Great Blue Lobelia
Lobelia siphilitica
Deer tend to walk past leaves deer find unappealing — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 2–3 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Aug–Sep
Maine · Zones 3–6
Deer-Resistant Native Plants in Maine
Native plants deer tend to walk past — the aromatic, fuzzy, and bitter-leaved species that survive where browsing is heavy. Every species here is genuinely native to Maine and the wider flora of the Northeast and hardy through zones 3–6 — proven performers for Maine's cool, short summers climate across Acadian forest & coastal lowlands, not a generic list. Local standouts include Great Blue Lobelia and Foamflower. 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
36 native species for Maine
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 3–6 · see this collection in other states.
Foamflower
Tiarella cordifolia
Browse-resistant thanks to leaves deer find unappealing — a safe bet up to 6–12 in tall.
- Part shade
- Average
- 6–12 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Lanceleaf Coreopsis
Coreopsis lanceolata
Deer tend to walk past leaves deer find unappealing — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 1.5–2 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Wild Bleeding Heart
Dicentra eximia
Deer tend to walk past tough, unpalatable leaves — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 12–18 in tall.
- Part shade
- Average
- 12–18 in
- Blooms Apr–Aug
Showy Goldenrod
Solidago speciosa
Browse-resistant thanks to tough, unpalatable leaves — a safe bet up to 2–4 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Sep–Oct
Wild Geranium
Geranium maculatum
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of tough, unpalatable leaves.
- Part shade
- Average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Dense Blazing Star
Liatris spicata
Deer tend to walk past leaves deer find unappealing — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 2–4 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Virginia Bluebells
Mertensia virginica
Deer tend to walk past leaves deer find unappealing — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 1–2 ft tall.
- Part shade
- Average–wet
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms Mar–May
Foxglove Beardtongue
Penstemon digitalis
Deer tend to walk past leaves deer find unappealing — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 2–4 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Culver's Root
Veronicastrum virginicum
Browse-resistant thanks to coarse, bitter foliage — a safe bet up to 3–5 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Wild Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
Deer tend to walk past coarse, bitter foliage — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 1–2.5 ft tall.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Golden Alexanders
Zizia aurea
Deer tend to walk past tough, unpalatable leaves — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 1.5–2.5 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
Browse-resistant thanks to its scented leaves — a safe bet up to 2–4 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Short-Toothed Mountain Mint
Pycnanthemum muticum
Deer tend to walk past its scented leaves — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 2–3 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
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
Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
Coarse, bitter foliage keeps the deer off, 1.5–3 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
Deer tend to walk past leaves deer find unappealing — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 2–4 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
Deer tend to walk past coarse, bitter foliage — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 1.5–3 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms May–Aug
Anise Hyssop
Agastache foeniculum
Deer tend to walk past its scented leaves — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 2–4 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Wild Lupine
Lupinus perennis
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of tough, unpalatable leaves.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Virginia Creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Deer tend to walk past coarse, bitter foliage — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 30–50 ft tall.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 30–50 ft
- Blooms Jun
Bearberry
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Deer tend to walk past tough, unpalatable leaves — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 4–8 in tall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Creeping Phlox
Phlox subulata
Deer tend to walk past coarse, bitter foliage — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 4–8 in tall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Wild Ginger
Asarum canadense
Deer tend to walk past leaves deer find unappealing — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 4–8 in tall.
- Part shade
- Average
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
12 more also qualify: Fragrant Sumac, Ninebark, New Jersey Tea, Spicebush, Indian Grass, Little Bluestem, Christmas Fern, Cinnamon Fern, Prairie Dropseed, Pennsylvania Sedge, Switchgrass, Big Bluestem.
Sourcing
Where to find these in Maine
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.