Ten robust annual flowers that are less appealing to deer, guaranteeing a flower-abundant garden untouched by these creatures.
Say goodbye to deer-damaged outdoor spaces and bring some life to your garden with these eight stunning, low-maintenance, and deer-resistant annuals! As gardening experts help us select these picks, experience a burst of color in your landscape while keeping deer at bay.
- *Ward Dilmore*, founder and head landscape designer at Petrus Luxury Estate Landscaping Company
- *Troy Hake*, owner of Outsidepride seed company
- *Tammy Sons*, founder and CEO of TN Nursery
Rainbow of Deer-Friendly Blooms
Marigolds
Brighten up your space with captivating marigolds, boasting pom-pom-shaped flowers in hues of yellow, orange, red, or gold. Known for their powerful scent, deer find marigolds less appealing. "Marigolds love full sun and can be planted among vegetables," says Ward Dilmore, founder and head landscape designer at Petrus Luxury Estate Landscaping Company. "Their perfume can discourage not just deer but also insects and pests from damaging your other plants."
- USDA Zones: 2 to 11
- Light: Full sun
- Soil: Well-draining, moist soil
Zinnias
Striking zinnias feature dense, daisy-like flowers in various bold shades such as red, pink, purple, yellow, orange, and white. The strong aroma and tough texture of zinnias tend to deter deer, making them a great pick for a deer-resistant garden. "Zinnias are a popular choice because they perform best in warm, sunny locations," says Tammy Sons, founder and CEO of TN Nursery. "They do require regular watering and periodic deadheading to maintain their lively blooms."
- USDA Zones: 2 to 11
- Light: Full sun
- Soil: Well-draining soil
Snapdragons
Snapdragons, which are often grown as annuals, present colorful hues ranging from white to yellow, orange, red, and purple. Their bitter taste also serves as a natural deterrent to deer. According to Dilmore, snapdragons thrive in full sun and appreciate plenty of water. "They will require regular deadheading when flowers fade to encourage new blooms," he adds.
- USDA Zones: 7 to 11
- Light: Full to partial sun
- Soil: Well-draining, moist soil
Sweet Alyssum
Sweet alyssum puts on an impressive display with delicate, white, pink, purple, and magenta flowers. As a cool-season annual, it offers beautiful colors while being a low-maintenance addition to your garden. Its pungent scent is recognized to keep deer away. "These plants provide a unique white, pink, or magenta flower with a ground cover look," Dilmore says. "Soil should be evenly moist but not soggy."
- USDA Zones: 5 to 9
- Light: Full to partial sun
- Soil: Well-draining, moist soil
Spider Flowers
Spider flowers (Cleome) boast elegant blooms in shades of pink, purple, or white with their long, tubular petals. These unique annuals have a scent and texture that repel deer. "A more unusual annual that can self-seed, these flowers love warm, sunny locations and can even tolerate poor soil," Dilmore explains. "They can go great among dense, planted flowerbeds."
- USDA Zones: 10 to 11
- Light: Full to partial sun
- Soil: Well-draining, acidic or neutral soil
Verbena
Verbena, or vervain, has dazzling clusters of flowers in stunning shades of purple, pink, white, and red. As a versatile, cheerful plant, verbena grows various varieties, some annual, some perennial. Verbena's bitter taste and tough leaves discourage deer from catering to it. "The verbena plant produces brilliant, compact blooms and thrives in warm conditions," Sons says. "They require spent blooms to be pruned back for continued growth incentives."
- USDA Zones: 8 to 11
- Light: Full sun
- Soil: Well-draining, moist soil
Lantana
Lantana brings bursts of warm color with competitive flower clusters in yellow, red, pink, purple, orange, and white. This heat-tolerant, fast-growing annual is a perennial in warm climates. Its sharp, citrus-like scent and leathery leaves deter deer.
- USDA Zones: 7 to 11
- Light: Full sun
- Soil: Well-draining, neutral soil
Cornflowers (California Poppies)
These striking wildflowers flaunt bright colors, ranging from blue to pink, red, purple, and white. Not only do they attract beneficial insects and butterflies, but their unique scent and texture keep deer at bay. "The best time to plant cornflower seeds is after the last frost in spring," says Hake. "They grow best in full sun and prefer sandy, well-draining soil."
- USDA Zones: 3 to 11
- Light: Full sun
- Soil: Well-draining, neutral to slightly alkaline soil
- Utilizing marigolds, zinnias, snapdragons, sweet alyssum, spider flowers, verbena, lantana, and cornflowers can greatly enhance your home-and-garden lifestyle, providing a vibrant array of colors while ensuring a deer-resistant outdoor space.
- These expert-recommended annuals can be an excellent addition to your home, not only beautifying your outdoor gardening endeavors but also contributing to a healthier and more enjoyable lifestyle.
- Non-gardeners and seasoned gardening enthusiasts alike can benefit from these easy-to-maintain, low-maintenance annuals, enriching their home landscapes with an inviting, colorful presence.
- By incorporating these deer-friendly blooms into your outdoor gardening projects, you can create an enticing, wildlife-friendly environment while simultaneously maintaining a garden that remains untouched by deer.
