Plants Usually Avoided by Deer for Belvedere
Deer resistant plants are not guaranteed to be deer proof, deer palates vary from place to place and during the dry season deer may take a bite of these plants for the moisture content but they are unlikely to destroy the whole plant. Plants that are fertilized or new from the Nursery (high nitrogen) are more attractive to deer, new growth is also tempting.
These plants have different cultural requirements so it is best to consult Sunset Western Garden book or your local nursery. This is not a comprehensive list of plants that are deer resistant, there are many more that you can observe around Belvedere.
We have arranged these by plant type, it is best to seek out the advice of neighbors and your local nursery.
Trees
Acacia spp.
Acer macrophyllum (Big leaf maple)
Acer palmatum (Japanese maple)
Arbutus ‘Marina’ (Strawberry tree)
Arbutus menziesii
Arbutus unedo (Strawberry tree)
Ceanothus spp. (California lilac)
Cercis occidentalis (Western redbud)
Cordyline australis
Eriobotrya spp. (Loquat)
Ginkgo biloba
Heteromeles arbutifolia (Toyon)
Lagerstroemia indica (Crape myrtle)
Magnolia spp.
Myrica californica (Pacific wax myrtle)
Olea europaea (Olive)
Palma spp. (Palms)
Podocarpus spp.
Taxus spp. (Yew)
Tibouchina spp. (Princess flower)
Quercus spp.) (Oak Succulents
Aeonium spp.
Agave spp. (Century plant)
Aloe spp.
Calandrinia spp.
Cotyledon spp.
Crassula spp.
Delosperma spp.
Dudleya spp.
Echeveria spp.
Euphorbia spp. (Spurge)
Graptoveria spp.
Lampranthus spp.
Oscularia spp.
Sedum spp. (Stonecrop)
Sempervivum spp.
Yucca spp.
Shrubs
Abutilon spp.(Flowering maple)
Acacia spp.
Alyogyne huegelii (Blue hibiscus)
Asclepias spp. (Milkweed)
Buddleja spp. (Butterfly bush)
Carpenteria californica (Bush anemone)
Ceanothus spp. (California lilac)
Ceratostigma plumbaginoides (Dwarf plumbago)
Choisya ternata (Mexican mock orange).
Cistus spp. (Rockrose)
Coleonema spp. (Breath of Heaven) Cotinus coggygria (Smoke tree)
Cuphea spp.
Cycad spp.
Daphne spp.
Echium spp. (Pride of Madeira)
Eriogonum spp. (Buckwheats)
Euphorbia spp. (Spurge)
Feijoa sellowiana (Pineapple guava)
Fremontodendron spp. (Flannel bush)
Fuchsia spp.
Garrya elliptica (Silk tassel bush)
Grevillea spp.
Hypericum spp. (St John’s wort)
Lavandula spp. (Lavender)
Leonotis spp. (Lion’s tail)
Lepechinia spp. (Pitcher sage)
Leptospermum spp. (Tea tree)
Leucadendron spp.
Loropetalum.spp
Lupinus spp. (Lupine)
Melianthus spp. (Honey bush)
Mimulus spp. (Monkey flower)
Myrica californica
Nerium oleander
Oscularia spp.
Osteospermum spp.
Pelargonium spp. (Geraniums)
Penstemon spp.
Philadelphus spp.
Phlomis spp. (Jerusalem sage) Plumbago spp.
Polygala spp.
Protea spp.
Ribes spp. (Currant and gooseberry)
Romneya spp. (Matilija poppy)
Rosa californica (Wild rose)
Salvia spp. (Sage)
Tagetes lemmonii (Mexican marigold)
Teucrium spp. (Bush germander)
Tibouchina spp. (Princess flower)
Westringia spp.
Perennials
Achillea spp. (Yarrow)
Agastache spp.
Ajuga spp. (Bugleweed)
Alchemilla spp.
Alstroemeria spp.
Anchusa spp.
Aristea spp.
Aristea spp.
Asclepias spp. (Milkweed)
Aster spp.
Begonia spp.
Bergenia crassifolia
Beschorneria spp. (Mexican lily)
Campanula spp. (Bellflower)
Centaurea spp.
Centranthus ruber (Red valerian, Jupiter’s beard)
Ceratostigma plumbaginoides (Chinese plumbago) Coreopsis spp.
Cosmos spp.
Cuphea spp.
Cynara scolymus (Artichoke)
Dahlia spp.
Delphinium spp. (Larkspur)
Dianthus spp.
Dietes spp. (Fortnight lily)
Digitalis spp. (Foxglove)
Epilobium spp. (California fuschia)
Erigeron spp.
