Although cute and cuddly when seen in the wilderness, deer can wreak havoc on your perennial garden plants. When they're hungry, they become very curious and opportunistic animals.  Generally, deer will stay away from ornamental grasses with sharp edges, sticky or fuzzy plants, spiny-stemmed ones, and extremely fragrant flowers.

Discover these 14 perennial plants that deer will avoid and keep your garden thriving.

Cone Flowers

Cone Flowers

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Deer don't like cone flowers because of the faint, yet sweet honey smell. The animals also don't like the spiny center of the flower or the coarse rough hair around it.

Cone flowers have long-lasting blooms throughout the summer from June until August, and prefer full sun to partial shade in well-drained soil.

Butterfly Weed

Butterfly Weed

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Deer hate the gluey milky sap from butterfly weed. The flowers are also bitter-tasting, so they stay clear of this plant. However, these vibrant orange flowers with clusters of small blooms are good pollinators for Monarch butterflies because the milkweed is home to their caterpillars.

Foxglove

Foxglove

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Foxglove has an acrid taste and is poisonous to deer, so they stay clear of this plant.

These stunningly beautiful trumpeted flowers attract many pollinators. The tall spikes of the flowers make this plant stand out and tower over the rest of your garden ranging in colors from purple, pink, and white.

Peonies

Peony Fields

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The perfume scent of peonies is too much for deer keeping them away, but hornets and ants love to feed off the nectar of these stunning flowers.

They come in beautiful shades that give off large blooms and the array of colors of perennial peonies is like stepping into a summer garden wedding.

Lavender

Lavender Field

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The strong scent of lavender has a herbal and woodsy smell that keeps deer far away.

Lavender has a long blooming time and it's said that the flowers help with sleep and relaxation. It's also used as a culinary garnish, for medicinal purposes as an essential oil, or as a tea, so plant lavender in abundance for your well-being!

Daffodils

Daffodil Field

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Deer stay clear of daffodils as these pretty blooms are poisonous. All parts of the plant have lycorine with a big concentration of it in the bulb. The daffodil bulb also contains toxic oxalate that can cause drowsiness and liver damage in animals.

They're not just spring flowers for Easter, they are a ray of sunshine that brightens up any garden. Plant daffodils in late fall for beautiful blooms the following spring.

Delphiniums

Blue Delphiniums

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Deer don't like delphiniums as they are toxic, so they won't be eating these flowers any time soon. These perennials are perfect for along pathways or as a border plant. The color of delphiniums gives off a blue hue that attracts bees as pollinators.

Red Valerian

Red Valerian

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Red Valerian has beautiful clusters of small red flowers that stand on tall stalks.  It has an acerbic taste that will keep deer away. They are drought resistant and prefer moist, well-drained soil. They will grace your garden with blooms for months and even tolerate some neglect.

Blazing Star

Purple Blazing Star

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When it comes to the blazing star, deer detest them! The spikey texture at the head of the plant is not something deer enjoy. The alluring, stalky stems bloom blue and purple feathery flowers with some varieties even having hairy stems. Blazing star blooms for months, so maintain their splendor by planting them in full sun and well-draining soil.

Yarrow Flower

White Yarrow Flowers
white yarrow flowers

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The yarrow flower has fuzzy leaves and small curly hairs on the stems. Although beautiful, it has a musky fragrance similar to onions and garlic that deer despise. These pretty flowers bloom in summer and autumn and prefer to be planted in full sun with well-draining soil.

Pro Tip: To get the most of your yarrow plant, you can cut them and display them in bouquets! They're the perfect replacement for baby's breath.

Bleeding Hearts

Pink Bleeding Hearts

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Beautiful bleeding hearts have a similar hot pink color to fuchsia, but are different in shape. These flowers have puffy pockets in the shape of hearts that droop down from thin stems.

Despite their beauty, deer aren't attracted to the blooms because they are highly toxic if ingested. You can plant these beauties in early spring to early summer in partial shade and well-draining soil.

Dusty Miller

Dusty Miller With Yellow Flower

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Dusty miller have extremely fuzzy and velvety leaves similar to pussy willows. They are soft to touch much like a baby's blanket. The smooth texture is why deer detest them!

Plant them in spring, summer, or fall in well-draining soil to add a neutral backdrop to your colorful garden.

Leopard Plant

Yellow Leopard Plant

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The leathery and coarse feel of leopard plants are two reasons why deer hate them so much! The plant has spire-like flowers with large leaves, and a green center resembling a yellow daisy. They are shade-loving plants that thrive in well-draining, sandy/loamy soil.

Mint

Mint Plants

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Because of the powerful smell, mint is excellent in deterring deer. The animals simply hate the menthol aroma! This plant comes from the mint family including cat mint, spearmint, and peppermint.

Although mint keeps deer away, it can take over your garden quickly. If you plant the herb in flower planters, it becomes controlled and contained. You can still move your beds to any part of your garden as long as the plant has access to part sun or part shade.

The less for deer, the more mint on your lamb dishes, or as a garnish for a drink.

Dear oh Deer!

These 14 plants will keep pesky deer away from your garden and visit your neighbors instead. With these choices, your garden will thrive and be protected from unwanted visitors.

Will you plant any of these deer-resistant perennials in your garden to help keep deer at bay? If you have any tips or tricks, please leave them in the comment field.