Millie Davenport ©2019 HGIC, Clemson Extension
It is disheartening to add new annual and perennial plants to the landscape only to find them mowed to the ground by resident wildlife. Many gardeners struggle with deer eating their plants. While no plant is completely fool proof, deer seldom damage the plants listed below. The only solution that is fail proof is exclusion, which is not a very practical solution for most homeowners. For more information about the biology and prevention of deer damage, see https://icwdm.org/species/other-mammals/deer/.
Annuals
| Common Name | Botanical Name | Light Requirements |
| Annual Vinca | Catharanthus roseus | Full Sun |
| Cleome | Cleome hassleriana | Full Sun |
| Coleus | Solenostemon species (some coleus sun tolerant varieties available) | Part Shade |
| Cosmos | Cosmos bipinnatus | Full Sun |
| Dusty Miller | Senecio cineraria | Full Sun |
| Marigold | Tagetes species | Full Sun |
| Mealycup Sage | Salvia farinacea | Full Sun |
| Butter Daisy | Melampodium paludosum | Full Sun |
| Pentas | Pentas lanceolata | Full Sun |
| Petunia | Petunia species | Full Sun |
| Purple Heart | Tradescantia ‘Purple Heart’ | Full Sun/Part Shade |
| Wax Begonia | Begonia semperflorens | Part Shade |
| Zinnia | Zinnia species | Full Sun |
Perennials
| Common Name | Botanical Name | Light Requirements |
| Anise Hyssop | Agastache foeniculum | Full Sun/Part Shade |
| Anise Sage | Salvia guaranitica | Full Sun |
| Artemisia | Artemisia x ‘Powis Castle’ | Full Sun |
| Autumn Fern | Dryopteris erythrosora | Full to Part Shade |
| Bee Balm | Monarda didyma | Full to Part Sun |
| Blanket flower | Gaillardia x grandiflora | Full Sun |
| Bugleweed | Ajuga reptans | Part Sun |
| Butterfly Weed | Asclepias tuberosa | Full Sun |
| Cast Iron Plant | Aspidistra elatior | Full Shade |
| Christmas Fern | Polystichum acrostichoides | Full to Part Shade |
| Cinnamon Fern | Osmunda cinnamomea | Full to Part Shade |
| Columbine | Aquilegia species | Part Shade |
| Coreopsis | Coreopsis species | Full Sun/Part Shade |
| False Indigo | Baptisia species | Full Sun |
| Goldenrod | Solidago rugosa | Full Sun |
| Coralbells | Heuchera species | Part Shade |
| Holly Fern | Cyrtomium falcatum | Full to Part Shade |
| Japanese Painted Fern | Athyrium nipponicum var. pictum | Full to Part Shade |
| Joe Pye Weed | Eupatorium dubium | Full Sun/Part Shade |
| Lamb’s Ear | Stachys byzantina | Full Sun |
| Lungwort | Pulmonaria species | Full to Part Shade |
| Mexican Bush Sage | Salvia leucantha | Full Sun |
| Purple Coneflower | Echinacea purpurea | Full Sun |
| Royal Fern | Osmunda regalis | Full to Part Shade |
| Russian Sage | Perovskia hybrids | Full Sun |
| Texas Sage | Salvia greggii | Full Sun/ Part Shade |
| Yarrow | Achillea species | Full Sun/Part Shade |
Vines
| Common Name | Botanical Name | Light Requirements |
| Carolina Jessamine | Gelsemium sempervirens | Full Sun |
| Confederate Jasmine | Trachelospermum jasminoides | Full Sun/Part Shade |
| Coral Honeysuckle | Lonicera sempervirens | Full Sun/Part Shade |
| Crossvine | Bignonia capreolata | Full Sun/Part Shade |
