PlantLegitDeer resistant plants by zone (that aren't invasive)
Short answer: No plant is deer-proof. Rutgers Extension rates plants A (rarely damaged) to D (frequently damaged)[1]. Below are 93 A/B-rated plants with verified zones that are not on any state invasive list we track — filter by your zone, type and pet safety.
Sources (4)
| Plant | Zones | Type | Height | Deer (Rutgers) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allegheny spurge Pachysandra procumbens not in ASPCA list | 5–9 | groundcover | 0 ft 6 in. - 1 ft tall | A | NC State Ext. |
| American holly Ilex opaca ASPCA: toxic to dogs, cats | 5–9 | tree | 40 ft - 60 ft tall | A | NC State Ext. |
| Arrowwood viburnum Viburnum dentatum not in ASPCA list | 2–8 | shrub | 5 ft - 10 ft tall | A | NC State Ext. |
| Blue false indigo Baptisia australis not in ASPCA list | 3–9 | perennial | 3 ft - 4 ft tall | A | NC State Ext. |
| Bottlebrush buckeye Aesculus parviflora ASPCA: toxic to dogs, cats | 5–9 | shrub | 8 ft - 12 ft tall | A | NC State Ext. |
| Bugleweed Ajuga reptans not in ASPCA list | 3–10 | groundcover | 0 ft 6 in. - 1 ft tall | A | NC State Ext. |
| Common boxwood Buxus sempervirens ASPCA: toxic to dogs, cats | 5–8 | shrub | 5 ft - 20 ft tall | A | NC State Ext. |
| Drooping leucothoe Leucothoe fontanesiana ASPCA: toxic to dogs, cats | 4–6 | shrub | 2 ft - 6 ft tall | A | NC State Ext. |
| Fragrant sumac Rhus aromatica not in ASPCA list | 3–9 | shrub | 2 ft - 6 ft tall | A | NC State Ext. |
| Fringed bleeding heart Dicentra eximia not in ASPCA list | 3–9 | perennial | 0 ft 6 in. - 1 ft 6 in. tall | A | NC State Ext. |
| Hay-scented fern Dennstaedtia punctilobula not in ASPCA list | 3–8 | fern | 1 ft - 2 ft tall | A | NC State Ext. |
| Indiangrass Sorghastrum nutans not in ASPCA list | 4–9 | grass | 5 ft - 7 ft tall | A | NC State Ext. |
| Japanese andromeda Pieris japonica ASPCA: toxic to dogs, cats | 4–8 | shrub | 8 ft - 10 ft tall | A | NC State Ext. |
| Japanese forest grass Hakonechloa macra not in ASPCA list | 5–9 | grass | 1 ft - 1 ft 6 in. tall | A | NC State Ext. |
| Japanese holly fern Cyrtomium falcatum ASPCA: non-toxic (dogs, cats) | 7–10 | fern | 1 ft 5 in. - 2 ft tall | A | NC State Ext. |
| Japanese plum yew Cephalotaxus harringtonia not in ASPCA list | 6–9 | shrub | 5 ft - 10 ft tall | A | NC State Ext. |
| Little bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium not in ASPCA list | 3–9 | grass | 2 ft - 4 ft tall | A | NC State Ext. |
| Marginal wood fern Dryopteris marginalis not in ASPCA list | 4–9 | fern | 1 ft 6 in. - 3 ft tall | A | NC State Ext. |
| Northern bayberry Myrica pensylvanica not in ASPCA list | 3–7 | shrub | 6 ft - 8 ft tall | A | NC State Ext. |
| Northern sea oats Chasmanthium latifolium not in ASPCA list | 5–9 | grass | 2 ft - 5 ft tall | A | NC State Ext. |
| Oregon grape Mahonia aquifolium ASPCA: non-toxic (dogs, cats) | 5–8 | shrub | 3 ft - 6 ft tall | A | NC State Ext. |
| Ostrich fern Matteuccia struthiopteris not in ASPCA list | 3–8 | fern | 3 ft - 5 ft tall | A | NC State Ext. |
