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 3 of 5
States mostly in zone 3
Shrub15
Purple Leaf Sand Cherry
Prunus x cistena
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
Red Chokeberry
Aronia arbutifolia
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 72–144 in
Red Elderberry
Sambucus racemosa
Rarely damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
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
Rugosa Rose
Rosa rugosa
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 2–7
- Height
- 48–72 in
Russian Olive
Elaeagnus angustifolia
Rarely damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 2–7
- Height
- 144–360 in
Savin Juniper
Juniperus sabina
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
Sea Buckthorn
Hippophae rhamnoides
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
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
Smooth Hydrangea
Hydrangea arborescens
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 36–60 in
Snowberry
Symphoricarpos albus
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 36–72 in
Winterberry Holly
Ilex verticillata
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 36–180 in
Youngstown Andorra Juniper
Juniperus horizontalis 'Youngstown'
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 6–18 in
Tree38
Alternate-Leaved Dogwood
Cornus alternifolia
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 180–300 in
American Arborvitae
Thuja occidentalis
Frequently damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 480–720 in
American Plum
Prunus americana
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 420–420 in
Atlantic White Cedar
Chamaecyparis thyoides
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 720–960 in
Balsam Fir
Abies balsamea
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 480–840 in
Basswood
Tilia americana
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 720–960 in
Black Locust
Robinia pseudoacacia
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 600–600 in
Chokecherry
Prunus virginiana
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 2–6
- Height
- 360–360 in
Colorado Blue Spruce
Picea pungens
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 2–7
- Height
- 360–720 in
Common Hackberry
Celtis occidentalis
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 1200–1200 in
Dwarf Alberta Spruce
Picea glauca 'Conica'
Rarely damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 2–6
- Height
- 480–720 in
Eastern Hemlock
Tsuga canadensis
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 480–840 in
Eastern Red Cedar
Juniperus virginiana
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 2–9
- Height
- 360–480 in
Eastern White Pine
Pinus strobus
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 600–960 in
European Larch
Larix decidua
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 2–6
- Height
- 720–1200 in
European Mountain Ash
Sorbus aucuparia
Frequently damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 240–480 in
European White Birch
Betula pendula
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 2–7
- Height
- 360–600 in
Green Ash
Fraxinus pennsylvanica
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 600–840 in
Greenspire Littleleaf Linden
Tilia cordata 'Greenspire'
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 600–720 in
Honey Locust
Gleditsia triacanthos
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 720–960 in
Japanese Red Pine
Pinus densiflora
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 480–720 in
Norway Maple
Acer platanoides
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 480–600 in
Norway Spruce
Picea abies
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 2–7
- Height
- 480–720 in
Paper Birch
Betula papyrifera
Rarely damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 2–7
- Height
- 600–840 in
Ponderosa Pine
Pinus ponderosa
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 1800–1800 in
Red Maple
Acer rubrum
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 2–9
- Height
- 480–1440 in
Red Pine
Pinus resinosa
Rarely damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
Scotch Pine
Pinus sylvestris
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 2–7
- Height
- 360–720 in
Shadbush
Amelanchier canadensis
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 180–300 in
Silver Maple
Acer saccharinum
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 600–960 in
Staghorn Sumac
Rhus typhina
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 96–300 in
Striped Maple
Acer pensylvanicum
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 180–420 in
Sweet Cherry
Prunus avium
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
White Fir
Abies concolor
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 360–840 in
White Fringe Tree
Chionanthus virginicus
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 144–360 in
White Oak
Quercus alba
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 600–1620 in
White Spruce
Picea glauca
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 2–6
- Height
- 480–720 in
Yellow Birch
Betula alleghaniensis
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 840–960 in
Bulb7
Crocus
Crocus sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Bulb
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8, genus range
Daffodil
Narcissus spp.
Rarely damaged- Type
- Bulb
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8, genus range
- Height
- 8–18 in
Siberian Squill
Scilla siberica
Rarely damaged- Type
- Bulb
- Hardiness
- Zones 2–8
Snowdrops
Galanthus nivalis
Rarely damaged- Type
- Bulb
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 4–10 in
Tulip
Tulipa spp.
Frequently damaged- Type
- Bulb
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8, genus range
- Height
- 10–24 in
Winter Aconite
Eranthis hyemalis
Rarely damaged- Type
- Bulb
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 3–6 in
Wood Sorrel
Oxalis sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Bulb
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8, genus range