Pasque Flower
Pulsatilla patens
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of leaves deer find unappealing.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 6–12 in
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Utah · Zones 4–8
Deer-Resistant Native Plants in Utah
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 Utah and the wider flora of the Mountain West and hardy through zones 4–8 — proven performers for Utah's arid, cold winters, high sun climate across Wasatch Range & Colorado Plateau, not a generic list. Local standouts include Pasque Flower and Rocky Mountain Penstemon. 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
23 native species for Utah
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 4–8 · see this collection in other states.
Rocky Mountain Penstemon
Penstemon strictus
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of tough, unpalatable leaves.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
The strong-smelling 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
Coarse, bitter foliage keeps the deer off, 1.5–3 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms May–Aug
Western Columbine
Aquilegia formosa
Deer tend to walk past coarse, bitter foliage — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 1.5–3 ft tall.
- Part shade
- Average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jul
Desert Marigold
Baileya multiradiata
Browse-resistant thanks to coarse, bitter foliage — a safe bet up to 12–18 in tall.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 12–18 in
- Blooms Mar–Oct
Anise Hyssop
Agastache foeniculum
The strong-smelling foliage keeps the deer off, 2–4 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Flame Acanthus
Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii
Leaves deer find unappealing keep the deer off, 2–4 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Oct
Prairie Smoke
Geum triflorum
Leaves deer find unappealing keep the deer off, 6–16 in tall and rarely touched.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 6–16 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Desert Willow
Chilopsis linearis
Tough, unpalatable leaves keep the deer off, 15–25 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 15–25 ft
- Blooms May–Sep
Blanketflower
Gaillardia aristata
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of tough, unpalatable leaves.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Firecracker Penstemon
Penstemon eatonii
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of coarse, bitter foliage.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms Mar–May
Gregg's Mistflower
Conoclinium greggii
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of tough, unpalatable leaves.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms May–Oct
Apache Plume
Fallugia paradoxa
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of tough, unpalatable leaves.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 3–6 ft
- Blooms Apr–Sep
Chocolate Flower
Berlandiera lyrata
Deer tend to walk past its scented leaves — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 1–2 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms May–Sep
Autumn Sage
Salvia greggii
Deer tend to walk past coarse, bitter foliage — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 2–3 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Apr–Oct
Fragrant Sumac
Rhus aromatica
Deer tend to walk past leaves deer find unappealing — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 2–6 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–6 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Blue Grama
Bouteloua gracilis
Browse-resistant thanks to leaves deer find unappealing — a safe bet up to 8–20 in tall.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 8–20 in
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Sideoats Grama
Bouteloua curtipendula
Deer tend to walk past leaves deer find unappealing — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 1.5–2.5 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Purple Prairie Clover
Dalea purpurea
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of leaves deer find unappealing.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1–3 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Bearberry
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of tough, unpalatable leaves.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Oregon Grape
Berberis aquifolium
Browse-resistant thanks to tough, unpalatable leaves — a safe bet up to 3–6 ft tall.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 3–6 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
Browse-resistant thanks to coarse, bitter foliage — a safe bet up to 2–4 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Fall color
Sourcing
Where to find these in Utah
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.