Deer Preference Lists

The following lists were compiled mostly from a pamphlet produced by a group of Master Gardeners in Westchester County in upstate New York.

Be careful using the following lists. Deer will eat anything, especially in late winter and early spring. Local conditions will determine results.

Annuals And Biennials Rarely Eaten

• Ageratum Housnainum Ageratum

• Antirrhinum majus Snapdragon

• Begonia x semperflorens-cultoroum Wax Begonia

• Cleome Hasslerana Cleome

• Dahlia species Dahlia

• Datura species Thorn Apple

• Digitalis species Foxglove

• Gaillardia pulchella Blanket Flower

• Heliotropium arborecens Heliotrope

• Hypoestes phyllostachya Polka-Dot Plant

• Ipomoea species Morning Glory

• Looelia Ennus Edging Lobelia

• Mirabalis Jalaoa Four-O'Clock

• Myosotis sylvatica Forget-Me-Not

• Ocimum Basilicum Sweet Basil

• Papaver species Poppy

• Pelargonium x hortonum Zonal Geranium

• Petroselinum crispum Parsley

• Salvia fannacea Blue Salvia

• Senecio Cineraria Dusty Miller

• Silybum species Thistle

• Tagets species Marigold

• Verbena x hybrida Verbena

Herbaceous Perennials Rarely Eaten

• Achellea species Yarrow, Sneezeweed

• Allium Schoenoprasum Chives

• Allium species Ornamental Onion

• Allium tuerosum Garlic Chives

• Alyssum saxatile Basket of Gold

• Amsonia tabemaemontana Amsonia

• Anemone species Anemones

• Angelica Archangelica Angelica

• Aruncus dioicus Wormwood

• Asclepias tuberosa Butterfly Weed

• Astilbe species Astilbe

• Baptisia species False Indigo

• Bergenia species Bergenia

• Boltonia asteroides Boltonia

• Buddleia davidii Butterflybush

• Calluna species Heather

• Campanula carpatica Tussock Bellflower

• Centurea species Knapweed

• Ceratostigma plumbaginoides Plumbago

• Chelone species Turtlehead

• Chrysanthemum coccineum Painted Daisy

• Chrysanthemum x superbum Shasta Daisy

• Chrysanthemum parthenium Feverfew

• Cimicfuga racemosa Bugbane

• Coreospsis species Coreopsis

• Dennstaedtia punctilobula Hay-scented Fern

• Dianthus species Sweet William

• Pinks

• Dicentra exima Bleeding Heart

• Dictamnus albus Gas Plant

• Echinacea purpurea Purple Coneflower

• Echinops species Globe Thistle

• Erica species Heath

• Eupatorium species Joe-Pie Weed

• Euphorbia species Spurge

• Ferns Outdoor ones

• Filipendula species Queen-of-the-Prairie

• Fritallaria Imperialis Crown Imperial

• Geum species Avens

• Gypsophila paniculata Baby's Breath

• Helleborus species HelleDone

• Iberis sempervirens Candytuft

• Kirengeshoma palmata Kirengeshoma

• Lavandula species Lavender

• Liatris spicata Spike Gayfeather

• Lilium lancifolium Tiger Lily

• Limonium latifolium Statice

• Linaria species Toadflax

• Linum perenne Perennial Blue Flax

• Lythrum species Loosestrife

• Matteuccia struthiopteris Ostrich Fern

• Mentha Pulegium Pennyroyal

• Mentha species Mint

• Mitchella repens Partridgeberry

• Monarda didyma Beebalm

• Myosotis scorpiodes Forget-Me-Not

• Myrrhis odorata Sweet Cicely

• Narcissus species Daffodil

• Nepeta species Catmint

• Oenothera tetragona Sundnoos

• Oenothera species Evening Primrose

• Onodea sensibilis Sensitive Fern

• Origanum species Oregano

• Osmunda cinnamornea Cinnamon Fern

• Osmunda claytoniana Interrupted Fern

• Osmunda regalis Royal Fern

• Papaver orientale Oriental Poppy

• Phalaris arundinacea Ribbon Grass

• Platycodon grandiflorus Balloon Flower

• Polimonium caeruleum Jacob's Ladder

• Polystichum acrostichoides Christmas Fern

• Potentilla species Cinquefoil

• Primula species Primrose

• Pulmonaria species Lungwort

• Ranunculus species Buttercup

