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
Wyoming · Zones 3–5
Deer-Resistant Native Plants in Wyoming
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 Wyoming and the wider flora of the Mountain West and hardy through zones 3–5 — proven performers for Wyoming's cold, semi-arid, high elevation climate across Rocky Mountain montane & sagebrush steppe, not a generic list. Local standouts include Anise Hyssop and Aromatic Aster. 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 Wyoming
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 3–5 · see this collection in other states.
Aromatic Aster
Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
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 Sep–Nov
Western Columbine
Aquilegia formosa
Leaves deer find unappealing keep the deer off, 1.5–3 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Part shade
- Average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jul
Pasque Flower
Pulsatilla patens
Deer tend to walk past coarse, bitter foliage — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 6–12 in tall.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 6–12 in
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
Leaves deer find unappealing keep the deer off, 1.5–3 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 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
Chocolate Flower
Berlandiera lyrata
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of the strong-smelling foliage.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms May–Sep
Showy Goldenrod
Solidago speciosa
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 Sep–Oct
Apache Plume
Fallugia paradoxa
Deer tend to walk past coarse, bitter foliage — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 3–6 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 3–6 ft
- Blooms Apr–Sep
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
Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
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 Jun–Sep
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
Blanketflower
Gaillardia aristata
Coarse, bitter foliage keeps the deer off, 1–2.5 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
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
Culver's Root
Veronicastrum virginicum
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of leaves deer find unappealing.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jun–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
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of coarse, bitter foliage.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa
Leaves deer find unappealing keep the deer off, 1.5–2.5 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
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
Wild Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
Browse-resistant thanks to tough, unpalatable leaves — a safe bet up to 1–2.5 ft tall.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Dense Blazing Star
Liatris spicata
Deer tend to walk past tough, unpalatable leaves — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 2–4 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Rocky Mountain Penstemon
Penstemon strictus
Deer tend to walk past tough, unpalatable leaves — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 1.5–2.5 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Golden Alexanders
Zizia aurea
Browse-resistant thanks to tough, unpalatable leaves — a safe bet up to 1.5–2.5 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Foxglove Beardtongue
Penstemon digitalis
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of tough, unpalatable leaves.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
17 more also qualify: Oregon Grape, Compass Plant, Blue Grama, Bearberry, Rattlesnake Master, Virginia Creeper, Stiff Goldenrod, New Jersey Tea, Sideoats Grama, Purple Prairie Clover, Ninebark, Fragrant Sumac, Switchgrass, Little Bluestem, Prairie Dropseed, Indian Grass, Big Bluestem.
Sourcing
Where to find these in Wyoming
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.