| Paper birch Betula papyrifera not in ASPCA list | 2–7 | tree | 50 ft - 70 ft tall | A | NC State Ext. |
| Pawpaw Asimina triloba not in ASPCA list | 5–9 | tree | 15 ft - 30 ft tall | A | NC State Ext. |
| Pitch pine Pinus rigida not in ASPCA list | 4–7 | tree | 40 ft - 60 ft tall | A | NC State Ext. |
| River birch Betula nigra not in ASPCA list | 4–9 | tree | 30 ft - 70 ft tall | A | NC State Ext. |
| Rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis ASPCA: non-toxic (dogs, cats) | 8–10 | shrub | 4 ft - 5 ft tall | A | NC State Ext. |
| Royal fern Osmunda regalis not in ASPCA list | 3–10 | fern | 5 ft - 6 ft tall | A | NC State Ext. |
| Russian arborvitae Microbiota decussata not in ASPCA list | 3–7 | groundcover | 1 ft - 1 ft 6 in. tall | A | NC State Ext. |
| Sensitive fern Onoclea sensibilis not in ASPCA list | 2–10 | fern | 1 ft - 2 ft tall | A | NC State Ext. |
| Soft rush Juncus effusus not in ASPCA list | 4–9 | sedge | — | A | NC State Ext. |
| Switchgrass Panicum virgatum not in ASPCA list | 5–9 | grass | 3 ft - 7 ft tall | A | NC State Ext. |
| Threadleaf coreopsis Coreopsis verticillata ASPCA: non-toxic (dogs, cats) | 3–9 | perennial | 2 ft 6 in. - 3 ft tall | A | NC State Ext. |
| Wild ginger Asarum canadense not in ASPCA list | 4–6 | groundcover | 0 ft 6 in. - 1 ft tall | A | NC State Ext. |
| Aaron's beard Hypericum calycinum not in ASPCA list | 5–10 | groundcover | 1 ft - 1 ft 6 in. tall | B | NC State Ext. |
| American bittersweet Celastrus scandens ASPCA: toxic to dogs, cats | 3–8 | vine | 20 ft - 25 ft tall | B | NC State Ext. |
| American elderberry Sambucus canadensis not in ASPCA list | 4–8 | shrub | 5 ft - 12 ft tall | B | NC State Ext. |
| American witch-hazel Hamamelis virginiana not in ASPCA list | 3–9 | shrub | 15 ft - 30 ft tall | B | NC State Ext. |
| Blackhaw viburnum Viburnum prunifolium not in ASPCA list | 3–9 | shrub | 12 ft - 15 ft tall | B | NC State Ext. |
| Butterfly weed Asclepias tuberosa ASPCA: toxic to dogs, cats | 3–9 | perennial | 1 ft - 2 ft tall | B | NC State Ext. |
| Canadian serviceberry Amelanchier canadensis not in ASPCA list | 3–8 | shrub | 15 ft - 25 ft tall | B | NC State Ext. |
| Cherry laurel Prunus laurocerasus ASPCA: toxic to dogs, cats | 6–8 | shrub | 10 ft - 20 ft tall | B | NC State Ext. |
| Chinese holly Ilex cornuta not in ASPCA list | 7–9 | shrub | 8 ft - 15 ft tall | B | NC State Ext. |
| Colorado blue spruce Picea pungens not in ASPCA list | 2–7 | tree | 30 ft - 60 ft tall | B | NC State Ext. |
| Common lilac Syringa vulgaris not in ASPCA list | 3–7 | shrub | 8 ft - 16 ft tall | B | NC State Ext. |
| Common sneezeweed Helenium autumnale not in ASPCA list | 3–8 | perennial | 3 ft - 5 ft tall | B | NC State Ext. |
| Crape myrtle Lagerstroemia indica ASPCA: non-toxic (dogs, cats) | 6–9 | tree | 6 ft - 30 ft tall | B | NC State Ext. |
| Dawn redwood Metasequoia glyptostroboides not in ASPCA list | 4–8 | tree | 62 ft - 100 ft tall | B | NC State Ext. |
| Downy serviceberry Amelanchier arborea not in ASPCA list | 4–9 | tree | 15 ft - 25 ft tall | B | NC State Ext. |
