Best Deer-Resistant Plants for Birmingham, Alabama

If deer regularly visit your Birmingham yard, you already know how frustrating it can be.

You plant a beautiful new landscape, everything starts growing, and then one morning you walk outside to discover that the deer apparently enjoyed an expensive midnight buffet.

Unfortunately, there really isn't such a thing as a completely deer-proof plant.

When deer are hungry enough, they may eat plants they normally leave alone. But there are plenty of plants they generally find less appealing because of their fragrance, texture, taste, or foliage.

At Andy’s Garden Center, we like to think in terms of deer-resistant plants rather than deer-proof plants.

Here are some of our favorite deer-resistant choices for Birmingham and Central Alabama landscapes.

1. Distylium

Distylium is one of our favorite evergreen shrubs for Birmingham landscapes—and it also tends to be a good choice in areas where deer are a concern.

Its dense evergreen foliage handles our heat and humidity well, and established plants require relatively little maintenance.

Different varieties range from low-growing selections to substantially larger shrubs.

Best location: Full sun to partial shade.

Choose the right variety for your space and you can have a tough evergreen foundation plant without constantly pruning it.

2. Boxwood

Boxwoods have been used in Southern landscapes for generations.

Their dense evergreen foliage works well for foundations, borders, low hedges, containers, and more formal landscapes.

Deer generally avoid boxwoods, making them especially useful where deer pressure is high.

Best location: Sun to partial shade, depending on the variety and site.

Good drainage and airflow are important in Birmingham's hot, humid climate.

3. Juniper

Junipers are another excellent evergreen option for deer-prone landscapes.

Their needle-like foliage isn't particularly appealing to deer, and once established, many varieties handle heat and periods of drought extremely well.

There are low-growing groundcover junipers, spreading shrubs, and upright forms.

Best location: Full sun.

The biggest thing to remember with junipers is drainage. They don't like sitting in wet soil, especially during our rainy periods.

4. Abelia

Abelia gives you a lot for relatively little maintenance.

It handles Birmingham's summer heat, has attractive foliage, and produces flowers over a long season.

Those flowers are also popular with bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.

Best location: Full sun to partial shade.

While deer may occasionally browse abelia, it's generally considered less appealing than many other flowering shrubs.

5. Gardenia

Gardenias are a Southern classic, and their strongly fragrant foliage and flowers can make them less appealing to deer.

Their glossy evergreen leaves look attractive throughout the year, while the fragrant white flowers are one of the unmistakable scents of a Southern garden.

Best location: Sun to partial shade.

Gardenias prefer acidic, well-drained soil and don't want to sit in constantly wet conditions.

Plant them near patios, porches, entrances, or walkways where you can enjoy the fragrance.

6. Rosemary

Sometimes one of the easiest ways to discourage deer is to choose plants with strong fragrances.

Rosemary is a perfect example.

Its aromatic foliage is useful in the kitchen, but deer generally aren't nearly as interested in it as we are.

Best location: Full sun.

Rosemary loves heat but needs excellent drainage. Heavy, constantly wet Alabama clay can be much harder on rosemary than our summer temperatures.

7. Lavender

Lavender's fragrant foliage is another reason deer usually leave it alone.

It can be beautiful in sunny borders, herb gardens, raised beds, and containers.

However, growing lavender successfully in Alabama requires choosing the right location.

Best location: Full sun with excellent drainage and good airflow.

Our humidity and wet soils can be more challenging for lavender than our heat, so avoid low areas where water collects.

8. Salvia

Salvia is one of our favorite flowering plants for a sunny, deer-resistant garden.

Its aromatic foliage helps discourage browsing while its colorful flower spikes attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees.

There are many different salvias available, including both annual and perennial types.

Best location: Full sun.

Salvia is an excellent choice for pollinator gardens and mixed perennial beds.

9. Lantana

When Alabama summer really gets hot, lantana is usually just getting started.

Its strongly scented foliage tends to make it less appealing to deer, while clusters of colorful flowers attract butterflies and other pollinators.

Once established, lantana can also handle periods of dry weather extremely well.

Best location: Full sun.

Some varieties may return year after year in our area, while others are better treated as seasonal plants depending on the winter.

10. Russian Sage

Russian sage is another great choice for sunny areas where deer are a problem.

Its silvery foliage and lavender-blue flowers give the landscape a softer texture, while the aromatic foliage helps make it less appealing to browsing animals.

Best location: Full sun with good drainage.

Like many silver-leaved plants, Russian sage generally prefers conditions on the drier side rather than constantly wet soil.

11. Muhly Grass

Ornamental grasses can be an excellent addition to deer-resistant landscapes.

Pink muhly grass is especially beautiful in Alabama.

For much of the year, it forms a neat mound of fine green foliage. Then fall arrives and airy pink flower plumes appear above the plant.

Best location: Full sun.

Plant several together and the effect in fall can be incredible.

12. Little Bluestem

Little bluestem is a native ornamental grass that brings texture, movement, and seasonal color to the landscape.

Its upright foliage can develop beautiful copper, orange, and reddish tones as temperatures cool.

It's also tough once established and generally isn't at the top of a deer's menu.

Best location: Full sun.

Little bluestem works especially well in native gardens, pollinator gardens, and lower-maintenance landscapes.

13. Daffodils

If deer eat your tulips every spring, try planting more daffodils.

Daffodils are one of the best-known deer-resistant spring bulbs because they contain compounds that make them unappealing to deer and many other animals.

They also return year after year when planted in the right location.

Best location: Full sun to partial sun.

Plant them in groups for a bigger spring display.

