Deer-resistant plants for Vermont
Deer yard up in conifer stands through winter and browse heavily on the way out. Spring emergence is the risky window. Filtered to plants hardy in USDA zones 3 to 5, which covers most of Vermont. Mountain and coastal areas fall outside that range, so check your own zone before ordering.
387 plants · page 1 of 7
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 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
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
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