Lanceleaf Coreopsis
Coreopsis lanceolata
Leaves deer find unappealing keep the deer off, 1.5–2 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
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- Deer-resistant
South Carolina · Zones 7–9
Deer-Resistant Native Plants in South Carolina
Native plants deer tend to walk past — the aromatic, fuzzy, and bitter-leaved species that survive where browsing is heavy. South Carolina sits in a landscape of Sandhills, Piedmont & Lowcountry, and the natives that thrive here are the ones built for its humid subtropical character. The list below — led by Lanceleaf Coreopsis and Wild Geranium — is filtered to species genuinely native to South Carolina and the wider flora of the Southeast and hardy through zones 7–9. 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
40 native species for South Carolina
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 7–9 · see this collection in other states.
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
American Beautyberry
Callicarpa americana
Browse-resistant thanks to leaves deer find unappealing — a safe bet up to 4–7 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 4–7 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Aromatic Aster
Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
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 Sep–Nov
Short-Toothed Mountain Mint
Pycnanthemum muticum
Its scented leaves keep the deer off, 2–3 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Wild Bleeding Heart
Dicentra eximia
Browse-resistant thanks to leaves deer find unappealing — a safe bet up to 12–18 in tall.
- Part shade
- Average
- 12–18 in
- Blooms Apr–Aug
Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa
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 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
Foxglove Beardtongue
Penstemon digitalis
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of coarse, bitter foliage.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Prairie Blazing Star
Liatris pycnostachya
Browse-resistant thanks to coarse, bitter foliage — a safe bet up to 3–5 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
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 Jun–Sep
Turk's Cap
Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii
Browse-resistant thanks to tough, unpalatable leaves — a safe bet up to 2–5 ft tall.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 2–5 ft
- Blooms May–Oct
Showy Goldenrod
Solidago speciosa
Coarse, bitter foliage keeps the deer off, 2–4 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Sep–Oct
Virginia Bluebells
Mertensia virginica
Deer tend to walk past tough, unpalatable leaves — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 1–2 ft tall.
- Part shade
- Average–wet
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms Mar–May
Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
Browse-resistant thanks to tough, unpalatable leaves — a safe bet up to 1.5–3 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms May–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
Pink Muhly Grass
Muhlenbergia capillaris
Coarse, bitter foliage keeps the deer off, 2–3 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Sep–Oct
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
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of the strong-smelling foliage.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Culver's Root
Veronicastrum virginicum
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of tough, unpalatable leaves.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
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
Golden Alexanders
Zizia aurea
Deer tend to walk past leaves deer find unappealing — 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
Great Blue Lobelia
Lobelia siphilitica
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of coarse, bitter foliage.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Aug–Sep
Ninebark
Physocarpus opulifolius
Leaves deer find unappealing keep the deer off, 5–10 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Full–part sun
- Dry to wet
- 5–10 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
16 more also qualify: Fragrant Sumac, New Jersey Tea, Creeping Phlox, Wild Lupine, Virginia Creeper, Wild Ginger, Spicebush, Stiff Goldenrod, Rattlesnake Master, Switchgrass, Cinnamon Fern, Indian Grass, Pennsylvania Sedge, Christmas Fern, Big Bluestem, Little Bluestem.
Sourcing
Where to find these in South 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.