Deer-Resistant Plants for Full Sun

Plants for beds that get six or more hours of sun, all rated for how often deer damage them. Filter by type, height, and water needs. Split into narrower lists below.

More specific collections

A position in full sun gets six hours or more of direct light, takes the heat of the day and loses water faster than anywhere else. There are drought-tolerant plants here, and some of them take the heat once established. Most need very little after their first year. Mulch does more here than anywhere else, and one deep watering a week beats a daily sprinkle.

plants: 1,726
hardiness zones: 3 to 12

Deer leave these plants alone, and they still flower. There are plants flowering in spring, summer and late autumn, and the final flowers carry the garden into the cold. Most of the colour is white, purple and yellow.

spring: 766
summer: 807
late autumn: 390

Perennials and shrubs do most of the work here, and the planting can be put together in almost endless ways. Allium, Pinus and Carex have the most entries, and borders and naturalising are the commonest uses.

perennials: 1,277
borders: 681
naturalising: 476