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 2 of 5
States mostly in zone 3
Perennial33

Oriental Poppy
Papaver orientale
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 24–36 in
Pale Purple Coneflower
Echinacea pallida
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–10
- Height
- 24–24 in

Penstemon
Penstemon sp.
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9, genus range

Peony
Paeonia lactiflora
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 24–35 in

Perennial Candytuft
Iberis sempervirens
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 6–12 in

Pincushion Flower
Scabiosa caucasica
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 18–24 in

Pink Turtlehead
Chelone sp.
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8, genus range

Plume Poppy
Macleaya cordata
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8

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

Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 36–48 in

Purple Loosestrife
Lythrum sp.
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9, genus range

Rhubarb
Rheum rhabarbarum
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8

Siberian Bugloss
Brunnera macrophylla
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 12–18 in

Silver Mound
Artemisia sp.
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8, genus range

Small Globe Thistle
Echinops ritro
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 36–48 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

Soapwort
Saponaria sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9, genus range

Solomon's Seal
Polygonatum sp.
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8, genus range

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

Strawberry
Fragaria sp.
Frequently damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9, genus range

Swamp Milkweed
Asclepias incarnata
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 36–60 in

Tarragon
Artemisia dracunculus
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 12–36 in

Threadleaf Coreopsis
Coreopsis verticillata
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 30–36 in
Tiger Beardtongue
Penstemon mensarum
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 36–36 in

Trout Lily
Erythronium sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8, genus range

Violets
Viola sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9, genus range

Virginia Bluebells
Mertensia virginica
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 18–24 in

White Boltonia
Boltonia asteroides
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–10
- Height
- 36–60 in

White Snakeroot
Ageratina altissima
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 24–60 in
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 60–60 in

Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 12–36 in

Yellow Foxglove
Digitalis grandiflora
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
Shrub27

Anthony Waterer Spirea
Spiraea x bumalda
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8

Arrowwood Viburnum
Viburnum dentatum
Rarely damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 2–8
- Height
- 60–120 in

Bayberry
Myrica pensylvanica
Rarely damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 72–96 in

Blackhaw Viburnum
Viburnum prunifolium
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 144–180 in

Bog Rosemary
Andromeda polifolia
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 2–6

Buckthorn
Rhamnus sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7, genus range

Bush Cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa
Rarely damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 2–7
- Height
- 24–48 in

Chinese Lilac
Syringa x chinensis
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7

Common Lilac
Syringa vulgaris
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 96–192 in

Common Witchhazel
Hamamelis virginiana
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 180–360 in

Coralberry
Symphoricarpos x chenaultii
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 2–7

Cranberry Bush
Viburnum opulus
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 2–8
- Height
- 144–192 in

Creeping Juniper
Juniperus horizontalis
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 6–18 in

Currant
Ribes sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8, genus range

Dwarf Balsam Fir
Abies balsamea 'Nana'
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 480–840 in

Fragrant Sumac
Rhus aromatica
Rarely damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 24–72 in

Highbush Blueberry
Vaccinium corymbosum
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 72–144 in

Japanese Spirea
Spiraea japonica
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 48–72 in

Japanese Tree Lilac
Syringa reticulata
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 300–360 in

Late Lilac
Syringa villosa
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 72–120 in
Leadplant
Amorpha canescens
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 2–9
- Height
- 36–36 in

Moonglow Juniper
Juniperus scopulorum 'Moonglow'
Rarely damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 360–480 in

Mountain Juniper
Juniperus scopulorum
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 360–480 in

Mugo Pine
Pinus mugo
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 2–7
- Height
- 240–300 in

Panicle Hydrangea
Hydrangea paniculata
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 96–300 in
Prairie Sagewort
Artemisia frigida
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–10
- Height
- 6–18 in

Prince of Wales Juniper
Juniperus horizontalis 'Prince of Wales'
Rarely damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 6–18 in