15 Perennials Deer and Rabbits Hate But You’ll Love

If you love gardening as much as I do, you know the frustration of walking outside to find that deer and rabbits have turned your plants into their personal salad bar. On the bright side, there are plenty of plants that actually ward off those rude trespassers. These are 15 gorgeous perennials that are as appetizing to deer and rabbits as a pair of old boots.

Gaillardia

Gaillardia, or blanket flower, is like a burst of sunshine in your garden with its bold red, yellow, and orange daisy-like flowers. It’s tough too—deer and rabbits usually pass it by thanks to its rough foliage. It blooms all the way from early summer to fall, keeping your garden bright for months.

Artemisia

Artemisia, or wormwood, adds a cool, silvery touch to any garden. The plant’s strong scent and bitter taste keep deer and rabbits away. While it does bloom, the flowers are pretty subtle—it’s the leaves that really shine. It does great in full sun, and once it’s rooted, it doesn’t mind dry conditions.

Bee Balm

Bee balm is a standout with its bright and bold red, pink, purple, or white flowers. It’s great keeping those pesky mosquitoes and other pests away. From mid-summer to early fall, bee balm attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, bringing life to your garden. Bee balm grows well in sun or partial shade and isn’t too picky about care.

Lavender

Lavender is a real garden must, not just for its looks but for its knack at keeping munching critters at bay. Its fragrant purple flowers and silvery-green leaves are a hit, but it’s the strong scent that really tells deer and rabbits to hop off.

Blooming from late spring into summer, it spruces up any space with both color and a calming fragrance. I love popping lavender along paths or around garden borders. It loves full sun and doesn’t fuss much over soil, as long as it drains well. Once lavender gets comfortable, it’s pretty tough, even in dry spells.

Bleeding Heart

These gems pop up in spring, showing off in pink, red, or white, and they stick around into early summer. The plant’s slightly toxic trait is a big no-no for deer and rabbits, making it perfect for those shady garden spots they like to raid.

It’s the perfect pick for adding a splash of elegance to any shaded nook. Bleeding hearts love the shade and thrive in moist, well-drained soil.

Russian Sage

Russian sage really holds its own in the garden. The strong scent and wiry stems of this hardy perennial make it a no-go zone for deer and rabbits. Blooming from midsummer right through to fall, it keeps your garden borders buzzing with color and texture for months.

It loves full sun and isn’t fussy about soil, just as long as it’s well-drained. Once it’s settled in, it’s also drought-tolerant, which is a bonus for those dry spells.

Yarrow

Talk about a powerhouse, yarrow brings so much to the garden table! This perennial is simply gorgeous. It’s also a natural pest repellent. Both deer and rabbits find its aromatic foliage and slightly bitter taste off-putting. From early summer to fall, yarrow thrives.

Yarrow is also a magnet for beneficial insects, drawing in ladybugs and lacewings that help keep other pests in check. It’s a plant that loves the sunshine and does well in well-drained soil, making it perfect for borders or wildflower gardens.

Foxglove

Foxglove’s toxic foliage is a natural “keep out” sign for deer and rabbits. Foxglove makes its grand entrance in late spring and keeps the show going into early summer. It’s partial to some shade and well-drained soil, and loves to draw in pollinators like bees and hummingbirds.

Catmint

Catmint is a garden tough guy, dressed up in delicate clusters of blue, lavender, or white flowers. It has an aromatic foliage that deer and rabbits just don’t love.

Catmint thrives from late spring right through to early fall, and it’s happy in everything from full sun to a bit of shade and digs well-drained soil. Once it settles in, it’s pretty good at handling dry spells too.

Lungwort

Lungwort is tough in the face of hungry critters too. This perennial pops up early in the spring, showing off its unique spotted foliage and small, tubular flowers that shift from shades of blue to pink and white as they mature.

Its hairy leaves are a big turn-off for deer and rabbits, making it perfect for those shady spots they love to munch in. It loves shady, moist conditions, thriving in those garden corners that don’t get much sun.

Peony

Not only are peonies gorgeous, but their thick, waxy leaves and sturdy stems also don’t appeal much to deer and rabbits. Peonies make their grand entrance in late spring and carry on through early summer, bringing a splash of old-school elegance and romance to any space.

Sun-lovers at heart, peonies thrive in well-drained spots and can last for years, even decades, with the right care.

Baptisia

Baptisia, or false indigo as some like to call it, is a tough cookie in the perennial world. Its bitter, tough foliage aren’t appealing to deer and rabbits. It doesn’t ask for much, just some sun, decent soil, and a bit of water to get settled. Once it’s rooted, it’s pretty drought-resistant too.

Hellebore

Hellebores, or Lenten roses, are the unsung heroes of the winter garden. These beauties start showing off their colors in late winter to early spring, just when everything else is still snoozing.

Plus, their leathery, evergreen leaves and slightly toxic makeup are big turn-offs for deer and rabbits. They’re perfect for woodland settings or any spot that doesn’t get a ton of direct sun.

Siberian Iris

Siberian iris blooms from late spring to early summer. What’s great is that its tough, sword-like foliage and sturdy stems don’t appeal to deer and rabbits. It’s a champ in both full sun and partial shade and isn’t too picky once it gets going in well-drained soil.

Euphorbia

Euphorbia, or spurge, is fascinating not just for its looks but also for its milky, toxic sap that keeps deer and rabbits at a safe distance. Depending on the species, euphorbia can show off different colors from spring through summer.

It does well in everything from full sun to a bit of shade and loves well-drained soil. Once settled in, it’s also drought-tolerant.