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Arkansas · Zones 6–8

Deer-Resistant Native Plants in Arkansas

Native plants deer tend to walk past — the aromatic, fuzzy, and bitter-leaved species that survive where browsing is heavy. For Arkansas, the right natives are shaped by Ozark Highlands & Mississippi Alluvial Plain and a humid subtropical climate. Every species below, from Wild Columbine and Pasque Flower to the rest of the list, is genuinely native to Arkansas and the wider flora of the Southeast and hardy through zones 6–8. No plant is truly deer-proof when winters are hard and the herd is hungry, but deer reliably avoid aromatic foliage (mints and salvias), fuzzy or coarse leaves, and toxic or bitter sap. Lean on those traits, plant the few irresistible things close to the house, and a new bed will sail through its first season far more often than not.

The plants

50 native species for Arkansas

Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 6–8 · see this collection in other states.

Perennial wildflower

Wild Columbine

Aquilegia canadensis

Browse-resistant thanks to coarse, bitter foliage — a safe bet up to 1–2.5 ft tall.

  • Part shade
  • Dry–average
  • 1–2.5 ft
  • Blooms Apr–Jun
Perennial wildflower

Showy Goldenrod

Solidago speciosa

Deer tend to walk past coarse, bitter foliage — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 2–4 ft tall.

  • Full–part sun
  • Dry–average
  • 2–4 ft
  • Blooms Sep–Oct
Perennial wildflower

Butterfly Weed

Asclepias tuberosa

Deer tend to walk past coarse, bitter foliage — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 1.5–2.5 ft tall.

  • Full sun
  • Dry
  • 1.5–2.5 ft
  • Blooms Jun–Aug
Perennial wildflower

Culver's Root

Veronicastrum virginicum

Deer tend to walk past coarse, bitter foliage — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 3–5 ft tall.

  • Full–part sun
  • Average–wet
  • 3–5 ft
  • Blooms Jun–Aug
Subshrub

Turk's Cap

Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii

Browse-resistant thanks to coarse, bitter foliage — a safe bet up to 2–5 ft tall.

  • Sun to shade
  • Dry–average
  • 2–5 ft
  • Blooms May–Oct
Perennial wildflower

Common Yarrow

Achillea millefolium

Leaves deer find unappealing keep the deer off, 1.5–3 ft tall and rarely touched.

  • Full sun
  • Dry–average
  • 1.5–3 ft
  • Blooms May–Aug
Ornamental grass

Pink Muhly Grass

Muhlenbergia capillaris

One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of leaves deer find unappealing.

  • Full sun
  • Dry–average
  • 2–3 ft
  • Blooms Sep–Oct
Shrub

American Beautyberry

Callicarpa americana

Deer tend to walk past tough, unpalatable leaves — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 4–7 ft tall.

  • Full–part sun
  • Dry–average
  • 4–7 ft
  • Blooms Jun–Jul
Perennial wildflower

Blanketflower

Gaillardia aristata

Coarse, bitter foliage keeps the deer off, 1–2.5 ft tall and rarely touched.

  • Full sun
  • Dry
  • 1–2.5 ft
  • Blooms Jun–Sep
Perennial wildflower

Chocolate Flower

Berlandiera lyrata

Deer tend to walk past aromatic foliage — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 1–2 ft tall.

  • Full sun
  • Dry
  • 1–2 ft
  • Blooms May–Sep
Perennial wildflower

Foamflower

Tiarella cordifolia

Leaves deer find unappealing keep the deer off, 6–12 in tall and rarely touched.

  • Part shade
  • Average
  • 6–12 in
  • Blooms Apr–May
Perennial wildflower

Golden Alexanders

Zizia aurea

Leaves deer find unappealing keep the deer off, 1.5–2.5 ft tall and rarely touched.

  • Full–part sun
  • Average–wet
  • 1.5–2.5 ft
  • Blooms Apr–Jun
Perennial wildflower

Prairie Smoke

Geum triflorum

Browse-resistant thanks to leaves deer find unappealing — a safe bet up to 6–16 in tall.

  • Full–part sun
  • Dry
  • 6–16 in
  • Blooms Apr–May
Perennial wildflower

Wild Geranium

Geranium maculatum

Deer tend to walk past coarse, bitter foliage — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 1.5–2 ft tall.

  • Part shade
  • Average
  • 1.5–2 ft
  • Blooms Apr–Jun
Perennial wildflower

Wild Bergamot

Monarda fistulosa

Deer tend to walk past the strong-smelling foliage — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 2–4 ft tall.

  • Full–part sun
  • Dry–average
  • 2–4 ft
  • Blooms Jun–Aug
Perennial wildflower

Aromatic Aster

Symphyotrichum oblongifolium

Coarse, bitter foliage keeps the deer off, 1.5–2.5 ft tall and rarely touched.

  • Full sun
  • Dry
  • 1.5–2.5 ft
  • Blooms Sep–Nov
Perennial wildflower

Black-Eyed Susan

Rudbeckia hirta

One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of tough, unpalatable leaves.

  • Full–part sun
  • Dry–average
  • 1.5–3 ft
  • Blooms Jun–Sep

26 more also qualify: Anise Hyssop, Purple Coneflower, Wild Bleeding Heart, Virginia Bluebells, Rattlesnake Master, Purple Prairie Clover, New Jersey Tea, Compass Plant, Wild Lupine, Ninebark, Fragrant Sumac, Spicebush, Virginia Creeper, Creeping Phlox, Stiff Goldenrod, Wild Ginger, Blue Grama, Sideoats Grama, Cinnamon Fern, Indian Grass, Little Bluestem, Christmas Fern, Pennsylvania Sedge, Big Bluestem, Prairie Dropseed, Switchgrass.

More for Arkansas
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Sourcing

Where to find these in Arkansas

Seeds & live plants on Amazon

Seed packets, plugs, and starter plants for many of these species ship to your door.

Browse on Amazon

Some links here are affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The surest source of locally-adapted stock is a native-plant nursery or a native plant society sale in your area.