Selecting appropriate landscape plants becomes difficult when deer pressure is high, especially as the growing season winds down. Fall presents a challenge because deer actively feed to build up fat reserves necessary to survive the coming winter months. The goal for a resilient fall landscape is to choose plants that are reliably unappealing to these foragers. While no plant is truly deer-proof, incorporating naturally unpalatable species can significantly reduce browsing damage.
Understanding Deer Feeding Habits
Deer are classified as “concentrate selectors,” meaning they actively seek out the most nutritious and easily digestible plant parts available rather than grazing indiscriminately. An adult white-tailed deer needs to consume a significant amount of forage daily, roughly 6% to 8% of its body weight, from spring through fall. The transition into fall is a period of intense feeding, driven by the need to accumulate energy reserves before the breeding season and the scarcity of winter.
As preferred food sources like tender, succulent summer growth begin to decline, deer turn their attention to less palatable alternatives. A plant considered resistant in July may be browsed in November if local food competition is fierce or the winter is particularly harsh. The level of resistance a plant offers is relative, depending on the severity of the local deer population and how close they are to starvation.
Structural and Aromatic Traits That Deter Deer
Plants deer consistently avoid share specific physical and chemical traits that make them difficult or unpleasant to consume. Texture is a key deterrent; plants with fuzzy, coarse, or spiny foliage are often passed over. The fine hairs on leaves, known as trichomes, feel unpleasant in a deer’s mouth and are difficult to chew and swallow, which is why plants like Lamb’s Ears are rarely damaged. Structural defenses, such as thorns or tough, leathery leaves, also make a plant less appealing than tender alternatives.
Resistance is also achieved through strong aromas or bitter tastes created by volatile oils and chemical compounds. Plants in the mint family, for example, produce pungent scents that deer find offensive. Some plants contain sap or chemical toxins that cause irritation or illness, signaling to the deer’s acute sense of smell and taste that the plant should be avoided. Using these toxic plants is a low-risk strategy for landscape protection.
Proven Deer-Resistant Plants for Fall Landscapes
Fall-Blooming Perennials
Fall-blooming perennials offer late-season color while possessing built-in defenses against browsing. Sedum (Stonecrop), such as the popular ‘Autumn Joy,’ is highly resistant because deer find its thick, slightly succulent leaves unappetizing. These plants bloom with dense flower heads that turn from pink to a deep rose-red, holding their structure well into the cold months.
Perennials with highly aromatic foliage are also excellent choices for the fall garden. Salvia species, particularly the ornamental sages, are avoided because their leaves contain strong volatile oils that deer dislike. Similarly, Achillea (Yarrow) features finely textured foliage that gives off a herbaceous scent when disturbed, which, combined with the texture, places it low on the deer’s preference list.
Structural Foliage and Grasses
Robust structure and texture provide visual interest throughout the fall and winter while deterring deer. Ornamental grasses, such as Calamagrostis x acutiflora (‘Karl Foerster’ Feather Reed Grass), are rarely browsed. Deer typically seek succulent, broad-leaved foliage, making the fine, often razor-edged or dry texture of grass blades unappealing.
Shrubs that offer fall color and persistent structure are also good deterrents. Viburnum nudum (Witherod Viburnum), especially cultivars like ‘Brandywine,’ provides glossy foliage that shifts to deep oranges and reds, accompanied by blue-purple berries. The combination of tough foliage and chemical compounds makes this shrub resistant. The Dryopteris genus, including the ‘Brilliance’ Autumn Fern, is an excellent shade option, with intricate fronds and a slightly bitter taste unappetizing to deer.
Resistant Fall-Planted Bulbs
Bulbs planted in the fall for spring display must be resistant to prevent underground foraging, even though they do not flower immediately. Bulbs containing toxic compounds are the most reliable defense against deer and rodents.
- Narcissus (Daffodils) are highly resistant, as their entire structure contains the toxic alkaloid lycorine.
- Ornamental onions (Alliums) are avoided because of the intense, sulfur-based compounds that give them their pungent scent and taste.
- Hyacinthus (Hyacinths) are also resistant, containing the toxin calcium oxalate combined with a strong fragrance that warns deer away.