I provide this list with a special warning: DEER DON’T READ! Please use this list wisely. Deer will sample anything new, and the fresh growth in the spring often does not contain the concentration of volatile oils or scents that would normally repel deer from browsing.
I always recommend using a good deer repellent such as Deer Out for the first few weeks after planting even a “reliably” deer resistant plant. It certainly can’t hurt and might help avoid finding your plant pulled out of the ground and dropped across the yard!
So, remember to use this list wisely. Different areas have different “deer pressure” and the deer have regular feeding patterns that you should be aware of. Use the more reliably deer resistant plants in these areas. And good luck!
| DEER RESISTANT PLANTS FOR CENTRAL TEXAS | ||||
| (No Guarantees!) | ||||
| Plant | Exposure | Height x width | Evergreen
or Decid. |
Comments |
| Agarita | Sun/Part sun | 3′-6′ x 4′-6′ | E | Edible red berrries |
| Agave, various | Sun/Part sun | check variety | E | Bucks may damage with antlers |
| Ajuga, various | Shade | 6″ x 1′ | Semi | Protect when young, not reliable |
| Angel’s Trumpet, Datura | Sun | 4′ x 4′ | Annual | Re-seeding annual |
| Angel’s Trumpet, Brugmansia | Sun/Part sun | 6′ x 5′ | Tropical | Protect in winter |
| Artemesia, Powis Castle | Sun/Part sun | 2′ x 4′-6′ | Semi | Prune before new growth starts in spring |
| Aspidistra | Shade | 3′ x 3′ | E | Loves “dry” shade |
| Barberry | Sun/Part sun | varies | D | Needs well-drained soils |
| Bottlebrush, Woodlander’s Hardy | Sun | 4′-5′ x 4′-5′ | E | Hardy to Zone 7 |
| Boxwood, various | Sun/Part sun | check variety | E | |
| Butterfly Vine, Yellow | Sun/Part sun | 10′-12′ vine | Semi | Aggressive grower |
| Candelilla, Wax Plant | Sun | 1 1/2” x 3′ | E | Very Drought resistant |
| Catmint, Walker’s Low | Sun/Part sun | 1′ x 3′ | E | Tidy plant |
| Cholla, Tree | Sun | 3′-9- x 3′-6′ | E | Hot pink blooms in spring |
| Coral Bean, Giant | Sun | 10′ x 10′ | D | Red blooms al summer |
| Cotoneaster, Grayleaf | Sun | 4′ x 4′ | E | Deer browse new growth |
| Crinum Lily | Sun/Part sun | 3′ x 4′ | D | Spring blooms |
| Daisy, Copper Canyon | Sun | 4′ x 4′ | D | Fall bloomer, mainly |
| Daisy, Euryops | Sun | 3′ x 3′ | Semi | Not reliably winter hardy |
| Damianita | Sun | 1′ x 1′ | E | Trim new growth to keep compact |
| Dusty Miller | Sun/Part sun | 1′ x 1′ | E | Nice for border |
| Eleagnus | Sun | check variety | E | May browse new growth |
| Esperanza | Sun | check variety | D | Not deer resistant in all areas |
| Fern, Foxtail | Sun/Part sun | 3′ x 3′ | Semi | Not deer resistant in all areas |
| Fern, Holly | Shade | 3′ x 3′ | E | Not deer resistant in all areas |
| Fig, Creeping | Sun/Part sun | 3″ x 20′ | Semi | Do not put on wood walls |
| Flax Lily, Variegated | Sun/Shade | 2′ x 2′ | Semi | Great for shade color |
| Germander, Creeping | Sun | 6″ x 3′ | Semi | Drought resistant |
| Firebush, Mexican and Lime Sizzler | Sun/Part sun | check variety | D | Zone 9, plant on S. side |
| Plant | Exposure | Height x width | Evergreen
or Decid. |
Comments |
| Germander, Silver Bush | Sun | 4′ x 4′ | E | Drought resistant |
| Gopher Plant | Sun | 2′ x 4′ | E | Blooms in February |
| Grasses, various | Sun | check variety | D | Cut back in late Feb. |
| Guava, Pineapple | Sun/Part sun | E | Prefers enriched, acid soil | |
| Holly, Dwf Yaupon | Sun/Part sun | see note | E | Eat new growth, keep pruned |
| Iris, Bicolor | Sun/Part sun | 4′ x 4′ | Semi | Divide every 3-5 years |
| Jasmine, Asian | Sun/Part sun | 1′ x 3′ | E | Must get established |
| Jerusalem Sage | Sun | 4′ x 4′ | E | Deadhead unusual yellow blooms |
| Juniper, Blue Point | Sun | 12′ x 8′ | E | May be browsed |
| Juniper, Green Mound | Sun | 1′ x 6′ | E | Great under Crape Myrtles |
| Juniper, Taylor | Sun | 30′ x 3′ | E | Sub for Italian Cypress |
| Lamb’s Ears | Sun/Part sun | 1 1/2′ x 3′ | D | Biennial |
