Deer are great when they are grazing harmlessly in your backyard, but they can be a menace to many kinds of landscaping plant, causing frustration and increased costs. But some plants are less attractive to deer, and are therefore a great choice for the homeowner who’s trying to live in harmony with them. Below you will find a comprehensive list of trees, shrubs, perennials, grasses, annuals, ground covers, and vines that are deer resistant. If deer are being a nuisance to your landscaping efforts, consider replacing some of your plants with these options.

Deer Resistant Trees

  • Abies, True Fir
  • Acer circinatum, Vine Maple
  • Acer negundo, Box elder Maple
  • Acer palmatum, Japanese Maple
  • Albizzia, Silk tree / Mimosa
  • Araucaria ara., Monkey puzzle tree
  • Eleagnus ang., Russian olive
  • Eucalyptus, Eucalyptus
  • Fraxinus, Ash
  • Ilex, Holly
  • Liquidamber styr., Sweet gum
  • Picea, Spruce
  • Pinus, Pine
  • Podocarpus, Yew pine
  • Umbellularia Cal., Oregon myrtle

Evergreen Shrubs

  • Arbutus unedo, Strawberry tree
  • Bamboo, Bamboo
  • Buxus, Boxwood
  • Calluna, Heather
  • Choysia ternata, Mexican orange
  • Cistus, Rockrose
  • Cotoneaster, Cotoneaster
  • Cytisus, Broom
  • Daphne, Daphne
  • Elaegnus, Silverberry
  • Erica, Heather
  • Euonymous jap., Jap. euonymous
  • Gaultheria shallon, Salal
  • Ilex, Holly
  • Juniperous, Juniper
  • Nandina, Heavenly bamboo
  • Rhododendron, Rhododendron

Deciduous Shrubs

  • Baccharis pilularis, Coyote bush
  • Berberis, Barberry
  • Buddleia, Butterfly bush
  • Calycanthus occ., Spice bush
  • Corokia cotoneaster, Corokia
  • Corylus cornuta,Hazlenut/filbert
  • Hypericum, St. John’s Wort
  • Jasminum, Jasmine
  • Rhus, Sumac
  • Ribes, Currant

Sun Perennials

  • Allium, Allium
  • Amaryllis belladonna, Naked ladies
  • Artemisia, Artemisia
  • Aster alpinus, Alpine aster
  • Brodiaea, Brodiaea
  • Chives, Chives
  • Chrysanthemum, Mum
  • Coreopsis, Coreopsis
  • Corcosmia, Corcosmia
  • Digitalis, Foxglove
  • Euphorbia, Spurge
  • Hemerocallis, Daylily
  • Herbs, Herbs
  • Iris, Iris
  • Ixia, African corn lily
  • Kniphofia, Red hot poker
  • Lavandula, Lavender
  • Leucanthemum, Shasta Daisy
  • Mentha, Mint
  • Narcissus, Daffodil
  • Nepeta, Catmint
  • Paeonia suf., Tree peony
  • Papavera orient.,Oriental poppy
  • Phlomis fruticosa, Jerusalem sage
  • Raoulia australis, Raoulia
  • Romneya coulteri, Matilja poppy
  • Rosmarinus officinalis, Rosemary
  • Salvia,Salvia
  • Santolina, Lavender cotton
  • Scabiosa, Pincushion flower
  • Scilla, Scilla
  • Senecio cineraria, Dusty miller
  • Silene acaulis, Moss campion
  • Stachys, Lambs Ear
  • Trillium, Trillium
  • Zantedeschia, Calla lily

Shade Perennials

  • Acanthus mollis, Bears breach
  • Acontum, Monkshood
  • Anenome hybrida, Japanese anenome
  • Arum, Arum
  • Asarum caudatum, Wild ginger
  • Cyclamen (hardy), Cyclamen (hardy)
  • Dicentra, Bleeding heart
  • Ferns, Ferns
  • Festuca ovina gluaca, Blue fescue
  • Filipendula rubra, Meadowsweet
  • Grasses, ornamental Grasses, ornamental
  • Gunnera, Gunnera
  • Helleborus, Hellebores
  • Leucojum, Snowflake
  • Liriope, Lily turf
  • Ophiopogan japonicus, Mondo grass
  • Trillium, Trillium

Ornamental Grasses

Most ornamental grasses are deer proof.  Here are some popular choices:

  • Anemathele, Pheasant Grass
  • Calamagrostis, Feather Reed
  • Carex, Sedge
  • Cortaderia selloana, Pampas grass
  • Miscanthus, Maiden Grass
  • Pennesetum, Fountain Grass
  • Sisyrinchium, Blue/yellow eyed grass

Annuals

  • Ageratum, Ageratum
  • Begonia tuberose, Tuberous Begonia
  • Catharanthus roseus, Annual Vinca
  • Chrysanthemum frut., Marguerite Daisy
  • Impatiens, Impatiens
  • Helichrysum, Straw Flower
  • Mesembryanthemum, Ice Plant
  • Mirabilis jalapa, 4 o’clocks
  • Moleuccella laevis, Bells of Ireland
  • Myosostis sylvatica, Forget me not

Groundcover

  • Arctostaphylus, Kinnikinnick
  • Cerastium tom, Snow in Summer
  • Cymbalaria mur, Kennilworth Ivy
  • Epimedium, Bishops Hat
  • Galium odor, Sweet Woodruff
  • Lamium mac, Dead Nettle
  • Myosotis, Forget me not
  • Oxalis, Sorrel
  • Raoulia aus, Raoulia
  • Vinca minor, Periwinkle

