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.
228 plants · page 1 of 4
Safest choices60
Ageratum
Rarely damagedAgeratum houstonianum
- Type
- Annual
- Hardiness
- Grown as an annual, any zone
- Height
- 6–12 in
Allegheny Spurge
Rarely damagedPachysandra procumbens
- Type
- Groundcover
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9
- Height
- 6–12 in
American Holly
Rarely damagedIlex opaca
- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9
- Height
- 480–720 in
Angel's Trumpet
Rarely damagedBrugmansia sp.
- Type
- Annual
- Hardiness
- Grown as an annual, any zone
Anise
Rarely damagedPimpinella anisum
- Type
- Annual
- Hardiness
- Grown as an annual, any zone
Anise Hyssop
Rarely damagedAgastache sp.
- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9, genus range
Annual Vinca
Rarely damagedCatharanthus roseus
- Type
- Annual
- Hardiness
- Grown as an annual, any zone
- Height
- 6–18 in
Bearded Iris
Rarely damagedIris germanica
- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 12–48 in
Big Bluestem
Rarely damagedAndropogon sp.
- Type
- Ornamental grass
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9, genus range
Bishop's Weed
Rarely damagedAegopodium podagraria
- Type
- Groundcover
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–10
- Height
- 6–36 in
Bleeding Heart
Rarely damagedLamprocapnos spectabilis
- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 24–36 in
Blue Mist Shrub
Rarely damagedCaryopteris clandonensis
- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 6–9
Bottlebrush Buckeye
Rarely damagedAesculus parviflora
- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9
- Height
- 96–144 in
Bugleweed
Rarely damagedAjuga reptans
- Type
- Groundcover
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–10
- Height
- 6–12 in
Butter and Eggs
Rarely damagedLinaria vulgaris
- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
Butterfly Bush
Rarely damagedBuddleja davidii
- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9
- Height
- 72–144 in
Christmas Fern
Rarely damagedPolystichum acrostichoides
- Type
- Fern
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 12–36 in
Cinnamon Fern
Rarely damagedOsmunda cinnamomea
- Type
- Fern
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 24–72 in
Clump Bamboo
Rarely damagedFargesia sp.
- Type
- Ornamental grass
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9, genus range
Devil's Walking Stick
Rarely damagedAralia spinosa
- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 120–420 in
Dusty Miller
Rarely damagedCentaurea cineraria
- Type
- Annual
- Hardiness
- Grown as an annual, any zone
- Height
- 6–24 in
False Camomile
Rarely damagedMatricaria sp.
- Type
- Annual
- Hardiness
- Grown as an annual, any zone
False Indigo
Rarely damagedBaptisia australis
- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 36–48 in
Feather Reed Grass
Rarely damagedCalamagrostis sp.
- Type
- Ornamental grass
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9, genus range
Flowering Tobacco
Rarely damagedNicotiana sp.
- Type
- Annual
- Hardiness
- Grown as an annual, any zone
Fountain Grass
Rarely damagedPennisetum alopecuroides
- Type
- Ornamental grass
- Hardiness
- Zones 6–9
- Height
- 24–72 in
Foxglove
Rarely damagedDigitalis purpurea
- Type
- Biennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 24–60 in
Fragrant Sumac
Rarely damagedRhus aromatica
- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 24–72 in
Fringed Bleeding Heart
Rarely damagedDicentra eximia
- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
Germander
Rarely damagedTeucrium chamaedrys
- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9
- Height
- 6–18 in
Giant Japanese Silver Grass
Rarely damagedMiscanthus floridulus
- Type
- Ornamental grass
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9
- Height
- 96–144 in
Giant Reed
Rarely damagedArundo donax
- Type
- Ornamental grass
- Hardiness
- Zones 6–10
Golden Bamboo
Rarely damagedPhyllostachys aurea
- Type
- Ornamental grass
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–10
- Height
- 180–240 in
Greek Jerusalem Sage
Rarely damagedPhlomis sp.
- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9, genus range
Hard Rush
Rarely damagedJuncus effusus
- Type
- Ornamental grass
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
Heliotrope
Rarely damagedHeliotropium arborescens
- Type
- Annual
- Hardiness
- Grown as an annual, any zone
- Height
- 12–30 in
Hellebore
Rarely damagedHelleborus orientalis
- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 12–18 in
Holly Fern
Rarely damagedCyrtomium falcatum
- Type
- Fern
- Hardiness
- Zones 7–10
- Height
- 17–24 in
Horehound
Rarely damagedMarrubium vulgare
- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 12–24 in
Horseradish
Rarely damagedArmoracia rusticana
- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 24–60 in
Hyssop
Rarely damagedHyssopus officinalis
- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 18–24 in
Indian Grass
Rarely damagedSorghastrum nutans
- Type
- Ornamental grass
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 60–84 in
Iris
Rarely damagedIris sp.
- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9, genus range
Jack-in-the-Pulpit
Rarely damagedArisaema triphyllum
- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 12–30 in
Japanese Blood Grass
Rarely damagedImperata cylindrica
- Type
- Ornamental grass
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9
- Height
- 24–48 in
Japanese Forest Grass
Rarely damagedHakonechloa macra
- Type
- Ornamental grass
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9
- Height
- 12–18 in
Japanese Painted Fern
Rarely damagedAthyrium niponicum
- Type
- Fern
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 18–24 in
Japanese Plum Yew
Rarely damagedCephalotaxus harringtonia
- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 6–9
- Height
- 60–120 in
Japanese Sedge
Rarely damagedCarex sp.
- Type
- Ornamental grass
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9, genus range
Japanese Silver Grass
Rarely damagedMiscanthus sinensis
- Type
- Ornamental grass
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9
- Height
- 48–144 in
Japanese Sweet Flag
Rarely damagedAcorus sp.
- Type
- Ornamental grass
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9, genus range
John T. Morris Holly
Rarely damagedIlex x 'John T. Morris'
- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 6–9
Lambs Ear
Rarely damagedStachys byzantina
- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 12–18 in
Larkspur
Rarely damagedConsolida ambigua
- Type
- Annual
- Hardiness
- Grown as an annual, any zone
Lavender
Rarely damagedLavandula angustifolia
- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9
- Height
- 12–24 in
Lavender-Cotton
Rarely damagedSantolina chamaecyparissus
- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 6–9
- Height
- 12–24 in
Leatherleaf Mahonia
Rarely damagedMahonia bealei
- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 7–9
- Height
- 48–120 in
Little Bluestem
Rarely damagedSchizachyrium scoparium
- Type
- Ornamental grass
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 24–48 in
Lydia Morris Holly
Rarely damagedIlex x 'Lydia Morris'
- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 6–9
Lyme Grass
Rarely damagedLeymus arenarius
- Type
- Ornamental grass
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–10
- Height
- 24–48 in