| Lantana | Sun | 4′ x 4′ | D | May browse in drought |
| Lavender | Sun | check variety | E | Needs well-drained soils |
| Lenten Rose Hellebore | Shade | check variety | Semi | Great for dry shade |
| Leopard Plant, Giant | Shade | 3′ x 3′ | Semi | Large leaves |
| Lomandra, Platinum Beauty | Sun/Part sun | 2′ x 3′ | E | Nice variegated variety |
| Loropetalum, various | Sun/Part sun | check variety | E | May not be deer resistant in all locations |
| Magnolia, Southern varieties | Sun | check variety | E | Adapts to many soil types |
| Mahonia, Leatherleaf | Sun/Part sun | 5′-7′ x 2′-3′ | E | Unusual form |
| Mist Flower, Blue Shade | Shade/Part Sun | 1′ x 6′ | D | Give it room to grow, likes moisture |
| Mist Flower, Gregg’s Blue | Sun/Part sun | 2′ x 6′ | D | Butterfly magnet, spreads |
| Moss Verbena (V. tenuisecta) | Sun | 8″ x 2′-3′ | D | More resistant than hybrids |
| Nandina, various | Sun/Part sun | check variety | E | May browse new growth |
| New Gold/Chapel Hill Lantana | Sun | 2′ x 6′ | D | Chapel Hill more winter hardy |
| Oleander | Sun | Semi | All parts toxic | |
| Orange Zest Cestrum | Sun/Shade | 6′ x 6′ | Semi | Blooms all summer |
| Oregano, Italian | Sun/Part sun | 1′ x 3′ | E | Great evergreen perennnial |
| Oregano, Mexican | Sun | 4′ x 4′ | Semi | Use in cooking |
| Palm, Mediterranean Fan | Sun | 8′-10′ x 15′ | E | Great for screening |
| Palm, Sago | Sun/Part sun | 6′-8′ x 6′-8′ | Semi | All parts toxic |
| Palm, Texas Sabal | Sun | 35′-50′ tall | E | Slow growing |
| Palm, Windmill | Sun | 25′-30′ x 8′-10′ | E | Slow growing,narrow trunk |
| Osmanthus, Sweet Olive | Sun/Part sun | 10′ x 6′-8′ | E | Fragrant, not always reliable |
| Plant | Exposure | Height x width | Evergreen
or Decid. |
Comments |
| Philodendron selloum | Shade | 8′ x 8′ | Tropical | Protect in winter |
| Plumbago | Sun/Part sun | 3′-4′ x 3′-4′ | D | May not be deer resistant in all areas |
| Pride of Barbados | Sun | 8′ x 8′ | D | Be patient-it comes back late |
| Rosemary | Sun | check variety | E | Upright and Prostrate varieties |
| Russian Sage | Sun | check variety | D | Great for upright growth |
| Sage, Texas | Sun | check variety | E | May browse in drought |
| Salvia greggii | Sun | 3′ x 3′ | E | Variety of colors |
| Salvia, Henry Duelberg | Sun | 3′ x 3′ | D | Great performer |
| Salvia, Mealy Blue Sage | Sun | 1 1/2′ x 1 1/2′ | D | Texas native |
| Salvia, Mexican Bush Sage | Sun | check variety | D | Mostly fall bloomer |
| Salvia, Mystic Spires | Sun/Part sun | 3′ x 3′ | D | Great for butterflies |
| Santolina, Green or Gray | Sun | 1′ x 3′ | E | Nice low evergreen perennial |
| Sedge, various | Part sun/shade | check variety | E | Replacement for turf in small areas |
| Senna, Common | Sun | 6′-8′ x 6′ | Semi | Short-lived small tree |
| Skullcap, Pink | Sun | 1′ x 3′ | E | May browse when newly planted |
| Society Garlic | Sun | 1′ x 1′ | Semi | Do not plant by front door! |
| Spider Lily | Sun/Part sun | 8″-24″ tall | D | Many varieties available |
| Texas Bird of Paradise | Sun | 6′ x 6′ | D | Small deciduous tree |
| Thryallis | Sun | 6′ x 6′ | Semi | May browse when young |
| Thyme | Sun/Part sun | check variety | E | Low-growing |
| Viburnum, Sandankwa | Sun/Part sun | 6′ x 4′ | E | Not deer resistant in all areas |
| Vinca major (Green or Variegated) | Shade | 1′ x 4′ | E | Control leaf tier caterpillars |
| Vitex, Beach | Sun/Part sun | 2′ x 6′ | D | Spreads rapidly |
| Vitex, Chaste Tree | Sun | 25′ x 25′ | D | Give it room to grow |
| Wax Myrtle, Southern | Sun | 15′ x 8′ | E | Not drought resistant |
| Wooly Butterfly Bush | Sun | 4′ x 4′ | E | Orange marble-sized blooms |
| Wooly Stemodia | Sun | 8″ x 5′ | D | Drought Resistant |
| Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow | Part Sun | 3′ x 3′ | D | Zone 9 Protect in winter |
| Yew, Japanese | Sun/Part sun | 15′-20′ x 3′-4′ | E | Not deer resistant in all areas |
| Yucca, various | Sun/Part sun | check variety | E | Deer eat flowers |