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 6 of 7
Usually fine60
Periwinkle
Vinca minor
Seldom damaged- Type
- Groundcover
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 3–6 in
Pfitzer Juniper
Juniperus chinensis 'Pfitzeriana'
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 600–720 in
Pincushion Flower
Scabiosa caucasica
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 18–24 in
Plains Blackfoot
Melampodium leucanthum
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–11
- Height
- 12–24 in
Plumbago
Ceratostigma plumbaginoides
Seldom damaged- Type
- Groundcover
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9
- Height
- 6–8 in
Plume Poppy
Macleaya cordata
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
Ponderosa Pine
Pinus ponderosa
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 1800–1800 in
Prairie Sagewort
Artemisia frigida
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–10
- Height
- 6–18 in
Primrose
Primula sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8, genus range
Privet
Ligustrum sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–8, genus range
Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 36–48 in
Red Chokeberry
Aronia arbutifolia
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 72–144 in
Red Maple
Acer rubrum
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 2–9
- Height
- 480–1440 in
Red Osier Dogwood
Cornus sericea
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 2–7
- Height
- 60–108 in
Red Twigged Dogwood
Cornus alba
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 96–120 in
Red-Hot Poker
Kniphofia uvaria
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9
Redvein Enkianthus
Enkianthus campanulatus
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–7
- Height
- 72–192 in
Rhubarb
Rheum rhabarbarum
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
Ribbon Grass
Phalaris arundinacea
Seldom damaged- Type
- Ornamental grass
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 24–60 in
Rockspray Cotoneaster
Cotoneaster horizontalis
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–7
- Height
- 24–36 in
Rocky Mountain Penstemon
Penstemon strictus
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
- Height
- 36–36 in
Rocky Mountain Zinnia
Zinnia grandiflora
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
- Height
- 6–8 in
Rose of Sharon
Hibiscus syriacus
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9
- Height
- 96–144 in
Ruby Horsechestnut
Aesculus x carnea
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–7
Rue Anemone
Anemonella thalictroides
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
- Height
- 4–8 in
Saucer Magnolia
Magnolia x soulangiana
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
Savin Juniper
Juniperus sabina
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
Savory
Satureja montana
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–10
- Height
- 6–18 in
Scotch Pine
Pinus sylvestris
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 2–7
- Height
- 360–720 in
Sea Buckthorn
Hippophae rhamnoides
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
Sea Thrift
Armeria maritima
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
- Height
- 6–24 in
Sedge
Scirpus lacustris
Seldom damaged- Type
- Ornamental grass
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 48–96 in
Serbian Spruce
Picea omorika
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–7
- Height
- 600–720 in
Shadbush
Amelanchier canadensis
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 180–300 in
Shiso
Perilla frutescens
Seldom damaged- Type
- Annual
- Hardiness
- Grown as an annual, any zone
- Height
- 12–36 in
Shrubby St. John's Wort
Hypericum prolificum
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 12–60 in
Silver Buffaloberry
Shepherdia argentea
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 240–240 in
Singleseed Juniper
Juniperus squamata
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
Skunk Cabbage
Symplocarpus foetidus
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–7
- Height
- 24–36 in
Smith's Buckthorn
Rhamnus smithii
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
- Height
- 120–120 in
Smokebush
Cotinus coggygria
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
- Height
- 120–180 in
Sneezeweed
Helenium autumnale
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 36–60 in
Snow-in-Summer
Cerastium tomentosum
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 6–12 in
Snowberry
Symphoricarpos albus
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 36–72 in
Soapweed Yucca
Yucca glauca
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
- Height
- 36–54 in
Soapwort
Saponaria sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9, genus range
Sourwood
Oxydendrum arboreum
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9
- Height
- 240–360 in
Speedwell
Veronica sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8, genus range
Spicebush
Lindera benzoin
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9
- Height
- 96–180 in
Spiderwort
Tradescantia sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9, genus range
Sticky Purple Geranium
Geranium viscosissimum
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
- Height
- 36–36 in
Stocks
Matthiola sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Annual
- Hardiness
- Grown as an annual, any zone
Stokes Aster
Stokesia laevis
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9
- Height
- 12–24 in
Stretchberry
Forestiera pubescens
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 39–180 in
Striped Maple
Acer pensylvanicum
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 180–420 in
Sulphur-Flower Buckwheat
Eriogonum umbellatum
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
- Height
- 72–72 in
Swamp Milkweed
Asclepias incarnata
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 36–60 in
Sweet Elder
Sambucus canadensis
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
- Height
- 60–144 in
Sweet Mock Orange
Philadelphus coronarius
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
- Height
- 120–144 in
Sweet Pepperbush
Clethra sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9, genus range