Deer-resistant plants for Iowa
Farmland deer with abundant summer forage and very little in February. Winter is when plantings get tested. Filtered to plants hardy in USDA zones 4 to 6, which covers most of Iowa. Mountain and coastal areas fall outside that range, so check your own zone before ordering.
414 plants · page 4 of 7
Usually fine60
Baby's Breath
Gypsophila sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9, genus range
Bachelor's Buttons
Centaurea cyanus
Seldom damaged- Type
- Annual
- Hardiness
- Grown as an annual, any zone
- Height
- 12–36 in
Basil
Ocimum basilicum
Seldom damaged- Type
- Annual
- Hardiness
- Grown as an annual, any zone
- Height
- 4–36 in
Bastardsage
Eriogonum wrightii
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–10
- Height
- 36–36 in
Bearberry Cotoneaster
Cotoneaster dammeri
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–8
- Height
- 12–12 in
Beautyberry
Callicarpa sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 6–10, genus range
Beautybush
Kolkwitzia amabilis
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
- Height
- 72–120 in
Bee Balm
Monarda didyma
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 24–48 in
Bigroot Geranium
Geranium macrorrhizum
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9, genus range
Blackeyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 36–36 in
Blackhaw Viburnum
Viburnum prunifolium
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 144–180 in
Blanketflower
Gaillardia aristata
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 48–48 in
Blazing Star
Liatris sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9, genus range
Blue Sage
Salvia pachyphylla
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–10
- Height
- 18–32 in
Blue Star Juniper
Juniperus squamata 'Blue Star'
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
Bog Rosemary
Andromeda polifolia
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 2–6
Borage
Borago officinalis
Seldom damaged- Type
- Annual
- Hardiness
- Grown as an annual, any zone
- Height
- 19–38 in
Bottlebrush Grass
Hystrix patula
Seldom damaged- Type
- Ornamental grass
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9
- Height
- 30–36 in
Brambles
Rubus sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9, genus range
Bridalwreath Spirea
Spiraea prunifolia
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–8
- Height
- 48–96 in
Buckthorn
Rhamnus sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7, genus range
Bugbane
Cimicifuga sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8, genus range
Bugloss
Anchusa sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8, genus range
Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 12–24 in
California Poppy
Eschscholzia californica
Seldom damaged- Type
- Annual
- Hardiness
- Grown as an annual, any zone
- Height
- 12–24 in
California Sweetshrub
Calycanthus occidentalis
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 6–9
Camassia
Camassia leichtlinii
Seldom damaged- Type
- Bulb
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 48–60 in
Carnation
Dianthus sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9, genus range
Carolina Silverbell
Halesia carolina
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
- Height
- 120–480 in
Celosia
Celosia argentea
Seldom damaged- Type
- Annual
- Hardiness
- Grown as an annual, any zone
- Height
- 9–18 in
Cherry Laurel
Prunus laurocerasus
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 6–8
- Height
- 120–240 in
Chinese Fringe Tree
Chionanthus retusus
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9
- Height
- 120–360 in
Chinese Juniper
Juniperus chinensis
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 600–720 in
Chinese Paper Birch
Betula albosinensis
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–7
Chokecherry
Prunus virginiana
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 2–6
- Height
- 360–360 in
Coast Leucothoe
Leucothoe axillaris
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–8
Cock's Comb
Celosia sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Annual
- Hardiness
- Grown as an annual, any zone
Colorado Blue Spruce
Picea pungens
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 2–7
- Height
- 360–720 in
Columbine
Aquilegia sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8, genus range
Common Flowering Quince
Chaenomeles speciosa
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
- Height
- 72–144 in
Common Hackberry
Celtis occidentalis
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 1200–1200 in
Common Lilac
Syringa vulgaris
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 96–192 in
Common Sassafras
Sassafras albidum
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 360–720 in
Common Sweetshrub
Calycanthus floridus
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 72–144 in
Common Witchhazel
Hamamelis virginiana
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 180–360 in
Coral Bells
Heuchera americana
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 12–36 in
Coralberry
Symphoricarpos x chenaultii
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 2–7
Corkscrew Willow
Salix matsudana 'Tortuosa'
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 6–8
- Height
- 360–480 in
Cranberry Bush
Viburnum opulus
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 2–8
- Height
- 144–192 in
Cranberry Cotoneaster
Cotoneaster apiculatus
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–7
- Height
- 24–36 in
Crape Myrtle
Lagerstroemia indica
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 6–9
- Height
- 72–360 in
Creeping Juniper
Juniperus horizontalis
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 6–18 in
Creeping St. John's Wort
Hypericum calycinum
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–10
- Height
- 12–18 in
Creeping Wintergreen
Gaultheria procumbens
Seldom damaged- Type
- Groundcover
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 4–8 in
Crocosmia
Crocosmia sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 6–9, genus range
Crocus
Crocus sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Bulb
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8, genus range
Currant
Ribes sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8, genus range
Cyclamen
Cyclamen sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9, genus range