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 2 of 4

Safest choices37

Marjoram
Origanum majorana
Rarely damaged
Type
Perennial
Hardiness
Zones 9–10
Height
12–24 in
Mimosa
Albizia julibrissin
Rarely damaged
Type
Tree
Hardiness
Zones 6–9
Height
240–480 in
Mint
Mentha sp.
Rarely damaged
Type
Perennial
Hardiness
Zones 3–9, genus range
Northern Sea Oats
Chasmanthium latifolium
Rarely damaged
Type
Ornamental grass
Hardiness
Zones 5–9
Height
24–60 in
Oregano
Origanum sp.
Rarely damaged
Type
Perennial
Hardiness
Zones 4–9, genus range
Oriental Fountain Grass
Pennisetum orientale
Rarely damaged
Type
Ornamental grass
Hardiness
Zones 6–9
Height
24–36 in
Pachysandra
Pachysandra terminalis
Rarely damaged
Type
Groundcover
Hardiness
Zones 4–9
Height
6–12 in
Pampas Grass
Cortaderia selloana
Rarely damaged
Type
Ornamental grass
Hardiness
Zones 6–10
Height
72–144 in
Pawpaw
Asimina triloba
Rarely damaged
Type
Tree
Hardiness
Zones 5–9
Height
180–360 in
Poppy
Papaver sp.
Rarely damaged
Type
Annual
Hardiness
Grown as an annual, any zone
Pot Marigold
Calendula sp.
Rarely damaged
Type
Annual
Hardiness
Grown as an annual, any zone
Prickly Pear Cactus
Opuntia humifusa
Rarely damaged
Type
Perennial
Hardiness
Zones 4–9
Height
6–12 in
Prince of Wales Juniper
Juniperus horizontalis 'Prince of Wales'
Rarely damaged
Type
Shrub
Hardiness
Zones 3–9
Height
6–18 in
Ravenna Grass
Erianthus ravennae
Rarely damaged
Type
Ornamental grass
Hardiness
Zones 5–9
Height
72–240 in
River Birch
Betula nigra
Rarely damaged
Type
Tree
Hardiness
Zones 4–9
Height
360–840 in
Rose Campion
Lychnis coronaria
Rarely damaged
Type
Perennial
Hardiness
Zones 4–10
Height
24–36 in
Rosemary
Salvia rosmarinus
Rarely damaged
Type
Shrub
Hardiness
Zones 8–10
Height
48–60 in
Royal Fern
Osmunda regalis
Rarely damaged
Type
Fern
Hardiness
Zones 3–10
Height
60–72 in
Rue
Ruta sp.
Rarely damaged
Type
Perennial
Hardiness
Zones 4–9, genus range
Russian Sage
Salvia yangii
Rarely damaged
Type
Perennial
Hardiness
Zones 5–9
Height
24–48 in
Sensitive Fern
Onoclea sensibilis
Rarely damaged
Type
Fern
Hardiness
Zones 2–10
Height
12–24 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
Snowdrops
Galanthus nivalis
Rarely damaged
Type
Bulb
Hardiness
Zones 3–9
Height
4–10 in
Spider Flower
Cleome sp.
Rarely damaged
Type
Annual
Hardiness
Grown as an annual, any zone
Spurge
Euphorbia sp.
Rarely damaged
Type
Perennial
Hardiness
Zones 4–9, genus range
Statice
Limonium latifolium
Rarely damaged
Type
Perennial
Hardiness
Zones 4–10
Height
12–18 in
Strawflower
Helichrysum sp.
Rarely damaged
Type
Annual
Hardiness
Grown as an annual, any zone
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
Threadleaf Coreopsis
Coreopsis verticillata
Rarely damaged
Type
Perennial
Hardiness
Zones 3–9
Height
30–36 in
Thyme
Thymus sp.
Rarely damaged
Type
Perennial
Hardiness
Zones 4–9, genus range
Variegated Oat Grass
Arrhenatherum elatius
Rarely damaged
Type
Ornamental grass
Hardiness
Zones 4–9
Weeping Love Grass
Eragrostis curvula
Rarely damaged
Type
Ornamental grass
Hardiness
Zones 6–9
Height
24–60 in
Wood Fern
Dryopteris marginalis
Rarely damaged
Type
Fern
Hardiness
Zones 4–9
Height
18–36 in
Wood Forget-Me-Not
Myosotis sylvatica
Rarely damaged
Type
Annual
Hardiness
Grown as an annual, any zone
Height
6–12 in
Yucca
Yucca filamentosa
Rarely damaged
Type
Perennial
Hardiness
Zones 4–10
Height
36–96 in

Usually fine23