• Rheum species Rhubarb

• Rosmarinus officinalis Rosemary

• Salvia species Sage

• Saponaria species Soapwort

• Scilla species Scilla

• Solidago species Goldenrod

• Stachys byzantina Lambs Ear

• Tanacetum species Tansy

• Thelypteris noveboracensis New York Fern

• Verbascum species Mullein

• Veronica latifolia Hungarian Speedwell

• Vince major Greater Periwinkle

• Viola labridorica Labrador Violet

• Yucca species Yucca

Perennial Ground Covers Rarely Eaten

• Aegopodium Podagraria Bishop's Weed

• Ajuga reptans Bugleweed

• Asperula oderata Sweet Woodruff

• Convalaria majallis Lily-of-the-Valley

• Epimedium species Barrenwort

• Lamium species Dead Nettle

• Pachysandra terminalis Japanese Pachysandra

• Vinca minor Periwinkle

Perennial Vines Rarely Eaten

• Celastrus species Bittersweet

• Clematis species Clematis

• Lonicera species Honeysuckle

• Wisteria species Wisteria

Trees and Shrubs Rarely Eaten

• Berberis species Barberry

• Berberis vulgaris Common Barberry

• Betula papyrifera Paper Birch

• Buxus sempervirens Common Boxwood

• Elaeagnus angustifolia Russian Olive

• Ilex opaca American Holly

• Leucothoe fontanesiana Drooping Leucothoe

• Picea pungens Colorado Blue Spruce

• Pieris Japonica Mountain Lily 

Annuals and Biennials Sometimes Eaten

• Achimenes sp. Pansy

• Helianthus Annus Sunflowers

• Perennials and Vines Sometimes Eaten

• Endymion sp. Wood Hyacinth

• Geranium maculatum Geranium, Cranesbill

• Hedera Helix English Ivy

• Iris Pseudacorus Yellow Flag water iris

• Paeonia sp. Peony

• Rudbecia sp. Black Eyed Susan

• Sedum Spectabile Autumn Joy Sedum & Others

• Thaictrum sp. Meadow Rue

Annuals and Biennials Often Eaten

• Alcea rosea Hollyhocks

• Impatiens sp. Impatiens

• Tithonia Rotundifolia Mexican Sunflower

Perennials Often Eaten

• Crocus sp Crocus

• Hemerocallis Hybrids Daylilys

• Hosta Hybrids Hosta, Plantain Lily

• Lobelia Cardinalis Cardinal Flower

• Phlox sp. Phlox

• Rosa sp. Roses

• Tulipa sp. Tulips

Trees and Shrubs Seldom Eaten

• Acer Palmatum Japanese Maples

• Betula pendula European Wt Birch

• Chamaecyparis Pisifera filifera Golden Cypress

• Bamboo Nandina Bamboo

• Calastrus scandens American Bittersweet

• Betula pendula European White Birch

• Boxwood species Boxwood

• Buddleia species Butterfly Bush

• Cornus kousa Kousa Dogwood

• Cornus sencea Red Osier Dogwood

• Crataegus laevigata English Hawthorn

• Daphne species Daphne

• Enkianthus campanulatus European Beech

• Erica species Heather & Heaths

• Forsythia species Forsythia

• Gleditsia triacanthos Honey Locust

• Ilex cornuta Chinese Holly

• Ilex glabra Inkberry

• Juniperus chinensis Chinese Junipers

• Kalmia latifolia Mountain Laurel

• Kolkwitzia amabilis Beautybush

• Leylandii Cypress Leyland Cyrpess

• Phormium New Zealand Flax

• Picea abies Norway Spruce

• Picea glauca White Spruce

• Pinus mugo Mugo Pine

• Pinus nigra Austrian Pine

• Pinus resinosa Red Pine

• Pinus rigida Pitch Pine

• Pinus sylvestris Scots Pine

• Prunus serrulata Japanese Flowering

• Salix matsudana tortuosa Corkscrew Willow

• Sassafras albidum Common Sassafras

• Spartium junceum Spanish Broom

• Syringa vulgaris Common Lilac

• Wisteria floribunda Japanese Wisteria

Trees and Shrubs Occasionally Eaten

• Ligustrum Privet

• Mahonia Aguafolia Oregon Grape

• Salix sp Willows

• Syringa sp Lilacs

 *** Please note this is not complete

Trees and Shrubs Often Eaten

• Prunus pisardi nigra Purple Leaf Flowering

• Prunus sp Cherry & Plums

• Malus sp. Apples

• Prunus Plums

• Rhododendron sp. Rhododendrons

• Taxus sp. Yew

• Thuja Occidentalis Arborvitae