Deer-Resistant Perennials & Shrubs for Michigan Gardens
For many Michigan gardeners, deer browsing can turn a beautiful landscape into a scene of frustration. While there are various methods of deterring these beautiful but destructive creatures such as mesh wraps, fencing, and repellants, starting with a foundation of plant choices that deer naturally avoid can give you a head start to preventing an all-you-can-eat buffet.
Landscape Smarter in High-Deer Areas
Though no plant is truly deer-proof, research and observations show that deer tend to avoid plants with certain characteristics, particularly those with strong scents (e.g. plants in the sage, mint, or onion families), coarse or “fern-like” foliage, fuzzy or hairy leaves, and tough textures such as grasses and sedges. These traits make foliage less palatable or harder for deer to chew, helping protect your investment in the landscape.
Below is a selection of highly deer-resistant shrubs and perennials ranging from full sun to shade-tolerant suitable for our local Michigan USDA Hardiness Zones 4–6b. With thoughtful plant selection from the list below, you can create a thriving Michigan garden that deer are far less likely to disturb. Happy Gardening!
PERENNIALS AND GROUNDCOVER
FULL SUN
Catmint, Nepeta spp
Coneflower (rubeckia spp)
Lamb’s Ear, Stachys byzantina
Larkspur, Delphinium spp.
Lavender, Lavandula spp.
Oriental Poppy, Papaver orientale
Purple Coneflower, Echinacea purpurea
Russian Sage, Perovskia atriplicifolia
Sage, Salvia spp.
Scented Geranium, Pelargonium spp.
‘Stella de Oro’ Daylily, Hemmerocallis ‘Stella de Oro’
Threadleaf Coreopsis, Coreopsis verticillata “Moonbeam’
Yarrow, Achillea spp.
PARTIAL SUN / SHADE
Columbine, Aquilegia spp.
Japanese Anemone, Anemone × hybrida
Monkshod, Aconitum spp.
Star of Persia, Allium christophii
Thyme, Thymus spp.
Yucca, Yucca spp.
SHADE
Bleeding Heart, Dicentra eximia
Creeping Wintergreen, Gaultheria procumbens
Japanese Spurge, Pachysandra terminalis
Ostrich Fern, Matteuccia struthiopteris
Sweet Woodruff, Galium odoratum
Wood Fern, Dryopteris marginalis
SHRUBS
FULL SUN
Barberry, Berberis spp.
Bearberry, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
American Holly, Ilex opaca
Rose of Sharon, Hibiscus syriacus
PARTIAL SUN / SHADE
Blue Elderberry, sambucus canadensis
Buckthorn, Rhamnus cathartica
Red Osier Dogwood, Cornus sericea
SHADE
Boxwood, Buxus spp.
RESOURCES
Jett, J.W. Resistance of Ornamentals to Deer Damage. Center for Agricultural & Natural Resources Development, Western Virginia University Extension Service. https://extension.umd.edu/sites/extension.umd.edu/files/publications/FS655-ResistanceDeer.pdf
Wild Ones Red Cedar Chapter. Deer Resistant Native Plants for Mid-Michigan. Wild Ones, Red Cedar Chapter, Lansing, Michigan. https://wildoneslansing.weebly.com/uploads/9/8/9/0/9890611/_deer_resistant_native_plants_for_mid-michigan_5_7_15.pdf
Katie Ockert. April 2025. What to Plant in Your Landscape to Deter Deer. White-tailed Deer Management. Michigan State University Extension. https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/what-to-plant-in-your-landscape-to-deter-deer
IMAGE CREDITS:
COVER: Image by Petr Ganaj from Pixabay
Catmint: Westside Garden Center
Rubeckia: Westside Garden Center
Columbine: Image by Nicole Schüler from Pixabay
Ostrich Fern: Image by Corinna Schenk from Pixabay