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 5 of 7
Usually fine60
Dawn Redwood
Metasequoia glyptostroboides
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
- Height
- 744–1200 in
Delphinium
Delphinium sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7, genus range
Dense Blazing Star
Liatris spicata
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 72–72 in
Deutzia
Deutzia sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–8, genus range
Dill
Anethum graveolens
Seldom damaged- Type
- Annual
- Hardiness
- Grown as an annual, any zone
- Height
- 30–60 in
Dotted Blazing Star
Liatris punctata
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 36–36 in
Doublefile Viburnum
Viburnum plicatum tomentosum
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–8
- Height
- 96–180 in
Douglas Fir
Pseudotsuga menziesii
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–6
- Height
- 480–960 in
Downy Serviceberry
Amelanchier arborea
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 180–300 in
Drooping Sedge
Carex pendula
Seldom damaged- Type
- Ornamental grass
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9
Dwarf Balsam Fir
Abies balsamea 'Nana'
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 480–840 in
Dwarf Mondo Grass
Ophiopogon japonicus
Seldom damaged- Type
- Ornamental grass
- Hardiness
- Zones 6–10
- Height
- 6–12 in
Eastern Red Cedar
Juniperus virginiana
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 2–9
- Height
- 360–480 in
Eastern White Pine
Pinus strobus
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 600–960 in
English Hawthorn
Crataegus laevigata
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
European Ash
Fraxinus excelsior
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–8
European Beech
Fagus sylvatica
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–7
- Height
- 600–720 in
European White Birch
Betula pendula
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 2–7
- Height
- 360–600 in
Fernleaf Yarrow
Achillea filipendulina
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 36–48 in
Feverfew
Tanacetum parthenium
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–8
- Height
- 12–36 in
Firethorn
Pyracantha coccinea
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 6–9
- Height
- 72–216 in
Foam Flower
Tiarella cordifolia
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 5–12 in
Forsythia
Forsythia x intermedia
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
Fothergilla
Fothergilla sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8, genus range
Gas Plant
Dictamnus albus
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 24–36 in
Gaura
Oenothera lindheimeri
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9
- Height
- 36–60 in
Glossy Abelia
Abelia sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 6–9, genus range
Golden Currant
Ribes aureum
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
- Height
- 120–120 in
Goldenrain Tree
Koelreuteria paniculata
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–8
- Height
- 360–480 in
Goldenrod
Solidago sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9, genus range
Grape Hyacinth
Muscari sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Bulb
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8, genus range
Green Ash
Fraxinus pennsylvanica
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 600–840 in
Hazelnut
Corylus sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8, genus range
Heartleaf Bergenia
Bergenia sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8, genus range
Hens and Chickens
Sempervivum sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8, genus range
Himalayan Birch
Betula jacquemontii
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–7
- Height
- 360–600 in
Honey Locust
Gleditsia triacanthos
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 720–960 in
Hyacinth
Hyacinthus sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Bulb
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8, genus range
Inkberry
Ilex glabra
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–11
- Height
- 60–120 in
Jacob's Ladder
Polemonium caeruleum
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
Japanese Anemone
Anemone x hybrida
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
Japanese Cedar
Cryptomeria japonica
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9
- Height
- 600–840 in
Japanese Falsecypress
Chamaecyparis pisifera
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
- Height
- 600–840 in
Japanese Flowering Cherry
Prunus serrulata
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–8
- Height
- 180–300 in
Japanese Flowering Quince
Chaenomeles japonica
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9
- Height
- 24–36 in
Japanese Garden Juniper
Juniperus procumbens 'Nana'
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 6–18 in
Japanese Kerria
Kerria japonica
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 36–84 in
Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–8
- Height
- 180–300 in
Japanese Red Pine
Pinus densiflora
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 480–720 in
Japanese Spirea
Spiraea japonica
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 48–72 in
Japanese Tree Lilac
Syringa reticulata
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 300–360 in
Judd Viburnum
Viburnum x juddii
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
Koreanspice Viburnum
Viburnum carlesii
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–7
- Height
- 48–72 in
Kousa Dogwood
Cornus kousa
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–8
- Height
- 240–360 in
Lady's Mantle
Alchemilla sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8, genus range
Lance Coreopsis
Coreopsis lanceolata
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 12–36 in
Lantana
Lantana camara
Seldom damaged- Type
- Annual
- Hardiness
- Grown as an annual, any zone
- Height
- 12–72 in
Large Beardtongue
Penstemon grandiflorus
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 48–48 in
Leadplant
Amorpha canescens
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 2–9
- Height
- 36–36 in
Leatherleaf Viburnum
Viburnum rhytidophyllum
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–8
- Height
- 120–180 in