Deer Resistant Plants & Trees

Colorful zinniaszinnia image by maslight from Fotolia.com

Tall fences are the most effective way to keep deer out of your garden. However, many deer-resistant plants and trees can also do the trick. These plants deter deer because of their smell, look or taste, helping to avoid costly deer damage.

Dusty Miller

Dusty miller is a deer-resistant perennial that grows in a round shape. This plant has silver foliage, but cut stems and leaves can be green. For best growth, dusty miller requires full shade to partial shade and moist, well-drained soil. Small yellow flowers bloom during the summer months but should be removed for better foliage production. These plants can reach a height of 3 feet tall and about 10 inches wide.

Sweetgum, also known as gumtree, is a deer-resistant tree that commonly grows near bodies of water such as swamps, streams and ponds. This large tree can reach a height of 150 feet. The dark green leaves are star-shaped, shiny and have small hairs. The sweetgum tree has gray bark that will start to peel off after about two years. Sweetgum grows best in moist soils and full sun to partial shade. According to the University of Florida, pioneers used to peel the bark off the tree and scrape the resin-like solid to make chewing gum.

Zinnias are deer-resistant annual flowers that have bright colors. The flowers bloom from mid-summer to the first frost. These bright flowers can reach 4 inches in diameter and the most common colors are pink, white, red, yellow and orange. Zinnia comes in many sizes from dwarf, which grow to about 1 foot tall, to larger sizes that reach up to 3 feet tall. These plants grow best in full sun, with good air circulation and moist, well-drained soil.

Mimosa trees are deer-resistant and can reach a height of up to 40 feet tall. The light brown bark is smooth and the green leaves give feathery or fern-like appearance. The light pink, pom pom-shaped flowers bloom from May through July and are fragrant. The flowers are a little over 1 inch in size. The fruit grows in a cream-colored pod that is about 6 inches long. Plant mimosa trees in full sun to part shade in a well-drained, moist soil for best growth.