If you live in or around the Victoria area, you’re probably well aware of our deer population and their appetite. They’ll eat almost anything, but also tend to have an expensive taste, swallowing up roses, daisies, lilies, orchids, and more. Residents go to extreme lengths to defend against the deer and their excellent vertical dexterity, from special fencing and nets to ultrasonic repellent.
However, there’s another way to fend them off that doesn’t include yard construction or endangering the deer – just update the menu. The best way to direct deer past your yard and onto the next is by filling your garden with deer-resistant plants.
It can be tough to find a list of deer-resistant plants that will grow in Victoria, but they are out there. Thanks to our friends at Russell Nursery, here’s a guide to the common deer-resistant shrubs, trees, and other plants you can buy. Keep in mind, deer can develop a taste for almost any plant so nothing is guaranteed!
As always, we are here to help you design and build your dream landscape so give us a call if you need a hand.
Click the + beside the heading to show the list. Ask us about any of these plants.
Shrubs
- Abelia
- Arctostaphylos (Manzanita)
- Bamboo
- Berberis (Barberry)
- Buddleia (Butterfly Bush)
- Buxus (Boxwood)
- Callistemon (Bottlebrush)
- Calluna/Erica (Heather)
- Carpenteria californica
- Ceanothus (California Lilac)
- Chaenomeles (Flowering Quince)
- Choisya ternata (Mexican Orange)
- Cistus (Rockrose)
- Cotoneaster
- Daphne
- Elaeagnus
- Escallonia
- Fremontodendron (Flannel Bush)
- Gaultheria shallon (Salal)
- Hypericum
- Ilex (Holly)
- Kerria
- Lavandula (Lavender)
- Lavatera (Tree Mallow)
- Mahonia
- Nandina domestica (Heavenly bamboo)
- Potentilla
- Pyracantha (Firethorn)
- Rhododendron (not Azaleas)
- Ribes (currant)
- Rosemarinus officinalis (Rosemary)
- Salvia (Sage)
- Sarcococca
- Syringa (Lilac)
- Teuchrium (Germander)
- Vaccinium ovatum (Evergreen Huckleberry)
- Viburnum
Trees
- Acer circinatum (Vine Maple)
- Acer palmatum (Japanese Maple)
- Albizia julibrissin (Silk Tree)
- Crataegus
- Eucalyptus
- Fig, edible
- Fraxinus (Ash)
- Ginko biloba (Maidenhair tree)
- Magnolia
- Palms
- Quercus (Oak)
- Rhus (Sumac)
Perennials/Bulbs
- Acanthus mollis (Bear’s Breech)
- Achillea (Yarrow)
- Aquilegia (Columbine)
- Armeria (Thrift)
- Artemisia
- Aster
- Astilbe
- Centaurea
- Centranthus ruber (Jupiter’s Beard)
- Cerastium tomentosum (Snow in Summer)
- Coreopsis
- Crocosmia
- Crocus
- Cyclamen
- Dahlia
- Dicentra (Bleeding Heart)
- Digitalis (Foxglove)
- Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower)
- Erigeron (Fleabane)
- Erysimum (Wallflower)
- Euphorbia
- Ferns
- Gaillardia
- Grasses
- Hardy Geranium (Cranesbill)
- Helleborus
- Hemerocallis (Daylily)
- Herbs (except Basil)
- Iberis (Candytuft)
- Iris
- Kniphofia uvaria (Redhot Poker)
- Liriope/Ophiopogon (Lily Turf/Mondo Grass)
- Lithodora
- Lupinus (Lupine)
- Monarda (Bee Balm)
- Narcissus (Daffodil)
- Nepeta
- Papaver (Poppy)
- Penstemon (Beard Tongue)
- Phlomis fruticosa (Jerusalem Sage)
- Phlox subulata
- Santolina
- Sisyrinchium
- Stachys (Lamb’s Ear)
- Veronica (Speedwell)
Vines
- Hedera (Ivy)
- Jasminum (Jasmine)
- Wisteria
Conifers
- Abies (Fir)
- Cedrus (Cedar)
- Chamaecyparis (False Cypress)
- Cupressus (Cypress)
- Juniperus (Juniper)
- Picea (Spruce)
- Pinus (Pine)
- Pseudotsuga menziesii (Douglas Fir)
- Sequoia sempervirens (Coast Redwood)
- Taxus (Yew)
Looking for deer resistant shrubs and plants for your garden?
We’d be happy to offer a free estimate for landscaping and garden maintenance:
