Deer-resistant plants for District of Columbia
Rock Creek Park holds a dense, unhunted herd in the middle of the city, and gardens on the park edge take heavy browsing year-round. Filtered to plants hardy in USDA zones 7 to 8, which covers most of District of Columbia. Mountain and coastal areas fall outside that range, so check your own zone before ordering.
423 plants · page 7 of 8
Usually fine60
Savin Juniper
Juniperus sabina
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
Savory
Satureja montana
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–10
- Height
- 6–18 in
Scotch Pine
Pinus sylvestris
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 2–7
- Height
- 360–720 in
Sea Buckthorn
Hippophae rhamnoides
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
Sea Thrift
Armeria maritima
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
- Height
- 6–24 in
Sedge
Scirpus lacustris
Seldom damaged- Type
- Ornamental grass
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 48–96 in
Serbian Spruce
Picea omorika
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–7
- Height
- 600–720 in
Shadbush
Amelanchier canadensis
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 180–300 in
Shiso
Perilla frutescens
Seldom damaged- Type
- Annual
- Hardiness
- Grown as an annual, any zone
- Height
- 12–36 in
Shrubby St. John's Wort
Hypericum prolificum
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 12–60 in
Silver Buffaloberry
Shepherdia argentea
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 240–240 in
Singleseed Juniper
Juniperus squamata
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
Skunk Cabbage
Symplocarpus foetidus
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–7
- Height
- 24–36 in
Smith's Buckthorn
Rhamnus smithii
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
- Height
- 120–120 in
Smokebush
Cotinus coggygria
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
- Height
- 120–180 in
Sneezeweed
Helenium autumnale
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 36–60 in
Snow-in-Summer
Cerastium tomentosum
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 6–12 in
Snowberry
Symphoricarpos albus
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 36–72 in
Soapweed Yucca
Yucca glauca
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
- Height
- 36–54 in
Soapwort
Saponaria sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9, genus range
Sourwood
Oxydendrum arboreum
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9
- Height
- 240–360 in
Speedwell
Veronica sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8, genus range
Spicebush
Lindera benzoin
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9
- Height
- 96–180 in
Spiderwort
Tradescantia sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9, genus range
Sticky Purple Geranium
Geranium viscosissimum
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
- Height
- 36–36 in
Stocks
Matthiola sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Annual
- Hardiness
- Grown as an annual, any zone
Stokes Aster
Stokesia laevis
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9
- Height
- 12–24 in
Stretchberry
Forestiera pubescens
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 39–180 in
Striped Maple
Acer pensylvanicum
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 180–420 in
Sulphur-Flower Buckwheat
Eriogonum umbellatum
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
- Height
- 72–72 in
Swamp Milkweed
Asclepias incarnata
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 36–60 in
Sweet Elder
Sambucus canadensis
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
- Height
- 60–144 in
Sweet Mock Orange
Philadelphus coronarius
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
- Height
- 120–144 in
Sweet Pepperbush
Clethra sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9, genus range
Sweet William
Dianthus barbatus
Seldom damaged- Type
- Biennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 12–24 in
Threadleaf Giant Hyssop
Agastache rupestris
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–8
- Height
- 36–36 in
Tiger Beardtongue
Penstemon mensarum
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 36–36 in
Toad Lily
Tricyrtis hirta
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
Trillium
Trillium sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8, genus range
Trout Lily
Erythronium sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8, genus range
Tulip Tree
Liriodendron tulipifera
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 960–1440 in
Upright Prairie Coneflower
Ratibida columnifera
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 36–36 in
Verbena
Verbena bonariensis
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 7–11
- Height
- 24–60 in
Violets
Viola sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9, genus range
Virginia Bluebells
Mertensia virginica
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 18–24 in
Virginia Sweetspire
Itea virginica
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9
- Height
- 48–96 in
Wallflower
Erysimum sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Annual
- Hardiness
- Grown as an annual, any zone
Weigela
Weigela florida
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
- Height
- 72–120 in
White Boltonia
Boltonia asteroides
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–10
- Height
- 36–60 in
White Sagebrush
Artemisia ludoviciana
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–10
- Height
- 36–36 in
White Snakeroot
Ageratina altissima
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 24–60 in
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 60–60 in
Willowleaf Cotoneaster
Cotoneaster salicifolius
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 6–8
- Height
- 24–36 in
Winter Jasmine
Jasminum nudiflorum
Seldom damaged- Type
- Vine
- Hardiness
- Zones 6–10
- Height
- 120–180 in
Winterberry Holly
Ilex verticillata
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 36–180 in
Wisteria
Wisteria floribunda
Seldom damaged- Type
- Vine
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
Wood Sorrel
Oxalis sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Bulb
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8, genus range
Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 12–36 in
Yellow Birch
Betula alleghaniensis
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 840–960 in
Yellow Foxglove
Digitalis grandiflora
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8