Vines

  • Clematis, Clematis
  • Fatshedera liz, Fatsheadera
  • Jasminium, Jasmine
  • Trachelospermum, Star jasmine

Possible Safe Bets for Certain Locations

Trees

Cercis occidentalis, Western redbud
Magnolia, Magnolia

Evergreen Shrubs

Andromeda pol., Bog rosemary
Ceanothus, California lilac
Cistus, Rockrose
Escallonia, Escallonia
Ligustrum japonica, Japanese privet
Mahonia aquifolium, Oregon grape
Myrica calif., Pacific Wax Myrtle
Osmanthus, Osmanthus
Sarcococca, Sarcococca
Viburnum, Viburnum

Deciduous Shrubs

Carpentaria cal., Bush anemone
Chaenomeles, Flowering quince
Cotinus coggygria, Smoke bush
Forsythia, Forsythia
Kerria japonica, Kerria
Lagerstroemia, Crape myrtle
Potentilla, Potentilla
Punica granatum, Pomegranate
Syringa vulgaris, Lilac
Viburnum, Viburnum

Shade Perennials

Astilbe, Astilbe
Liguaria, Ligularia
Polygonatum, Solomons seal
Pulmonaria, Lungwort
Saxifraga, Saxifraga
Tellima, Fringe cup
Vancouvera hexandra, Vancouover

Sun Perennials

Achillea, Yarrow
Arabis, Rockcress
Armeria mar., Thrift
Aubretia,Aubretia
Cheiranthus, Wallflower
Convolvulus, Bush morning glory
Coreopsis,Coreopsis
Duchesnea, Indian mock strawberry
Erigeron, Fleabane
Erysimum, Wallflower
Gaillardia, Blanket flower
Helianthemum, Sunrose
Monarda, Monarda
Penstemon, Beard tongue
Rudbeckia, Black eyed Susan
Stoksia, Stokes asters
Carpentaria cal., Bush anemone

Vines

Wisteria, Wisteria

Annuals

Bouganvillea, Bouganvillea
Calendula, Calendula
Campanula, Canterberry Bells
Celosia, Celosia
Clarkia, Clarkia
Eschscholzia, California Poppy
Gazania, Gazania
Pelargonium, Geranium
Gerbera, Gerbera Daisy
Helianthus, Sunflower
Lobelia, Lobelia
Mimulus, Monkey Flower
Nierembergia, Nierembergia
Tropaelum, Nastertium

Groundcover

Ceratostigma plu., Plumbago
Hedera helix, Ivy
Lithodora, Lithodora
Oxalis, Clover
Pachysandra ter., Japanese spurge
Phlox subulata, Creeping phlox
Rubus cal, Rubus
Viola odorata, Violet

A lifelong Oregon resident, Drake has been passionate about plants since childhood, beginning with propagating and growing flowers at his grandfather’s nursery. He opened Drake’s 7 Dees in 1974, while earning degrees in Business and Horticulture from Oregon State University. He later expanded into the design/build side of the industry, allowing him to combine his passion for plants with his love of family by maximizing the quality of family time spent outdoors.

Drake is co-founder of the Oregon Landscape Contractors Association and is a Landscape Industry Certified Manager (LICM)—a designation that less than two percent of landscapers have attained. Additionally, Drake serves on the Board of Directors for the Portland Japanese Gardens, widely regarded as one of the seven best Japanese gardens outside of Japan.

Drake is married to former Oregon Speaker of the House, Lynn Snodgrass. Together, he and Lynn received the Farm Bureau President’s award in 1999 for their service and dedication to agriculture in the state of Oregon. Drake and Lynn have two wonderful daughters, two talented son-in-laws, and seven grandchildren. In his spare time, Drake enjoys camping, water and snow skiing, reading, and of course, gardening.

Born and raised in the Portland Metro Area… Tim has had an appreciation for the outdoors from a young age.  Inspired by our local beauty ranging: the Mt Hood National Forest to salty, sea spray of Cannon Beach, the arid high-desert of Central Oregon to the rugged terrain of Steens Mountain – Tim sought higher education at the University of Idaho in their Landscape Architecture department.  Graduating with honors in 2004, he returned home to establish his professional career.

Now making his home in Sandy, Oregon – Tim and his wife [Nicole] are raising two happy and healthy kiddos and 4 fur-babies.  Between soccer, football, cheerleading, girl scouts and other extra-curricular activities… the Sellin family are heavily involved in their community and church family.  Since college, Tim has spent 13 of his 17 years with Drake’s 7 Dees and has ‘set roots’ in anticipation of long-term growth at the family-focused company.  Having spent his time away from Drake’s in a ‘boots on the ground’ capacity, Tim has fostered a love for the operational/production side of landscape business, as well as the design/sales.

His goal in life as well as business is to put others first.

Bachelor of Science Landscape Architecture, BSLA… 2009
California Polytechnic University, Pomona… Cum Laude
American Society of Landscape Architects – Honor Award

Steven has 15 years of experience in the residential landscape design/build and garden center industry, including 9 years with Drake’s 7 Dees. Steven also has experience working with the National Park Service in Yosemite on sub-alpine restoration projects, as well as volunteer experience as a Peace Corps Volunteer serving the community of Zaouiat d’Ifrane in Morocco.

Together, Steven and his wife Anna have four lovely children, all 5 years old and under! In his (very limited) spare time, Steven enjoys camping, hiking, archery hunting, and cooking. Steven’s passion for his work lies in helping others, through design to envision a more beautiful space that, once built, becomes a reality that improves their quality of life.