12 Deer-Resistant Summer Perennials That Bring the Drama

Deer are fickle, persistent, and seemingly price-tag readers. But some perennials consistently survive their browsing. These 12 have shown little to no damage in a Pacific Northwest garden (many hardy to zones 3–4). The goal: plant drama, not deer drama.

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1. 'Paprika' Yarrow (Achillea millefolium 'Paprika')

Spicy hot color fades to terra-cotta; deadhead for June–October bloom. Inexpensive — great for massing. Zones 3–8, full sun, low water, drought/poor soil tolerant.

2. 'Zagreb' Tickseed (Coreopsis verticillata 'Zagreb')

Golden daisy flowers + feathery foliage = attractive out of bloom. Zones 3–9, full sun, low water, drought tolerant.

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3. 'Hidcote' Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote')

Woody perennial, fragrant, great cut/dried flowers. Zones 5–9, full sun, low water. Alternatives deer ignore: sages, Russian sage, catmint.

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4. Silver Mound Wormwood (Artemisia schmidtiana 'Nana')

Soft silver cushions dress up any color combo. Zones 4–9, full sun, low water, fragrant, drought tolerant. Shear 1/3 mid-summer for tidy shape.

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5. 'Lucifer' Montbretia (Crocosmia 'Lucifer')

Hummingbird favorite, dramatic stature/color. Zones 5–9, full sun, low water, great cut flower, drought tolerant. Protect from rabbits until ~1 ft tall.

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6. Siberian Iris (Iris sibirica)

Deer ignore all irises; Siberian has softer, grassier foliage and forgives neglect. Zones 4–7, sun/part shade, average to moist soil, great cut flower.

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7. 'Goldsturm' Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii 'Goldsturm')

Ubiquitous but unstoppable — massive late-summer swaths, never noticeably browsed. Zones 6–10, sun/part shade, low water, drought tolerant, spreads (divide occasionally).

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8. Whirling Butterflies (Gaura lindheimeri)

Haze of white "butterflies" May–October. Species shown; burgundy-leaf/pink-flower varieties exist. Zones 5–9, full sun, low water, drought tolerant, long bloom. Don't cut stems until spring.

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9. 'Sapphire Blue' Sea Holly (Eryngium 'Sapphire Blue')

Spiky metallic blue bracts = drama + bees. Zones 5–9, full sun, low water, great cut/dried flower, drought tolerant.

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10. 'Jacob Cline' Bee Balm (Monarda didyma 'Jacob Cline')

Workhorse perennial: aromatic foliage, fuzzy flowers bees/butterflies love, deer don't. Zones 4–9, sun/light shade, low water, great cut flower, drought tolerant.

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11. 'Jack Frost' Siberian Bugloss (Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost')

Silver-veined heart leaves spring–fall + blue forget-me-not flowers April–May. Zones 3–8, part shade, average-low water, drought tolerant once established.

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12. 'Butterfly Blue' Pincushion Flower (Scabiosa columbaria 'Butterfly Blue')

Beautiful near dark foliage (bugbane/snakeroot). Zones 3–9, full sun, average water, great cut flower, attracts butterflies.

Tip: Keep a deer-resistant plant list in the car for nursery runs. Rutgers' list is a solid general guide (with some garden-specific discrepancies).