| Eastern red cedar Juniperus virginiana not in ASPCA list | 2–9 | tree | 30 ft - 40 ft tall | B | NC State Ext. |
| Eastern white pine Pinus strobus not in ASPCA list | 3–8 | tree | 50 ft - 80 ft tall | B | NC State Ext. |
| English holly Ilex aquifolium ASPCA: toxic to dogs, cats | 7–8 | tree | 30 ft - 50 ft tall | B | NC State Ext. |
| European beech Fagus sylvatica not in ASPCA list | 4–7 | tree | 50 ft - 60 ft tall | B | NC State Ext. |
| European cranberrybush Viburnum opulus not in ASPCA list | 2–8 | shrub | 12 ft - 16 ft tall | B | NC State Ext. |
| False holly Osmanthus heterophyllus not in ASPCA list | 7–9 | shrub | 8 ft - 20 ft tall | B | NC State Ext. |
| Firethorn Pyracantha coccinea not in ASPCA list | 6–9 | shrub | 6 ft - 18 ft tall | B | NC State Ext. |
| Flowering quince Chaenomeles speciosa not in ASPCA list | 4–8 | shrub | 6 ft - 12 ft tall | B | NC State Ext. |
| Foamflower Tiarella cordifolia not in ASPCA list | 3–8 | perennial | 0 ft 5 in. - 1 ft tall | B | NC State Ext. |
| Goldenrain tree Koelreuteria paniculata not in ASPCA list | 5–8 | tree | 30 ft - 40 ft tall | B | NC State Ext. |
| Honey locust Gleditsia triacanthos ASPCA: non-toxic (dogs, cats) | 3–8 | tree | 60 ft - 80 ft tall | B | NC State Ext. |
| Inkberry Ilex glabra not in ASPCA list | 4–11 | shrub | 5 ft - 10 ft tall | B | NC State Ext. |
| Japanese cedar Cryptomeria japonica not in ASPCA list | 5–9 | tree | 50 ft - 70 ft tall | B | NC State Ext. |
| Japanese flowering cherry Prunus serrulata ASPCA: toxic to dogs, cats | 5–8 | tree | 15 ft - 25 ft tall | B | NC State Ext. |
| Japanese kerria Kerria japonica not in ASPCA list | 4–9 | shrub | 3 ft - 7 ft tall | B | NC State Ext. |
| Japanese maple Acer palmatum not in ASPCA list | 5–8 | tree | 15 ft - 25 ft tall | B | NC State Ext. |
| Kousa dogwood Cornus kousa not in ASPCA list | 5–8 | tree | 20 ft - 30 ft tall | B | NC State Ext. |
| Lanceleaf coreopsis Coreopsis lanceolata ASPCA: non-toxic (dogs, cats) | 4–9 | perennial | 1 ft - 3 ft tall | B | NC State Ext. |
| Leadwort Ceratostigma plumbaginoides not in ASPCA list | 5–9 | groundcover | 0 ft 6 in. - 0 ft 8 in. tall | B | NC State Ext. |
| Mondo grass Ophiopogon japonicus not in ASPCA list | 6–10 | groundcover | 0 ft 6 in. - 1 ft tall | B | NC State Ext. |
| Norway spruce Picea abies not in ASPCA list | 2–7 | tree | 40 ft - 60 ft tall | B | NC State Ext. |
| Purple coneflower Echinacea purpurea not in ASPCA list | 3–8 | perennial | 3 ft - 4 ft tall | B | NC State Ext. |
| Red chokeberry Aronia arbutifolia not in ASPCA list | 3–9 | shrub | 6 ft - 12 ft tall | B | NC State Ext. |
| Red maple Acer rubrum ASPCA: non-toxic (dogs, cats) | 2–9 | tree | 40 ft - 120 ft tall | B | NC State Ext. |
| Red osier dogwood Cornus sericea not in ASPCA list | 2–7 | shrub | 5 ft - 9 ft tall | B | NC State Ext. |
| Rose of Sharon Hibiscus syriacus ASPCA: non-toxic (dogs, cats) | 5–9 | shrub | 8 ft - 12 ft tall | B | NC State Ext. |
| Scarlet beebalm Monarda didyma not in ASPCA list | 4–9 | perennial | 2 ft - 4 ft tall | B | NC State Ext. |
| Shrubby St. John's-wort Hypericum prolificum not in ASPCA list | 3–8 | shrub | 1 ft - 5 ft tall | B | NC State Ext. |
