Aromatic Aster
Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of leaves deer find unappealing.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Sep–Nov
Kansas · Zones 5–7
Deer-Resistant Native Plants in Kansas
Native plants deer tend to walk past — the aromatic, fuzzy, and bitter-leaved species that survive where browsing is heavy. For Kansas, the right natives are shaped by Flint Hills & mixedgrass prairie and a continental, windy, semi-arid west climate. Every species below, from Aromatic Aster and Butterfly Weed to the rest of the list, is genuinely native to Kansas and the wider flora of the Great Plains and hardy through zones 5–7. 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
35 native species for Kansas
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 5–7 · see this collection in other states.
Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of leaves deer find unappealing.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Chocolate Flower
Berlandiera lyrata
Aromatic foliage keeps the deer off, 1–2 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms May–Sep
Great Blue Lobelia
Lobelia siphilitica
Deer tend to walk past tough, unpalatable leaves — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 2–3 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Aug–Sep
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
Foxglove Beardtongue
Penstemon digitalis
Browse-resistant thanks to coarse, bitter foliage — a safe bet up to 2–4 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Prairie Smoke
Geum triflorum
Browse-resistant thanks to coarse, bitter foliage — a safe bet up to 6–16 in tall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 6–16 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Blanketflower
Gaillardia aristata
Deer tend to walk past coarse, bitter foliage — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 1–2.5 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
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
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
Aromatic foliage keeps the deer off, 2–4 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
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
Prairie Blazing Star
Liatris pycnostachya
Browse-resistant thanks to tough, unpalatable leaves — a safe bet up to 3–5 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Lanceleaf Coreopsis
Coreopsis lanceolata
Deer tend to walk past tough, unpalatable leaves — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 1.5–2 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Golden Alexanders
Zizia aurea
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of leaves deer find unappealing.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Anise Hyssop
Agastache foeniculum
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of aromatic foliage.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Showy Goldenrod
Solidago speciosa
Deer tend to walk past tough, unpalatable leaves — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 2–4 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Sep–Oct
Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of leaves deer find unappealing.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Dense Blazing Star
Liatris spicata
Deer tend to walk past coarse, bitter foliage — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 2–4 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
Browse-resistant thanks to leaves deer find unappealing — a safe bet up to 2–4 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Pasque Flower
Pulsatilla patens
Browse-resistant thanks to tough, unpalatable leaves — a safe bet up to 6–12 in tall.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 6–12 in
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Fragrant Sumac
Rhus aromatica
Leaves deer find unappealing keep the deer off, 2–6 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–6 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
New Jersey Tea
Ceanothus americanus
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of coarse, bitter foliage.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–3.5 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Virginia Creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Coarse, bitter foliage keeps the deer off, 30–50 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 30–50 ft
- Blooms Jun
Compass Plant
Silphium laciniatum
Coarse, bitter foliage keeps the deer off, 5–9 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 5–9 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
11 more also qualify: Stiff Goldenrod, Rattlesnake Master, Sideoats Grama, Purple Prairie Clover, Blue Grama, Ninebark, Big Bluestem, Indian Grass, Switchgrass, Prairie Dropseed, Little Bluestem.
Sourcing
Where to find these in Kansas
Seeds & live plants on Amazon
Seed packets, plugs, and starter plants for many of these species ship to your door.
Browse on AmazonSome 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.