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 2 of 7
Safest choices60
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Prince of Wales Juniper
Juniperus horizontalis 'Prince of Wales'
Rarely damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 6–18 in
Purple Moor Grass
Molinia caerulea
Rarely damaged- Type
- Ornamental grass
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
- Height
- 24–48 in
Purple Rock-Cress
Aubrieta deltoidea
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
Ravenna Grass
Erianthus ravennae
Rarely damaged- Type
- Ornamental grass
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9
- Height
- 72–240 in
Red Elderberry
Sambucus racemosa
Rarely damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
Red Pine
Pinus resinosa
Rarely damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
River Birch
Betula nigra
Rarely damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 360–840 in
Rock-Cress
Arabis caucasica
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–7
- Height
- 6–12 in
Rocket Ligularia
Ligularia 'The Rocket'
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
Rodgers Flower
Rodgersia sp.
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–8, genus range
Rose Campion
Lychnis coronaria
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–10
- Height
- 24–36 in