| Smoke tree Cotinus coggygria not in ASPCA list | 4–8 | shrub | 10 ft - 15 ft tall | B | NC State Ext. |
| Sourwood Oxydendrum arboreum not in ASPCA list | 5–9 | tree | 20 ft - 30 ft tall | B | NC State Ext. |
| Spicebush Lindera benzoin not in ASPCA list | 5–9 | shrub | 8 ft - 15 ft tall | B | NC State Ext. |
| Stokes' aster Stokesia laevis not in ASPCA list | 5–9 | perennial | 1 ft - 2 ft tall | B | NC State Ext. |
| Striped maple Acer pensylvanicum not in ASPCA list | 3–7 | tree | 15 ft - 35 ft tall | B | NC State Ext. |
| Sugar maple Acer saccharum not in ASPCA list | 3–8 | tree | 40 ft - 120 ft tall | B | NC State Ext. |
| Swamp milkweed Asclepias incarnata ASPCA: toxic to dogs, cats | 3–9 | perennial | 3 ft - 5 ft tall | B | NC State Ext. |
| Sweetshrub Calycanthus floridus not in ASPCA list | 4–9 | shrub | 6 ft - 12 ft tall | B | NC State Ext. |
| Tulip poplar Liriodendron tulipifera ASPCA: non-toxic (dogs, cats) | 4–9 | tree | 80 ft - 120 ft tall | B | NC State Ext. |
| Virginia bluebells Mertensia virginica not in ASPCA list | 3–9 | perennial | 1 ft 6 in. - 2 ft tall | B | NC State Ext. |
| Virginia sweetspire Itea virginica not in ASPCA list | 5–9 | shrub | 4 ft - 8 ft tall | B | NC State Ext. |
| Weigela Weigela florida not in ASPCA list | 4–8 | shrub | 6 ft - 10 ft tall | B | NC State Ext. |
| Winterberry Ilex verticillata not in ASPCA list | 3–9 | shrub | 3 ft - 15 ft tall | B | NC State Ext. |
| Wintergreen Gaultheria procumbens not in ASPCA list | 3–7 | groundcover | 0 ft 4 in. - 0 ft 8 in. tall | B | NC State Ext. |
| Woodland sage Salvia nemorosa not in ASPCA list | 4–8 | perennial | 1 ft 6 in. - 3 ft tall | B | NC State Ext. |
| Yarrow Achillea millefolium ASPCA: toxic to dogs, cats | 3–9 | perennial | 1 ft - 3 ft tall | B | NC State Ext. |
No plants match those filters.
Find your zone on the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map[4]. Zones/height: NC State Extension where linked[2]. Pet flag: ASPCA list[3]; "not in ASPCA list" means unknown, not safe.
Checked 2026-10-15. Informational only, not legal or professional advice.
Deer-resistant but invasive — skip these
Rated A or B by Rutgers[1], but on at least one state's legal list or Virginia DCR's invasive list: Beefsteak plant (Perilla frutescens), Bigleaf periwinkle (Vinca major), Chinese silvergrass (Miscanthus sinensis), Cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica), Common periwinkle (Vinca minor), Giant reed (Arundo donax), Golden bamboo (Phyllostachys aurea), Japanese pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis), Japanese spiraea (Spiraea japonica), Japanese wisteria (Wisteria floribunda), Leatherleaf mahonia (Mahonia bealei), Mimosa (Albizia julibrissin). Deer avoiding a plant is one reason invasives spread. Check your state →
Rabbits?
We don't have an Extension rabbit-resistance rating dataset yet, so we don't filter for it. We won't guess.
All 508 Rutgers ratingsBarberry & burning bush replacementsPet-safe plantsPrivacy hedges
Free check: is a plant legal, invasive or pet-toxic where you live? →