Deer-resistant plants for Montana
Mule deer and whitetail, and elk in places. Fencing built for deer is often not enough for elk. Filtered to plants hardy in USDA zones 3 to 6, which covers most of Montana. Mountain and coastal areas fall outside that range, so check your own zone before ordering.
414 plants · page 2 of 7
Safest choices60
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
Hayscented Fern
Dennstaedtia punctilobula
Rarely damaged- Type
- Fern
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 12–24 in
Heath
Erica sp.
Rarely damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–7, genus range
Heather
Calluna sp.
Rarely damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–6, genus range
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
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 Barberry
Berberis thunbergii
Rarely damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
- Height
- 36–72 in
Japanese Black Pine
Pinus thunbergiana
Rarely damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–8
- Height
- 240–720 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 Pieris
Pieris japonica
Rarely damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
- Height
- 96–120 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
Katsura Tree
Cercidiphyllum japonicum
Rarely damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
- Height
- 480–720 in
Lambs Ear
Stachys byzantina
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 12–18 in
Large Blue June Grass
Koeleria glauca
Rarely damaged- Type
- Ornamental grass
- Hardiness
- Zones 6–8
- Height
- 6–24 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
Lemon Balm
Melissa officinalis
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 24–36 in
Lily of the Valley
Convallaria majalis
Rarely damaged- Type
- Groundcover
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 6–10 in
Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
Rarely damaged- Type
- Ornamental grass
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 24–48 in
Lungwort
Pulmonaria officinalis
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 6–12 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
May Apple
Podophyllum peltatum
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 12–18 in
Meadow Rue
Thalictrum sp.
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8, genus range
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
Monkshood
Aconitum sp.
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7, genus range
Moonglow Juniper
Juniperus scopulorum 'Moonglow'
Rarely damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 360–480 in
Mountain Pieris
Pieris floribunda
Rarely damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–6
- Height
- 48–72 in
New York Fern
Thelypteris noveboracensis
Rarely damaged- Type
- Fern
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 12–24 in
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
Oregon Grape Holly
Mahonia aquifolium
Rarely damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–8
- Height
- 36–72 in
Oriental Fountain Grass
Pennisetum orientale
Rarely damaged- Type
- Ornamental grass
- Hardiness
- Zones 6–9
- Height
- 24–36 in
Ornamental Onion
Allium giganteum
Rarely damaged- Type
- Bulb
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
- Height
- 12–72 in
Ostrich Fern
Matteuccia struthiopteris
Rarely damaged- Type
- Fern
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 36–60 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
Paper Birch
Betula papyrifera
Rarely damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 2–7
- Height
- 600–840 in
Pawpaw
Asimina triloba
Rarely damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9
- Height
- 180–360 in
Peony
Paeonia lactiflora
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 24–35 in
Pitch Pine
Pinus rigida
Rarely damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–7
- Height
- 480–720 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