How To Keep Deer And Rabbits From Eating My Garden Plants

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The 17 Best Deer-Resistant Plants for Your Garden

These varieties are as close to Bambi-proof as you can get.

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It's that time of year again: When all the deer in your neighborhood team up on your garden to wreak havoc and eat all your beloved plants and flowers. Protecting your garden from pests can be pretty tricky—especially from huge intruders like deer—but what you choose to plant might will definitely make a difference.

If deer are a huge problem in your backyard, try planting some of the deer-resistant plants we recommend ahead. Yes, they exist! Deer hate fragrant blooms from certain herbs like lavender and especially sweet-smelling flowers, like peonies. They'll also stay away from toxic plants. So without further ado, here's a list of all of the deer-resistant plants you should be putting in your garden to keep the pests out and gorgeous blooms in.

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Lily Of The Valley

These bell-shaped white flowers are beautiful and historically symbolize feminity. But their poisonous nature is what deters deers away from this flower.

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Butterfly Bush

Native to China and Japan, the Butterfly Bush is great for planting along the parameter of your garden to keep deer away. But be warned: This plant also attracts bees and hummingbirds.

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Pot Marigold

These cheerful-looking yellow flowers are great for keeping deer away but also work well to stop bunnies from munching away at your garden.

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Aster

Typically purple or pink, the Aster flower is both disease and deer-resistant.

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Sunflowers

Good news for anyone who loves these big, happy flowers: Deer don't like the rough texture of the leaves, so they're more likely to pass them up when looking for a snack to munch on.

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Foxgloves

Deer tend to avoid poisonous plants—including foxglove. Bonus: They're exceptionally pleasing to the eye.

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Heliotrope

When it comes to these pretty purple plants, deer don't like their heavily perfumed scent or the sandpaper-like texture of their leaves (and we don't blame them).

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Daffodils

These bright yellow flowers will brighten up your yard while keeping away pests like deer—they're toxic, so pests won't go near them!

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Bleeding Hearts

Even though these plants are known for their beauty, they're also poisonous. Smart deer know to steer clear from them unless they want to suffer from some serious repercussions.

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Lavender

Fragrant plants with strong scents are a deer's worst nightmare—which makes lavender the perfect "stinky" thing to grow in your yard.

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Zinnias

Gardeners everywhere can embrace these flowers that come in a range of bright colors since deer don't like the rough texture of the leaves.

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Peonies

Since deer don't like the flavor of this flower, many gardeners find these large buds go unharmed by deer. Peonies also have a strong scent, which is another deterrent to deer.

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Salvia

Apparently, deer think Salvia (a part of the sage family) stink, so they avoid these pungent plants during dinner.

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Lamb's Ear

The velvety-soft texture of these leaves are not appetizing to deer, so this popular ground cover plant is a safe choice to use to cover a larger surface in your garden.

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Bearded Iris

While the fragrance of these popular flowers is a big reason people love them so much, it's also the reason deers don't. Talk about a win-win.

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Purple Coneflowers

Even though deer find some colorful petals extremely appetizing, they make an exception for these purple ones.

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Oriental Poppies

Even though these gorgeous flowers are undoubtedly beautiful, they're also toxic. That's why deer who don't have a death wish choose not to ingest this poisonous plant.

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Jada Jackson Editorial Fellow Jada Jackson is a freelance multimedia journalist from Chicago and a graduate of Columbia College Chicago.

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