Deer-resistant plants for zone 3
Zone 3 means average annual minimum temperatures of minus 40 to minus 30 degrees Fahrenheit. Northern Minnesota, North Dakota, interior Maine and much of the Canadian border. The limiting factor is not deer, it is the winter, and the resistant plant palette narrows sharply here. Aromatic Mediterranean perennials mostly will not survive, so the work is done by natives, junipers, ornamental grasses and the tougher spireas.
248 plants · page 1 of 5
States mostly in zone 3
Perennial60

Asparagus
Asparagus officinalis
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 2–9
- Height
- 36–60 in

Aster
Aster sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8, genus range

Astilbe
Astilbe x arendsii
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 18–35 in

Avens
Geum sp.
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8, genus range

Baby's Breath
Gypsophila sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9, genus range

Balloon Flower
Platycodon grandiflorus
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 12–24 in

Basket of Gold
Aurinia saxatilis
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7

Bearded Iris
Iris germanica
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 12–48 in

Bellflower
Campanula glomerata
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 12–18 in

Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9, genus range
Blackeyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 36–36 in

Blanket Flower
Gaillardia sp.
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–10, genus range
Blanketflower
Gaillardia aristata
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 48–48 in

Blazing Star
Liatris sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9, genus range

Bleeding Heart
Lamprocapnos spectabilis
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 24–36 in

Bloody Cranesbill
Geranium sanguineum
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 10–20 in

Bugbane
Cimicifuga sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8, genus range

Bugloss
Anchusa sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8, genus range

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 Weed
Asclepias tuberosa
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 12–24 in

Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 48–60 in

Catmint
Nepeta x faassenii
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 12–24 in

Cinquefoil
Potentilla sp.
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8, genus range

Columbine
Aquilegia sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8, genus range

Common Tansy
Tanacetum vulgare
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 12–60 in

Dame's Rocket
Hesperis matronalis
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 12–36 in

Daylily
Hemerocallis spp.
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9, genus range
- Height
- 18–35 in

Delphinium
Delphinium sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7, genus range
Dense Blazing Star
Liatris spicata
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 72–72 in
Dotted Blazing Star
Liatris punctata
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 36–36 in

False Indigo
Baptisia australis
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 36–48 in

Fernleaf Yarrow
Achillea filipendulina
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 36–48 in

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

Forget-Me-Not
Myosotis sp.
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8, genus range

Fringed Bleeding Heart
Dicentra eximia
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9

Gas Plant
Dictamnus albus
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 24–36 in

Globeflower
Trollius sp.
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7, genus range

Goat's Beard
Aruncus sp.
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7, genus range

Goldenrod
Solidago sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9, genus range

Gooseneck Loosestrife
Lysimachia clethroides
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 24–36 in

Heartleaf Bergenia
Bergenia sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8, genus range

Hens and Chickens
Sempervivum sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8, genus range

Hollyhock
Alcea sp.
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8, genus range

Horehound
Marrubium vulgare
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 12–24 in

Hosta
Hosta spp.
Frequently damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9, genus range
- Height
- 8–35 in

Iris
Iris sp.
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9, genus range

Jacob's Ladder
Polemonium caeruleum
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8

Lady's Mantle
Alchemilla sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8, genus range
Large Beardtongue
Penstemon grandiflorus
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 48–48 in

Lemon Balm
Melissa officinalis
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 24–36 in

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

Maltese Cross
Lychnis chalcedonica
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 20–40 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

Meadowsweet
Filipendula sp.
Occasionally 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

Mountain Bluet
Centaurea montana
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 12–24 in

Obedient Plant
Physostegia sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9, genus range