Deer-Resistant Plants That Also Deter Rabbits, Elk & Mosquitoes

To minimize the damage that voracious deer, elk, or rabbits do to your landscape, be smart about what you plant! Deer-resistant gardening typically necessitates the use of several strategies:

• Thoughtful plant selection
• Companion planting (deterrent plants used in combination with more desirable options)
• Utilizing fencing or other barriers

Luckily, it is possible to build a landscape that is beautiful and engaging year-round using strictly deer-resistant plants! Planting with deer, elk, and rabbit-resistant plants means that even if they do visit, these mammals should move through without causing too much harm to your garden.

Though no plant is 100% deer, elk, or rabbit-resistant, there are many types of plants that are not particularly appetizing to these pesky herbivores. Keep in mind that deer or rabbits may sample any type of plant at least once, especially when other food sources are scarce, but by making smart selections, you can make sure the damage is kept to a minimum.

Here are some helpful tips for selecting plants for deer and rabbit resistance in your garden!

Characteristics of Deer-Resistant Plants

Deer and rabbit-resistant plants usually possess at least one, if not more, of the following traits that allow them to stand up against regular visits from hungry visitors without being eaten.

Aromatic & Fragrant Leaves

Aromatic foliage is a real win in the fight against herbivores (and even pests like mosquitos—more on that below!). These leaves smell fragrant to humans and pests alike and are the result of oil-producing glands in the leaves, which means they produce scent even when then aren’t in bloom. Many of these selections are drought-tolerant and thrive even in low-maintenance landscapes.

Euphorbia

Fuzzy or Hairy Leaves

Leaves that have fuzz or hair on the surface are extremely well-adapted to withstanding predation (and even drought!). That’s because the hairs that help trap escaping moisture from the leaves also makes them less appetizing to pests like rabbits, deer, and elk. These fuzzy plants often have a grey-blue appearance on their leaves, making them great additions to gardens that introduce new textures and tones through foliage.

Woolly Thyme

Spiny or Deeply Serrated Leaves

Leaves with spines protruding from their surface are a very obvious and effective way to keep all sorts of predators away. Sharp and pokey spines help keep any animal with a chewing mouth from eating their leaves, and the same principle applies to deeply serrated leaves as well.

Elderberry

Waxy & Glossy Leaves

Plants with waxy leaves that shine in the sunlight are great at withstanding a multitude of environmental stressors including herbivores like deer, elk, and rabbits. Their thick, glossy coatings mean these leaves are tough to penetrate and digest, which is a defense against being eaten as well as a protection against pollution and other fluctuations in the external environment.

Ajuga

Deer-Resistant Plant List

Deer-Resistant Vines:

• Honeysuckle

Deer-Resistant Ornamental Grasses:

• Bluestem Grass
• Blue Oat Grass
• Feather Reed Grass
• Fountain Grass
• Japanese Forest Grass
• Switch Grass

Deer-Resistant Groundcover:

• Ajuga
• Creeping Phlox
• Lamb’s Ear
• Oregono
• Santolina
• Sedum
• Sweet Woodruff
• Thyme
• Vinca
• Woolly Thyme

Fountain Grass

Mosquito-Repellent Plants

Many of the deer-resistant plants with aromatic foliage are excellent at repelling mosquitos as well! Coincidentally, these aromatic plants often thrive in dry, well-draining soils that mosquitos hate. But planted around your patio or entertaining spaces, these arid, fragrant plants can help ward off pesky mosquitos. Some excellent mosquito-repellent plants for the Pacific Northwest include Agastache, Lavender, Marigolds, Scented Geranium, Lemon Verbena, Bee Balm, Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme.

Lavender

Visit us in store to shop our vast selection of deer-resistant, elk-resistant, and rabbit-resistant plants. You can talk with our gardening experts and get in-person advice on the best plants for your garden and situation!