Deer Resistant Ornamentals for Baltimore City & County
Remember: No plant is truly deer‑proof. Young plants, drought, and heavy browse pressure can change deer behavior. Protect new plantings for the first 1–2 seasons (fencing, repellents), and favor aromatic, fuzzy, or bitter foliage.
Annuals (replant each year)
Angelonia (Angelonia angustifolia) – heat‑loving spikes; full sun.
Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus) – cool‑season color; sun.
Lantana (Lantana camara) – drought/heat tolerant; sun.
Marigold (Tagetes spp.) – pungent foliage; sun.
Ageratum (Ageratum houstonianum) – fluffy blooms; sun/part sun.
Cleome (Cleome hassleriana) – airy, fragrant; sun.
Dusty Miller (Jacobaea maritima) – silver foliage; sun.
Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritima) – fragrant edging; sun.
Verbena (Verbena x hybrida) – trailing; sun.
Coleus (Coleus scutellarioides) – colorful shade foliage.
Perennials
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) – long bloom, drought; sun. (Native selections available)
Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) – fragrant, pollinator magnet; sun. (Native)
Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) – spring; part shade. (Native)
Astilbe (Astilbe spp.) – plume flowers; part shade.
Perennial Ageratum (Conoclinium coelestinum) – late blue; sun/part. (Native)
Bleeding Heart (Dicentra spectabilis & D. eximia) – spring; shade. (D. eximia native)
Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea & hybrids) – summer; sun. (Native)
Hellebore (Helleborus spp.) – winter/early spring; shade.
Coral Bells (Heuchera spp.) – colorful foliage; shade/part. (Many selections from natives)
Daylily (Hemerocallis spp.) – tough; sun/part.
Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica) – spring ephemerals; shade. (Native)
Catmint (Nepeta spp.) – aromatic, long bloom; sun.
Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) – airy silver; sun.
Black‑Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida, R. hirta) – summer; sun. (Native)
Stonecrop/Sedum (Hylotelephium telephium, Sedum spp.) – succulent; sun.
Beebalm (Monarda didyma) – aromatic; sun/part. *(Native; choose mildew‑resistant)
Salvia (Salvia nemorosa, S. yangii) – summer; sun.
Barrenwort (Epimedium spp.) – dry shade groundcover.
Baptisia (Baptisia australis) – drought‑tough; sun. (Native)
Ornamental Grasses & Grass‑likes (low browse)
Feather Reed Grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora)
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) (Native)
Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) (Native)
Sedge (Carex spp.) – many shade options; several natives.
Fountain Grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides)
Shrubs (Deciduous)
Beautyberry (Callicarpa dichotoma, C. americana) – berries; sun/part. (American beautyberry native south; hardy selections used here)
Fothergilla (Fothergilla gardenii, F. major) – fragrant spring, fall color; sun/part. (Native)
Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia) – fragrant summer; shade/part. (Native)
Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica) – fragrant spring; shade/part. (Native)
Bottlebrush Buckeye (Aesculus parviflora) – showy summer; shade/part. (Native)
Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) – bold leaves; part shade. (Native)
Dwarf Korean Lilac (Syringa meyeri) – fragrant; sun.
Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius) – colorful bark/foliage; sun. (Native)
Redtwig Dogwood (Cornus sericea) – winter stems; sun/part. (Native)
Witchhazel (Hamamelis virginiana fall, H. x intermedia late‑winter) – fragrance; sun/part. (H. virginiana native)
Evergreens (Broadleaf & Conifer)
Boxwood (Buxus spp.) – choose blight‑resistant cultivars; sun/part.
Inkberry Holly (Ilex glabra) – native alternative to boxwood; sun/part. (Native)
American Holly (Ilex opaca) – classic; sun/part. (Native)
Japanese Cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) – soft texture; sun.
Hinoki Falsecypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) – many dwarf forms; sun.
Chinese Juniper (Juniperus chinensis cvs.) – heat/drought; sun.
Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis ‘Green Giant’ less preferred) – note: deer may browse Thuja where pressure is high; protect in winter. (Native species)
Spruce (Picea abies, P. omorika) – generally avoided; sun.
Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) – evergreen screen, glossy foliage; sun/part. Can be browsed when young; protect until established.
Osmanthus (Osmanthus heterophyllus, O. fragrans) – evergreen, fragrant flowers, good hedge; sun/part. Strong fragrance deters deer.
Yew (Taxus spp.) – often avoided but can be browsed in winter; protect.
Trees (Ornamental & Small Shade)
River Birch (Betula nigra) – exfoliating bark; sun. (Native)
American Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana) – urban‑tough; shade/part. (Native)
Serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis complex) – spring bloom/berries; sun/part. (Native)
Redbud (Cercis canadensis) – early bloom; sun/part. (Native)
Kousa Dogwood (Cornus kousa) – bracts & fruit; sun/part.
Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) – pest‑resistant; choose male; sun.
Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum) – textured foliage; part shade.
Sweetbay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana) – semi‑evergreen, fragrant; sun/part. (Native)
Groundcovers (Sun & Shade)
Pachysandra terminalis – shade; avoid spreading into natural areas.
Japanese Spurge (native alt: Allegheny spurge) – Allegheny Spurge (Pachysandra procumbens) (Native; shade)
Periwinkle (Vinca minor) – shade; use thoughtfully.
Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense) – shade. (Native)
Barren Strawberry (Waldsteinia ternata) – part shade.
Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia) – shade. (Native)
Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum) – sun.
Liriope (Liriope muscari) – sun/part (deer‑resistant, not native).
Blue‑eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium) – sun/part. (Native)
Green‑and‑Gold (Chrysogonum virginianum) – shade/part. (Native)
Ferns (shade)
Christmas Fern (Polystichum acrostichoides) (Native)
Lady Fern (Athyrium filix‑femina) (Native)
Japanese Painted Fern (Athyrium niponicum)
Vines
Climbing Hydrangea (Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris) – shade.
Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) – hummingbirds; sun. (Native)
American Wisteria (Wisteria frutescens) – better‑behaved; sun. (Native)
