Deer-resistant ornamental grasses

Ornamental grasses are close to a free win. Deer almost universally ignore them, they hold structure through winter when everything else has collapsed, and they need cutting back once a year and nothing else.

34 plants

Rarely Damaged28

Big Bluestem
Andropogon sp.
Rarely damaged
Type
Ornamental grass
Hardiness
Zones 3–9, genus range
Blue Fescue
Festuca glauca
Rarely damaged
Type
Ornamental grass
Hardiness
Zones 4–8
Height
9–12 in
Blue Oat Grass
Helictotrichon sempervirens
Rarely damaged
Type
Ornamental grass
Hardiness
Zones 4–8
Height
24–36 in
Clump Bamboo
Fargesia sp.
Rarely damaged
Type
Ornamental grass
Hardiness
Zones 5–9, genus range
Feather Reed Grass
Calamagrostis sp.
Rarely damaged
Type
Ornamental grass
Hardiness
Zones 4–9, genus range
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
Giant Reed
Arundo donax
Rarely damaged
Type
Ornamental grass
Hardiness
Zones 6–10
Golden Bamboo
Phyllostachys aurea
Rarely damaged
Type
Ornamental grass
Hardiness
Zones 4–10
Height
180–240 in
Hard Rush
Juncus effusus
Rarely damaged
Type
Ornamental grass
Hardiness
Zones 4–9
Indian Grass
Sorghastrum nutans
Rarely damaged
Type
Ornamental grass
Hardiness
Zones 4–9
Height
60–84 in
Japanese Blood Grass
Imperata cylindrica
Rarely damaged
Type
Ornamental grass
Hardiness
Zones 5–9
Height
24–48 in
Japanese Forest Grass
Hakonechloa macra
Rarely damaged
Type
Ornamental grass
Hardiness
Zones 5–9
Height
12–18 in
Japanese Sedge
Carex sp.
Rarely damaged
Type
Ornamental grass
Hardiness
Zones 5–9, genus range
Japanese Silver Grass
Miscanthus sinensis
Rarely damaged
Type
Ornamental grass
Hardiness
Zones 5–9
Height
48–144 in
Japanese Sweet Flag
Acorus sp.
Rarely damaged
Type
Ornamental grass
Hardiness
Zones 5–9, genus range
Large Blue June Grass
Koeleria glauca
Rarely damaged
Type
Ornamental grass
Hardiness
Zones 6–8
Height
6–24 in
Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
Rarely damaged
Type
Ornamental grass
Hardiness
Zones 3–9
Height
24–48 in
Lyme Grass
Leymus arenarius
Rarely damaged
Type
Ornamental grass
Hardiness
Zones 3–10
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
Switchgrass
Panicum virgatum
Rarely damaged
Type
Ornamental grass
Hardiness
Zones 5–9
Height
36–84 in
Variegated Oat Grass
Arrhenatherum elatius
Rarely damaged
Type
Ornamental grass
Hardiness
Zones 4–9
Variegated Purple Moor Grass
Molinia caerulea 'Variegata'
Rarely damaged
Type
Ornamental grass
Hardiness
Zones 4–8
Height
24–48 in
Weeping Love Grass
Eragrostis curvula
Rarely damaged
Type
Ornamental grass
Hardiness
Zones 6–9
Height
24–60 in

Seldom Severely Damaged6