Deer-resistant plants for Hawaii
Axis deer, not whitetail, and a serious problem on Maui, Molokai and Lanai. They are unmanaged, they browse plants no mainland list covers, and fencing is the only reliable answer. Filtered to plants hardy in USDA zones 9 to 12, which covers most of Hawaii. Mountain and coastal areas fall outside that range, so check your own zone before ordering.
227 plants · page 1 of 4
Safest choices60
Ageratum
Ageratum houstonianum
Rarely damaged- Type
- Annual
- Hardiness
- Grown as an annual, any zone
- Height
- 6–12 in
Allegheny Spurge
Pachysandra procumbens
Rarely damaged- Type
- Groundcover
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9
- Height
- 6–12 in
American Holly
Ilex opaca
Rarely damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9
- Height
- 480–720 in
Angel's Trumpet
Brugmansia sp.
Rarely damaged- Type
- Annual
- Hardiness
- Grown as an annual, any zone
Anise
Pimpinella anisum
Rarely damaged- Type
- Annual
- Hardiness
- Grown as an annual, any zone
Anise Hyssop
Agastache sp.
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9, genus range
Annual Vinca
Catharanthus roseus
Rarely damaged- Type
- Annual
- Hardiness
- Grown as an annual, any zone
- Height
- 6–18 in
Bearded Iris
Iris germanica
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 12–48 in
Big Bluestem
Andropogon sp.
Rarely damaged- Type
- Ornamental grass
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9, genus range
Bishop's Weed
Aegopodium podagraria
Rarely damaged- Type
- Groundcover
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–10
- Height
- 6–36 in
Bleeding Heart
Lamprocapnos spectabilis
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 24–36 in
Blue Mist Shrub
Caryopteris clandonensis
Rarely damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 6–9
Bottlebrush Buckeye
Aesculus parviflora
Rarely damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9
- Height
- 96–144 in
Bugleweed
Ajuga reptans
Rarely damaged- Type
- Groundcover
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–10
- Height
- 6–12 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
Christmas Fern
Polystichum acrostichoides
Rarely damaged- Type
- Fern
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 12–36 in
Cinnamon Fern
Osmunda cinnamomea
Rarely damaged- Type
- Fern
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 24–72 in
Clump Bamboo
Fargesia sp.
Rarely damaged- Type
- Ornamental grass
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9, genus range
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
False Camomile
Matricaria sp.
Rarely damaged- Type
- Annual
- Hardiness
- Grown as an annual, any zone
False Indigo
Baptisia australis
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 36–48 in
Feather Reed Grass
Calamagrostis sp.
Rarely damaged- Type
- Ornamental grass
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9, genus range
Flowering Tobacco
Nicotiana sp.
Rarely damaged- Type
- Annual
- Hardiness
- Grown as an annual, any zone
Fountain Grass
Pennisetum alopecuroides
Rarely damaged- Type
- Ornamental grass
- Hardiness
- Zones 6–9
- Height
- 24–72 in
Foxglove
Digitalis purpurea
Rarely damaged- Type
- Biennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 24–60 in
Fragrant Sumac
Rhus aromatica
Rarely damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 24–72 in
Fringed Bleeding Heart
Dicentra eximia
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
Germander
Teucrium chamaedrys
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9
- Height
- 6–18 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
Greek Jerusalem Sage
Phlomis sp.
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9, genus range
Hard Rush
Juncus effusus
Rarely damaged- Type
- Ornamental grass
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
Heliotrope
Heliotropium arborescens
Rarely damaged- Type
- Annual
- Hardiness
- Grown as an annual, any zone
- Height
- 12–30 in
Hellebore
Helleborus orientalis
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 12–18 in
Holly Fern
Cyrtomium falcatum
Rarely damaged- Type
- Fern
- Hardiness
- Zones 7–10
- Height
- 17–24 in
Horehound
Marrubium vulgare
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 12–24 in
Horseradish
Armoracia rusticana
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 24–60 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
Iris
Iris sp.
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9, genus range
Jack-in-the-Pulpit
Arisaema triphyllum
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 12–30 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 Painted Fern
Athyrium niponicum
Rarely damaged- Type
- Fern
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 18–24 in
Japanese Plum Yew
Cephalotaxus harringtonia
Rarely damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 6–9
- Height
- 60–120 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
John T. Morris Holly
Ilex x 'John T. Morris'
Rarely damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 6–9
Lambs Ear
Stachys byzantina
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 12–18 in
Larkspur
Consolida ambigua
Rarely damaged- Type
- Annual
- Hardiness
- Grown as an annual, any zone
Lavender
Lavandula angustifolia
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9
- Height
- 12–24 in
Lavender-Cotton
Santolina chamaecyparissus
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 6–9
- Height
- 12–24 in
Leatherleaf Mahonia
Mahonia bealei
Rarely damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 7–9
- Height
- 48–120 in
Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
Rarely damaged- Type
- Ornamental grass
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 24–48 in
Lydia Morris Holly
Ilex x 'Lydia Morris'
Rarely damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 6–9
Lyme Grass
Leymus arenarius
Rarely damaged- Type
- Ornamental grass
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–10
- Height
- 24–48 in