7 Deer-Resistant Flowers for Your Summer Containers
Grow these as protection for edibles or just for their colorful beauty — deer might not like them, but everyone else will
Deer are the bane of many gardeners' existences. For good reason, too — it's an awful feeling to wake up in the morning and find nothing but stems and dirt where a perfect garden once sat.
But before you're tempted to give up gardening entirely, consider planting a few deer-resistant flowers to defend your more delicate plantings. Plants considered deer resistant also tend to be rabbit and squirrel resistant, too.
Deer resistant doesn't mean deerproof — it means that someone, somewhere found that deer didn't eat these plants. But there's no guarantee. The truth is, deer will eat anything if they are hungry enough — but they'll often avoid the taste and texture of certain plants. Here are some of my go-to flowers when I know deer may pose a problem.
But before you're tempted to give up gardening entirely, consider planting a few deer-resistant flowers to defend your more delicate plantings. Plants considered deer resistant also tend to be rabbit and squirrel resistant, too.
Deer resistant doesn't mean deerproof — it means that someone, somewhere found that deer didn't eat these plants. But there's no guarantee. The truth is, deer will eat anything if they are hungry enough — but they'll often avoid the taste and texture of certain plants. Here are some of my go-to flowers when I know deer may pose a problem.
Globe Amaranth
(Gomphrena globosa)
Gomphrena has electric-purple flowers that make it a great thriller plant in container gardens.
USDA zones: 2 to 11
Light requirement: Full sun
Water requirement: Medium
Size: 1 foot to 2 feet tall and 6 to 12 inches wide
(Gomphrena globosa)
Gomphrena has electric-purple flowers that make it a great thriller plant in container gardens.
USDA zones: 2 to 11
Light requirement: Full sun
Water requirement: Medium
Size: 1 foot to 2 feet tall and 6 to 12 inches wide
Marigold
(Tagetes patula)
Marigold is a cheerful summer annual that can help keep pests — including deer — away from your tomatoes and other edibles.
USDA zones: 2 to 11
Light requirement: Full sun
Water requirement: Medium
Size: 6 to 12 inches tall and 6 to 9 inches wide
(Tagetes patula)
Marigold is a cheerful summer annual that can help keep pests — including deer — away from your tomatoes and other edibles.
USDA zones: 2 to 11
Light requirement: Full sun
Water requirement: Medium
Size: 6 to 12 inches tall and 6 to 9 inches wide
Angelonia
(Angelonia angustifolia)
Angelonia is one of my favorite summer annuals because of its ability to withstand heat and humidity.
USDA zones: 9 to 11
Light requirement: Full sun
Water requirement: Medium
Size: 9 to 18 inches tall and wide
(Angelonia angustifolia)
Angelonia is one of my favorite summer annuals because of its ability to withstand heat and humidity.
USDA zones: 9 to 11
Light requirement: Full sun
Water requirement: Medium
Size: 9 to 18 inches tall and wide
Ageratum
(Ageratum houstonianum)
Ageraturm comes in a variety of blues and looks terrific paired with whites and yellows. This cheerful flower can protect itself and nearby plants from insects, and is toxic to grazing animals.
USDA zones: 2 to 11
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Water requirement: Medium
Size: 1 foot to 2½ feet tall and 6 to 18 inches wide
(Ageratum houstonianum)
Ageraturm comes in a variety of blues and looks terrific paired with whites and yellows. This cheerful flower can protect itself and nearby plants from insects, and is toxic to grazing animals.
USDA zones: 2 to 11
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Water requirement: Medium
Size: 1 foot to 2½ feet tall and 6 to 18 inches wide
Lantana
(Lantana camara)
Lantana is another nonstop performer that prefers hot and dry conditions. It comes in either a trailing or mounding form, making it very versatile in containers. Like Ageratum, Lantana can be toxic to grazing animals.
USDA zones: 10 to 11
Light requirement: Full sun
Water requirement: Medium
Size: 3 to 4 feet tall and 1 foot to 3 feet wide
(Lantana camara)
Lantana is another nonstop performer that prefers hot and dry conditions. It comes in either a trailing or mounding form, making it very versatile in containers. Like Ageratum, Lantana can be toxic to grazing animals.
USDA zones: 10 to 11
Light requirement: Full sun
Water requirement: Medium
Size: 3 to 4 feet tall and 1 foot to 3 feet wide
Perilla
(Perilla 'Magilla')
Perilla is grown for its striking green, pink and magenta foliage and looks great in shady areas.
USDA zones: 2 to 11
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Water requirement: Medium
Size: 2 to 3 feet tall and wide
More blooms: Get more planting ideas in the Houzz flowers section
(Perilla 'Magilla')
Perilla is grown for its striking green, pink and magenta foliage and looks great in shady areas.
USDA zones: 2 to 11
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Water requirement: Medium
Size: 2 to 3 feet tall and wide
More blooms: Get more planting ideas in the Houzz flowers section
(Tropaeolum)
Nasturtium is an edible flower, typically yellow, orange or red in color. While we love it in our salads, deer aren't really fans of this colorful flower. Plant it alongside herbs or other edibles to try to keep deer at bay.
USDA zones: 2 to 11 (find your zone)
Light requirement: Full sun
Water requirement: Medium
Size: 1 foot to 10 feet tall and 1 foot to 3 feet wide