Eriogonum spp. (Buckwheats)
Eschscholzia spp. (California poppies)
Euphorbia spp. (Spurge)
Gaillardia spp. (Blanket flower)
Geranium spp. (Cranesbill)
Geum spp.
Helianthus spp. (Sunflower)
Helleborus spp.
Hemizonia spp.
Heuchera spp. (Coral bells)
Hypericum spp. (St John’s wort)
Impatiens spp.
Kniphofia spp.
Limonium perezii (Sea lavender)
Linaria spp.
Liriope spp. (Lily turf)
Lobelia spp.
Lupinus spp. (Lupine)
Lychnis spp. (Rose campion) Mimulus spp. (Monkey flower)
Monardella spp. (Bee balm)
Myosotis spp. (Forget me not)
Nepeta spp. ( Catnip or catmint)
Nicotiana spp.
Oenothera spp.
Oregano spp.
Osteospermum spp. (African daisy)
Oxalis spp.
Papaver spp. (Oriental poppy, Iceland poppy)
Pelargonium spp. (Geranium)
Penstemon spp.
Perovskia spp. (Russian sage)
Phlomis spp. (Jerusalem sage)
Phormium spp. (New Zealand flax)
Plectranthus spp.
Primula spp. (Primrose)
Puya spp.
Rudbeckia spp. (Black eyed susan)
Salvia spp. (Sage)
Scabiosa spp. (Pincushion flower)
Senecio spp.
Stachys spp. (Lamb’s ear)
Tagetes lemmonii (Mexican marigold)
Tanacetum spp. (Tansy)
Thymus spp. (Thyme)
Verbascum spp.
Verbena spp.
Viola spp. (Violet)
Annuals
Anchusa spp.
Antirrhinum spp.
Borago spp. (Borrage)
Calendula spp. (Pot marigold)
Campanula spp. (Bellflower)
Celosia spp. (Cockscomb)
Cerinthe spp.
Clarkia spp.
Coreopsis spp.
Cosmos spp.
Dianthus spp.
Eriogonum spp. (Buckwheats)
Eschscholzia spp. (California poppy)
Gaillardia spp.
Helianthus spp. (Sunflower)
Impatiens spp.
Linaria spp.
Lobelia spp.
Lupinus spp. (Lupine)
Madia spp.
Marigold spp.
Myosotis spp. ( Forget me not)
Nicotiana spp.
Nigella spp. (Love in a mist)
Papaver spp. (Oriental poppy, Iceland poppy)
Phacelia spp.
Scabiosa spp. (Pincushion flowers)
Biennials
Anchusa spp.
Angelica spp.
Campanula spp. (Bellflower)
Dianthus spp.
Digitalis spp. (Foxglove)
Echium spp. (Pride of Madeira)
Myosotis spp. (Forget me not)
Oenothera spp.
Rudbeckia spp. (Black eyed susan)
Verbascum spp.
Veronica spp.
Ferns
Athyrium spp. (Lady fern)
Blechnum spp. (Deer fern)
Polystichum spp. (Sword fern)
Rumohra spp. (Leatherleaf fern)
Woodwardia spp. (Giant chain fern)
Grasses
Grasses
Calamagrostis, Boutelovas, Deschampsia, Festuca, Melica, Melinus. Miscanthus, Muhlenbergia,Nassella, Nolina, Ophiopogon, Sesleria, Sisyrinchium
Corms
Brodiaea spp.
Crocosmia spp.
Freesia spp.
Ixia spp. (Corn lily)
Sedge
Carex spp.
Ground Cover
Ceanothus spp. (California lilac)
Hypericum spp. (St John’s wort
Mentha spp. (Mint)
Nepeta spp. (Catmint or catnip)
Plectranthus spp.
Rubus calycinoides (Creeping rasberry)
Satureja douglasii (Yerba buena)
Thymus spp. (Thyme)
Vines
Bougainvillea spp.
Clematis spp.
Hardenbergia violacea
Jasminum spp. (Jasmine)
Passiflora spp. (Passionflower)
Plumbago spp.
Tecomaria capensis (Cape honeysuckle)
Wisteria spp.
Bulbs
Iris spp.
Lilium spp. (Lily)
Oxalis spp.
Abutilon spp. (flowering maple) Hummingbirds love them deer do not
Acacia spp. (wattles) Many are considered weed trees, some are very decorative, all are deer resistant
Acer macrophyllum
Acer palmatum
Achillea spp. (yarrow) Loved by bees not deer
Aeonium spp. Deer will nibble on these plants during the dry season if they are desperate but they will not eat the whole plant
Agastache spp. (hummingbird mints or giant hyssops)
Agave spp. Deer will taste the leaves of the attenuata during drought
Ajuga spp. (bugleweed)
Alchemilla spp. (lady’s mantle) Good ground cover
Aloe spp. Deer may chew on these for moisture during drought
Alstroemeria spp. (peruvian lilies)
Alyogyne huegelii
Anchusa spp.
Angelica spp.
Antirrhinum spp. (dragon flowers or snapdragons)
Arbutus ‘Marina’
Arbutus menziesii
Arbutus unedo
Aristea spp.
Asclepias spp. (milkweed) Favored by Monarch butterflies
Aster spp.
Athyrium spp. (lady ferns)
Begonias spp.
Bergenia crassifolia
Beschorneria spp.
Blechnum spp. (deer fern)
Borago spp. (borage)
Bougainvillea spp.
Brodiaea spp.
Buddleja spp. (butterfly bush)
Calandrinia spp.
Calendulas spp.
Campanula spp.
Carex spp.
Carpenteria californica
Ceanothus spp.
Celosia spp.
Centaurea spp. ( bachelor’s buttons) Centranthus ruber
Ceratostigma plumbaginoides
Cercis occidentalis
Cerinthe spp.
Choisya spp.
Cistus spp.
Clarkia spp.
Clematis spp.
Coleonema spp.
Cordyline australis Cordyline spp.
Coreopsis spp.
Cosmos spp.
Cotinus coggygria
Cotyledon spp.
Crassula spp.
Crocosmia spp.
Cuphea spp.
Cycad spp.
Cynara scolymus Dahlias spp.
Daphne spp.
Delosperma spp.
Delphinium spp. Dianthus spp.
Dietes spp.
Digitalis spp. (foxglove)
Dudleya spp.
Echeveria spp.
Echium spp.
Epilobium spp.
Erigeron spp. Eriobotrya spp.
Eriogonum spp. (Buckwheat)
Eschscholzia spp. (California poppy)
Euphorbia spp.
Feijoa sellowiana
Freesia spp.
Fremontodendron spp.
Fuchsia spp.
Gaillardia spp.
Garrya elliptica
Geranium spp.
Geum spp.
Ginkgo biloba
Graptoveria spp. Grasses spp. Many types including: Calamagrostis, Boutelovas, Deschampsia, Festuca, Melica, Melinus. Miscanthus, Muhlenbergia,Nassella, Nolina, Ophiopogon, Sesleria, Sisyrinchium
Grevillea spp.
Hardenbergia violacea
Helianthus spp. (sunflowers)
Helleborus spp.
Hemizonia spp.
Heteromeles arbutifolia (Toyon)
Heuchera spp.
Hypericum spp. (St John’s Wort)
Impatiens spp.
Iris spp. Ixia spp.
Jasminum spp.
Kniphofia spp.
Lagerstroemia indica
Lampranthus spp.
Lavandula spp.
Leonotis spp.
Lepechinia spp.
Leptospermum spp.
Leucadendron spp.
Lilium spp. Limonium perezii
Linaria spp. Liriope spp.
Lobelia spp.
Loropetalum spp.
Lupinus spp.
Lychnis spp.
Madia spp.
Magnolia spp.
Marigold spp.
Melianthus spp.
Mimulus spp.
Mint spp.
Monardella spp.
Myosotis spp. (forget me not)
Myrica californica (Pacific Wax Myrtle)
Nepeta spp.
Nerium oleander
Nicotiana spp. Nigella spp.
Oenothera spp. (evening primrose)
Olea europaea
Oregano spp.
Oscularia spp.
Osteospermum spp.
Oxalis spp.
Palma spp.
Papaver spp. (poppies)
Passiflora spp.
Pelargonium spp.
Penstemon spp. Perovskia spp.
Phacelia spp.
Philadelphus spp.
Phlomis spp.
Phormium spp.
Plectranthus spp.
Plumbago spp.
Podocarpus spp.
Polygala spp.
Polystichum spp.
Primula spp.
Protea spp.
Puya spp.
Quercus spp.
Ribes spp.
Romneya spp.
Rosa californica
Rubus calycinoides
Rudbeckia spp.
Rumohra spp.
Salvia spp.
Satureja (yerba buena)
Scabiosa spp.
Sedum spp.
Sempervivum spp.
Senecio spp.
Stachys spp.
Tagetes lemmonii
Tanacetum spp.
Taxus spp. Tecomaria capensis Teucrium spp.
Thymus spp.
Tibouchina spp.
Verbascum spp.
Verbena spp.
Veronica spp.
Viola spp.
Westringia spp.
Wisteria spp. Woodwardia spp.
Yucca spp.