Deer-resistant plants that bloom in autumn

The shortest list of the three, and the most useful, because a border that has nothing after August is a border that looks finished for half the year. Pressure climbs again through autumn as natural forage dies back and the rut begins, so late flowers get browsed harder than the same plant would in June. Choose from the top two tiers here rather than the middle.

92 plants · page 1 of 2

Rarely Damaged28

Ageratum
Ageratum houstonianum
Rarely damaged
Type
Annual
Hardiness
Grown as an annual, any zone
Height
6–12 in
Annual Vinca
Catharanthus roseus
Rarely damaged
Type
Annual
Hardiness
Grown as an annual, any zone
Height
6–18 in
Bush Cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa
Rarely damaged
Type
Shrub
Hardiness
Zones 2–7
Height
24–48 in
Butter and Eggs
Linaria vulgaris
Rarely damaged
Type
Perennial
Hardiness
Zones 3–9
Butterfly Bush
Buddleja davidii
Rarely damaged
Type
Shrub
Hardiness
Zones 5–9
Height
72–144 in
Common Tansy
Tanacetum vulgare
Rarely damaged
Type
Perennial
Hardiness
Zones 3–8
Height
12–60 in
Devil's Walking Stick
Aralia spinosa
Rarely damaged
Type
Shrub
Hardiness
Zones 4–9
Height
120–420 in
Dusty Miller
Centaurea cineraria
Rarely damaged
Type
Annual
Hardiness
Grown as an annual, any zone
Height
6–24 in
Fountain Grass
Pennisetum alopecuroides
Rarely damaged
Type
Ornamental grass
Hardiness
Zones 6–9
Height
24–72 in
Giant Japanese Silver Grass
Miscanthus floridulus
Rarely damaged
Type
Ornamental grass
Hardiness
Zones 5–9
Height
96–144 in
Heliotrope
Heliotropium arborescens
Rarely damaged
Type
Annual
Hardiness
Grown as an annual, any zone
Height
12–30 in
Horehound
Marrubium vulgare
Rarely damaged
Type
Perennial
Hardiness
Zones 3–9
Height
12–24 in
Hyssop
Hyssopus officinalis
Rarely damaged
Type
Perennial
Hardiness
Zones 4–9
Height
18–24 in
Indian Grass
Sorghastrum nutans
Rarely damaged
Type
Ornamental grass
Hardiness
Zones 4–9
Height
60–84 in
Japanese Silver Grass
Miscanthus sinensis
Rarely damaged
Type
Ornamental grass
Hardiness
Zones 5–9
Height
48–144 in
Lemon Balm
Melissa officinalis
Rarely damaged
Type
Perennial
Hardiness
Zones 3–7
Height
24–36 in
Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
Rarely damaged
Type
Ornamental grass
Hardiness
Zones 3–9
Height
24–48 in
Northern Sea Oats
Chasmanthium latifolium
Rarely damaged
Type
Ornamental grass
Hardiness
Zones 5–9
Height
24–60 in
Oriental Fountain Grass
Pennisetum orientale
Rarely damaged
Type
Ornamental grass
Hardiness
Zones 6–9
Height
24–36 in
Pampas Grass
Cortaderia selloana
Rarely damaged
Type
Ornamental grass
Hardiness
Zones 6–10
Height
72–144 in
Purple Moor Grass
Molinia caerulea
Rarely damaged
Type
Ornamental grass
Hardiness
Zones 4–8
Height
24–48 in
Ravenna Grass
Erianthus ravennae
Rarely damaged
Type
Ornamental grass
Hardiness
Zones 5–9
Height
72–240 in
Russian Sage
Salvia yangii
Rarely damaged
Type
Perennial
Hardiness
Zones 5–9
Height
24–48 in
Snapdragon
Antirrhinum majus
Rarely damaged
Type
Annual
Hardiness
Grown as an annual, any zone
Height
6–36 in
Snow-on-the-Mountain
Euphorbia marginata
Rarely damaged
Type
Annual
Hardiness
Grown as an annual, any zone
Height
12–36 in
Sweet Alyssum
Lobularia maritima
Rarely damaged
Type
Annual
Hardiness
Grown as an annual, any zone
Height
3–10 in
Switchgrass
Panicum virgatum
Rarely damaged
Type
Ornamental grass
Hardiness
Zones 5–9
Height
36–84 in
Variegated Purple Moor Grass
Molinia caerulea 'Variegata'
Rarely damaged
Type
Ornamental grass
Hardiness
Zones 4–8
Height
24–48 in

Seldom Severely Damaged32