Deer-resistant plants under a foot tall
Edging, path edges, the front rank of a border, and the gaps between stepping stones. Height is the constraint people plan borders around and the one most plant lists ignore, so everything here tops out around twelve inches. Worth knowing that low plants sit at exactly the height a deer browses most comfortably, so a low border in heavy pressure benefits more than most from choosing well.
34 plants
Rarely Damaged16

Ageratum
Ageratum houstonianum
Rarely damaged- Type
- Annual
- Hardiness
- Grown as an annual, any zone
- Height
- 6–12 in

Allegheny Spurge
Pachysandra procumbens
Rarely damaged- Type
- Groundcover
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9
- Height
- 6–12 in

Bearberry
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Rarely damaged- Type
- Groundcover
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 6–12 in

Blue Fescue
Festuca glauca
Rarely damaged- Type
- Ornamental grass
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
- Height
- 9–12 in

Bugleweed
Ajuga reptans
Rarely damaged- Type
- Groundcover
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–10
- Height
- 6–12 in

Lily of the Valley
Convallaria majalis
Rarely damaged- Type
- Groundcover
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 6–10 in

Lungwort
Pulmonaria officinalis
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 6–12 in

Pachysandra
Pachysandra terminalis
Rarely damaged- Type
- Groundcover
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 6–12 in

Prickly Pear Cactus
Opuntia humifusa
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 6–12 in

Rock-Cress
Arabis caucasica
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–7
- Height
- 6–12 in

Snowdrops
Galanthus nivalis
Rarely damaged- Type
- Bulb
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 4–10 in

Sweet Alyssum
Lobularia maritima
Rarely damaged- Type
- Annual
- Hardiness
- Grown as an annual, any zone
- Height
- 3–10 in

Sweet Woodruff
Galium odoratum
Rarely damaged- Type
- Groundcover
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
- Height
- 6–12 in

Wild Ginger
Asarum canadense
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–6
- Height
- 6–12 in

Winter Aconite
Eranthis hyemalis
Rarely damaged- Type
- Bulb
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 3–6 in

Wood Forget-Me-Not
Myosotis sylvatica
Rarely damaged- Type
- Annual
- Hardiness
- Grown as an annual, any zone
- Height
- 6–12 in
Seldom Severely Damaged14

Bearberry Cotoneaster
Cotoneaster dammeri
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–8
- Height
- 12–12 in

Creeping Wintergreen
Gaultheria procumbens
Seldom damaged- Type
- Groundcover
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 4–8 in

Dwarf Mondo Grass
Ophiopogon japonicus
Seldom damaged- Type
- Ornamental grass
- Hardiness
- Zones 6–10
- Height
- 6–12 in

Foam Flower
Tiarella cordifolia
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 5–12 in

Large Periwinkle
Vinca major
Seldom damaged- Type
- Groundcover
- Hardiness
- Zones 7–9
- Height
- 3–8 in

Lobelia
Lobelia erinus
Seldom damaged- Type
- Annual
- Hardiness
- Grown as an annual, any zone
- Height
- 6–9 in

Marigold
Tagetes patula
Seldom damaged- Type
- Annual
- Hardiness
- Grown as an annual, any zone
- Height
- 6–12 in
Mat Penstemon
Penstemon caespitosus
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Height
- 4–6 in

Perennial Candytuft
Iberis sempervirens
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 6–12 in

Periwinkle
Vinca minor
Seldom damaged- Type
- Groundcover
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 3–6 in

Plumbago
Ceratostigma plumbaginoides
Seldom damaged- Type
- Groundcover
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9
- Height
- 6–8 in
Rocky Mountain Zinnia
Zinnia grandiflora
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
- Height
- 6–8 in

Rue Anemone
Anemonella thalictroides
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
- Height
- 4–8 in

Snow-in-Summer
Cerastium tomentosum
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 6–12 in
Occasionally Severely Damaged3

English Daisy
Bellis perennis
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
- Height
- 3–6 in

Pansy
Viola x wittrockiana
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Annual
- Hardiness
- Grown as an annual, any zone
- Height
- 6–10 in

Wax Begonia
Begonia semperflorens
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Annual
- Hardiness
- Grown as an annual, any zone
- Height
- 6–12 in