Deer-resistant plants for Utah
Mule deer moving down from the benches in winter. Drought-tolerant aromatic plants suit both the climate and the problem. Filtered to plants hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9, which covers most of Utah. Mountain and coastal areas fall outside that range, so check your own zone before ordering.
433 plants · page 1 of 8
Safest choices60
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
American Holly
Ilex opaca
Rarely damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9
- Height
- 480–720 in
Angel's Trumpet
Brugmansia sp.
Rarely damaged- Type
- Annual
- Hardiness
- Grown as an annual, any zone
Anise
Pimpinella anisum
Rarely damaged- Type
- Annual
- Hardiness
- Grown as an annual, any zone
Anise Hyssop
Agastache sp.
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9, genus range
Annual Vinca
Catharanthus roseus
Rarely damaged- Type
- Annual
- Hardiness
- Grown as an annual, any zone
- Height
- 6–18 in
Arrowwood Viburnum
Viburnum dentatum
Rarely damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 2–8
- Height
- 60–120 in
Autumn Crocus
Colchicum sp.
Rarely damaged- Type
- Bulb
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8, genus range
Barberry
Berberis sp.
Rarely damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8, genus range
Barrenwort
Epimedium sp.
Rarely damaged- Type
- Groundcover
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8, genus range
Basket of Gold
Aurinia saxatilis
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
Bayberry
Myrica pensylvanica
Rarely damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 72–96 in
Bearberry
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Rarely damaged- Type
- Groundcover
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 6–12 in
Bearded Iris
Iris germanica
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 12–48 in
Big Bluestem
Andropogon sp.
Rarely damaged- Type
- Ornamental grass
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9, genus range
Bigleaf Goldenray
Ligularia dentata
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
Bishop's Weed
Aegopodium podagraria
Rarely damaged- Type
- Groundcover
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–10
- Height
- 6–36 in
Bleeding Heart
Lamprocapnos spectabilis
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 24–36 in
Blue Fescue
Festuca glauca
Rarely damaged- Type
- Ornamental grass
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
- Height
- 9–12 in
Blue Mist Shrub
Caryopteris clandonensis
Rarely damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 6–9
Blue Oat Grass
Helictotrichon sempervirens
Rarely damaged- Type
- Ornamental grass
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
- Height
- 24–36 in
Bluebell
Endymion sp.
Rarely damaged- Type
- Bulb
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8, genus range
Bottlebrush Buckeye
Aesculus parviflora
Rarely damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9
- Height
- 96–144 in
Boxwood
Buxus sempervirens
Rarely damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–8
- Height
- 60–240 in
Broom
Cytisus sp.
Rarely damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–8, genus range
Bugleweed
Ajuga reptans
Rarely damaged- Type
- Groundcover
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–10
- Height
- 6–12 in
Bush Cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa
Rarely damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 2–7
- Height
- 24–48 in
Butter and Eggs
Linaria vulgaris
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
Buttercup
Ranunculus sp.
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8, genus range
Butterfly Bush
Buddleja davidii
Rarely damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9
- Height
- 72–144 in
Catmint
Nepeta x faassenii
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 12–24 in
Christmas Fern
Polystichum acrostichoides
Rarely damaged- Type
- Fern
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 12–36 in
Cinnamon Fern
Osmunda cinnamomea
Rarely damaged- Type
- Fern
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 24–72 in
Cinquefoil
Potentilla sp.
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8, genus range
Clump Bamboo
Fargesia sp.
Rarely damaged- Type
- Ornamental grass
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9, genus range
Common Tansy
Tanacetum vulgare
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 12–60 in
Corydalis
Corydalis sp.
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–8, genus range
Crown Imperial
Fritillaria imperialis
Rarely damaged- Type
- Bulb
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–8
- Height
- 36–48 in
Daffodil
Narcissus spp.
Rarely damaged- Type
- Bulb
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8, genus range
- Height
- 8–18 in
Dame's Rocket
Hesperis matronalis
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 12–36 in
Daphne
Daphne sp.
Rarely damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8, genus range
Devil's Walking Stick
Aralia spinosa
Rarely damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 120–420 in
Drooping Leucothoe
Leucothoe fontanesiana
Rarely damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–6
- Height
- 24–72 in
Dusty Miller
Centaurea cineraria
Rarely damaged- Type
- Annual
- Hardiness
- Grown as an annual, any zone
- Height
- 6–24 in
Dwarf Alberta Spruce
Picea glauca 'Conica'
Rarely damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 2–6
- Height
- 480–720 in
European Ginger
Asarum europaeum
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
False Camomile
Matricaria sp.
Rarely damaged- Type
- Annual
- Hardiness
- Grown as an annual, any zone
False Indigo
Baptisia australis
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 36–48 in
Feather Reed Grass
Calamagrostis sp.
Rarely damaged- Type
- Ornamental grass
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9, genus range
Flowering Tobacco
Nicotiana sp.
Rarely damaged- Type
- Annual
- Hardiness
- Grown as an annual, any zone
Forget-Me-Not
Myosotis sp.
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8, genus range
Fountain Grass
Pennisetum alopecuroides
Rarely damaged- Type
- Ornamental grass
- Hardiness
- Zones 6–9
- Height
- 24–72 in
Foxglove
Digitalis purpurea
Rarely damaged- Type
- Biennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 24–60 in
Fragrant Sumac
Rhus aromatica
Rarely damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 24–72 in
Fringed Bleeding Heart
Dicentra eximia
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
Garden Sage
Salvia officinalis
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
- Height
- 12–24 in
Germander
Teucrium chamaedrys
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9
- Height
- 6–18 in
Giant Japanese Silver Grass
Miscanthus floridulus
Rarely damaged- Type
- Ornamental grass
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9
- Height
- 96–144 in
Giant Reed
Arundo donax
Rarely damaged- Type
- Ornamental grass
- Hardiness
- Zones 6–10