which plants are NOT deer’s top choice on the menu so the hungry herds walk by to choose more appetizing choices. That said, there are many plants that are much less palatable to deer. The heaviest browsing by deer will occur from October through February, especially during difficult winter months.

If food is scarce enough, hungry deer have been known to eat almost anything. Let’s be frank: there are no absolutely 100% deer-proof plants.

Red button ginger cold hardys