Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of tough, unpalatable leaves.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms May–Aug
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- Deer-resistant
North Carolina · Zones 6–8
Deer-Resistant Native Plants in North Carolina
Native plants deer tend to walk past — the aromatic, fuzzy, and bitter-leaved species that survive where browsing is heavy. For North Carolina, the right natives are shaped by Blue Ridge, Piedmont & Coastal Plain and a humid subtropical to montane climate. Every species below, from Common Yarrow and Aromatic Aster to the rest of the list, is genuinely native to North Carolina 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
41 native species for North Carolina
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 6–8 · see this collection in other states.
Aromatic Aster
Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of coarse, bitter foliage.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Sep–Nov
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
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–Aug
Dense Blazing Star
Liatris spicata
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of tough, unpalatable leaves.
- Full sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Prairie Blazing Star
Liatris pycnostachya
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of tough, unpalatable leaves.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Foxglove Beardtongue
Penstemon digitalis
Tough, unpalatable leaves keep the deer off, 2–4 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Wild Geranium
Geranium maculatum
Leaves deer find unappealing keep the deer off, 1.5–2 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Part shade
- Average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Wild Bleeding Heart
Dicentra eximia
Browse-resistant thanks to tough, unpalatable leaves — a safe bet up to 12–18 in tall.
- Part shade
- Average
- 12–18 in
- Blooms Apr–Aug
Virginia Bluebells
Mertensia virginica
Coarse, bitter foliage keeps the deer off, 1–2 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Part shade
- Average–wet
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms Mar–May
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
Pink Muhly Grass
Muhlenbergia capillaris
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of coarse, bitter foliage.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Sep–Oct
Lanceleaf Coreopsis
Coreopsis lanceolata
Coarse, bitter foliage keeps the deer off, 1.5–2 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Wild Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
Deer tend to walk past tough, unpalatable leaves — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 1–2.5 ft tall.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Turk's Cap
Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of leaves deer find unappealing.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 2–5 ft
- Blooms May–Oct
Short-Toothed Mountain Mint
Pycnanthemum muticum
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of the strong-smelling foliage.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Foamflower
Tiarella cordifolia
Browse-resistant thanks to tough, unpalatable leaves — a safe bet up to 6–12 in tall.
- Part shade
- Average
- 6–12 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
Coarse, bitter foliage keeps the deer off, 2–4 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
American Beautyberry
Callicarpa americana
Leaves deer find unappealing keep the deer off, 4–7 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 4–7 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Great Blue Lobelia
Lobelia siphilitica
Deer tend to walk past coarse, bitter foliage — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 2–3 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Aug–Sep
Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa
Browse-resistant thanks to leaves deer find unappealing — a safe bet up to 1.5–2.5 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
Browse-resistant thanks to tough, unpalatable leaves — a safe bet up to 1.5–3 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Golden Alexanders
Zizia aurea
Deer tend to walk past coarse, bitter foliage — 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
Showy Goldenrod
Solidago speciosa
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of coarse, bitter foliage.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Sep–Oct
Stiff Goldenrod
Solidago rigida
Deer tend to walk past tough, unpalatable leaves — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 3–5 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Aug–Oct
17 more also qualify: Creeping Phlox, Wild Ginger, Ninebark, Virginia Creeper, Fragrant Sumac, Spicebush, New Jersey Tea, Wild Lupine, Rattlesnake Master, Little Bluestem, Pennsylvania Sedge, Switchgrass, Indian Grass, Christmas Fern, Big Bluestem, Cinnamon Fern, Prairie Dropseed.
Sourcing
Where to find these in North Carolina
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.