14. Hellebores

Need something deer resistant for the shade?

Hellebores are one of our favorites.

Also known as Lenten roses, these perennials produce beautiful flowers in late winter and early spring when relatively little else is blooming.

Their foliage also tends to be avoided by deer.

Best location: Partial shade to shade.

Hellebores are excellent underneath deciduous trees, along shaded walkways, and in woodland-style gardens.

15. Ferns

Many ferns are relatively resistant to deer and can be excellent choices for shady Birmingham landscapes.

Their foliage brings a completely different texture to the garden and looks especially natural underneath mature trees.

Autumn fern is one of our favorites because new growth can emerge with beautiful copper and bronze tones.

Best location: Partial shade to shade.

Moisture requirements vary by type, so choose your fern based on the conditions of the site.

16. Cast Iron Plant

If you have a difficult shady spot and deer are also a concern, cast iron plant deserves a look.

Its large, dark green leaves create a lush appearance, and the plant is incredibly tough once established.

It's especially useful underneath trees, along shaded foundations, and in areas where other plants have struggled.

Best location: Partial shade to deep shade.

Too much direct sun can scorch the leaves.

17. Mahonia

Mahonia's bold, somewhat prickly foliage is one reason deer generally aren't eager to eat it.

Its evergreen foliage provides year-round structure, while yellow flowers add color during the cooler months.

Best location: Partial shade to shade.

Mahonia is a great choice for woodland gardens and shaded areas where you want something with more structure than a perennial.

18. Yarrow

Yarrow is a tough perennial with aromatic, fern-like foliage and clusters of flowers that attract pollinators.

Once established, it handles heat and periods of dry weather well.

Best location: Full sun.

Yarrow works particularly well in pollinator gardens and more natural-looking perennial beds.

What Makes a Plant Deer Resistant?

Deer don't look at plant labels, so there are no guarantees.

But certain characteristics tend to make plants less appealing.

Deer often avoid plants with:

• Strongly scented or aromatic foliage
• Tough or leathery leaves
• Prickly or sharp foliage
• Fuzzy leaves
• Certain bitter or unpleasant-tasting compounds

That's why plants like rosemary, lavender, salvia, juniper, and boxwood tend to fare better than some softer, more tender plants.

Plants Deer Often Love

Sometimes knowing what deer like is just as useful as knowing what they don't.

In Birmingham landscapes, plants that can experience significant deer browsing include:

• Hostas
• Daylilies
• Tulips
• Pansies
• Roses
• Hydrangeas
• Indian hawthorn
• Some azaleas
• Many tender annuals

That doesn't mean you can never plant them.

It simply means you may need additional protection if you live in an area with heavy deer pressure.

Newly Planted Doesn't Mean Deer Resistant Yet

Here's something we see surprisingly often.

A homeowner buys a plant that's considered deer resistant, puts it in the ground, and the deer immediately nibble on it.

Deer are curious.

Fresh nursery growth is also tender, well-watered, and often fertilized, which can make a newly planted shrub more tempting than an established one.

If deer pressure is particularly high in your neighborhood, consider protecting new plantings while they're becoming established.

What About Deer Repellents?

Repellents can help, particularly when you're trying to protect plants that deer find especially appealing.

The key is consistency.

Rain and irrigation can reduce the effectiveness of some products, so they may need to be reapplied according to the label.

It's also a good idea to rotate products or methods occasionally so deer don't become accustomed to one deterrent.

For severe deer pressure, physical barriers may still be the most reliable option.

Create a Landscape Deer Don't Want to Eat

You don't necessarily have to limit your entire landscape to one or two plants.

Instead, think about creating layers of plants deer generally find less appealing.

You might combine evergreen shrubs like distylium and boxwood with ornamental grasses, then add salvia, lantana, hellebores, or other flowering plants for seasonal color.

Using different foliage shapes, textures, heights, and bloom times can create a beautiful landscape without turning your yard into the neighborhood deer buffet.

Remember: Deer Resistant Does Not Mean Deer Proof

This is probably the most important thing to remember.

There is no plant we can promise a deer will never eat.

Deer behavior varies from neighborhood to neighborhood and even from year to year.

During periods when natural food is scarce, deer may browse plants they normally ignore.

A plant that one Birmingham homeowner says deer never touch may get eaten in another neighborhood with a larger deer population.

That's why we prefer to say deer resistant, not deer proof.

Choose Plants for the Rest of Your Yard Too

Deer resistance shouldn't be your only consideration.

Before choosing a plant, also think about:

• How much sunlight the area receives
• Soil drainage
• Mature height and width
• Alabama clay soil
• How much watering it will need
• Whether you want evergreen foliage
• Bloom season
• How much maintenance you want
• How severe the deer pressure is in your neighborhood

The goal is to find a plant that both fits your landscape and isn't particularly appealing to deer.

Need Help With a Deer-Prone Landscape?

If the deer in your neighborhood seem to think your yard is their favorite restaurant, come see us.

Bring a few pictures of the area you're planting and let us know how much sun it receives, whether the soil stays wet or dry, and how much space you have.

The team at Andy’s Garden Center in Vestavia Hills can help you choose shrubs, perennials, ornamental grasses, and seasonal plants that are better suited for areas with deer pressure.

We can't promise the deer will never take a bite.

But we can help you build a landscape that isn't the first thing they want for dinner.

Andy’s Garden Center
3351 Morgan Drive
Vestavia Hills, AL 35216

Serving gardeners throughout Vestavia Hills, Birmingham, Mountain Brook, Homewood, Hoover, and surrounding Central Alabama communities.