Desert Marigold
Baileya multiradiata
Deer tend to walk past leaves deer find unappealing — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 12–18 in tall.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 12–18 in
- Blooms Mar–Oct
Arizona · Zones 5–10
Deer-Resistant Native Plants in Arizona
Native plants deer tend to walk past — the aromatic, fuzzy, and bitter-leaved species that survive where browsing is heavy. For Arizona, the right natives are shaped by Sonoran & Chihuahuan deserts, Mogollon Rim and a arid, hot low desert to cool high country climate. Every species below, from Desert Marigold and Pasque Flower to the rest of the list, is genuinely native to Arizona and the wider flora of the desert Southwest and hardy through zones 5–10. 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 Arizona
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 5–10 · see this collection in other states.
Pasque Flower
Pulsatilla patens
Leaves deer find unappealing keep the deer off, 6–12 in tall and rarely touched.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 6–12 in
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Apache Plume
Fallugia paradoxa
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of coarse, bitter foliage.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 3–6 ft
- Blooms Apr–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
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
Deer tend to walk past coarse, bitter foliage — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 1.5–3 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms May–Aug
Gregg's Mistflower
Conoclinium greggii
Deer tend to walk past coarse, bitter foliage — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 1–2 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms May–Oct
Western Columbine
Aquilegia formosa
Browse-resistant thanks to coarse, bitter foliage — a safe bet up to 1.5–3 ft tall.
- Part shade
- Average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jul
Autumn Sage
Salvia greggii
Browse-resistant thanks to coarse, bitter foliage — a safe bet up to 2–3 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Apr–Oct
Flame Acanthus
Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii
Browse-resistant thanks to leaves deer find unappealing — a safe bet up to 2–4 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Oct
Chocolate Flower
Berlandiera lyrata
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of its scented leaves.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms May–Sep
Desert Willow
Chilopsis linearis
Browse-resistant thanks to coarse, bitter foliage — a safe bet up to 15–25 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 15–25 ft
- Blooms May–Sep
Blanketflower
Gaillardia aristata
Leaves deer find unappealing keep the deer off, 1–2.5 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Anise Hyssop
Agastache foeniculum
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of the strong-smelling foliage.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
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
Prairie Smoke
Geum triflorum
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of coarse, bitter foliage.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 6–16 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Purple Prairie Clover
Dalea purpurea
Tough, unpalatable leaves keep the deer off, 1–3 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1–3 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
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
Browse-resistant thanks to tough, unpalatable leaves — a safe bet up to 1.5–2.5 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Fragrant Sumac
Rhus aromatica
Deer tend to walk past coarse, bitter foliage — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 2–6 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–6 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Oregon Grape
Berberis aquifolium
Tough, unpalatable leaves keep the deer off, 3–6 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 3–6 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Bearberry
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Deer tend to walk past leaves deer find unappealing — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 4–8 in tall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
Deer tend to walk past tough, unpalatable leaves — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 2–4 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Fall color
Sourcing
Where to find these in Arizona
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.