Bambi. He’s so majestic, and part of the joy of living and gardening in Colorado Springs is watching the deer walk through your yard on a peaceful morning. That is, until Bambi gets hungry and devours your plants! Deer are not picky eaters and with a population of 445,000 in Colorado it’s a problem many a local plant lover will run into. Annuals, perennials, and even bulbs are fair game for a snack, but by choosing deer resistant plant materials and spraying safe deer repellants you can enjoy seeing the deer in your yard without feeding the neighborhood herd.

Deer Resistant Plants

It is important to note that no plant is 100% deer proof. A very hungry animal will eat what it must to survive. These plants are known to perform well amongst hungry deer and rabbit.

Perennials:

• • • Black Eyed Susan
    • Blanket Flower
    • Bleeding Heart
    • Catmint
    • Columbine
    • Coneflower
    • Coreopsis
    • Gay Feather
    • Iris
    • Lily of the Valley
    • Lupine
    • May Night Salvia
    • Russian Sage
    • Sedum
    • Shasta Daisy
    • Yarrow

Annuals:

• • Alsyium
  • Bidens
  • Dusty Miller
  • Lobelia
  • Marigolds
  • Salvia
  • Verbena
  • Zinnias

Trees:

• • Crape Myrtle
  • Maple
  • Serviceberry
  • Spruce
  • White Fir

Bushes & Shrubs:

• • Blue Mist Spirea
  • Butterfly Bush
  • Lilac
  • Mock Orange
  • Potentilla
  • Viburnum

Bulbs:

• • Autumn Crocus
  • Daffodil
  • Fritilia
  • Hyacinth

Deer Favorites to Avoid

• Clematis
• Coleus
• Geraniums
• Hosta
• Pansies
• Petunias
• Tulips

If some of your favorite plants and flowers are in line with what deer love to lunch on you can try a deer repellant spray to deter them. The goal with these sprays is to use both a taste and smell that deer do not like. Often this is a combination of mint, egg, and spices. A variety of these sprays are available at local nurseries or you can attempt to make your own.