Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of tough, unpalatable leaves.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms May–Aug
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- Deer-resistant
Washington, D.C. · Zone 7
Deer-Resistant Native Plants in Washington, D.C.
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 Washington, D.C. and the wider flora of the Mid-Atlantic and hardy through zone 7 — proven performers for Washington, D.C.'s humid, four-season climate across Northern Piedmont & Potomac fall line, not a generic list. Local standouts include Common Yarrow and Wild Geranium. 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
39 native species for Washington, D.C.
Each one native to your region and hardy in zone 7 · see this collection in other states.
Wild Geranium
Geranium maculatum
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of coarse, bitter foliage.
- Part shade
- Average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
American Beautyberry
Callicarpa americana
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of tough, unpalatable leaves.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 4–7 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Dense Blazing Star
Liatris spicata
Deer tend to walk past leaves deer find unappealing — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 2–4 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Wild Bleeding Heart
Dicentra eximia
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of coarse, bitter foliage.
- Part shade
- Average
- 12–18 in
- Blooms Apr–Aug
Foamflower
Tiarella cordifolia
Browse-resistant thanks to coarse, bitter foliage — a safe bet up to 6–12 in tall.
- Part shade
- Average
- 6–12 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
Browse-resistant thanks to aromatic foliage — a safe bet up to 2–4 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of leaves deer find unappealing.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Culver's Root
Veronicastrum virginicum
Coarse, bitter foliage keeps the deer off, 3–5 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Short-Toothed Mountain Mint
Pycnanthemum muticum
Deer tend to walk past its scented leaves — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 2–3 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
Coarse, bitter foliage keeps the deer off, 1.5–3 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Wild Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
Deer tend to walk past tough, unpalatable leaves — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 1–2.5 ft tall.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Lanceleaf Coreopsis
Coreopsis lanceolata
Browse-resistant thanks to leaves deer find unappealing — a safe bet up to 1.5–2 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of tough, unpalatable leaves.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Showy Goldenrod
Solidago speciosa
Deer tend to walk past coarse, bitter foliage — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 2–4 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Sep–Oct
Pink Muhly Grass
Muhlenbergia capillaris
Coarse, bitter foliage keeps the deer off, 2–3 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Sep–Oct
Aromatic Aster
Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
Tough, unpalatable leaves keep the deer off, 1.5–2.5 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Sep–Nov
Great Blue Lobelia
Lobelia siphilitica
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of leaves deer find unappealing.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Aug–Sep
Golden Alexanders
Zizia aurea
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of coarse, bitter foliage.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Virginia Bluebells
Mertensia virginica
Browse-resistant thanks to coarse, bitter foliage — a safe bet up to 1–2 ft tall.
- Part shade
- Average–wet
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms Mar–May
Foxglove Beardtongue
Penstemon digitalis
Coarse, bitter foliage keeps the deer off, 2–4 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Rattlesnake Master
Eryngium yuccifolium
Deer tend to walk past coarse, bitter foliage — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 3–5 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Wild Lupine
Lupinus perennis
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of leaves deer find unappealing.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Wild Ginger
Asarum canadense
Coarse, bitter foliage keeps the deer off, 4–8 in tall and rarely touched.
- Part shade
- Average
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
15 more also qualify: Spicebush, New Jersey Tea, Ninebark, Stiff Goldenrod, Virginia Creeper, Fragrant Sumac, Creeping Phlox, Little Bluestem, Big Bluestem, Switchgrass, Prairie Dropseed, Indian Grass, Christmas Fern, Cinnamon Fern, Pennsylvania Sedge.
Sourcing
Where to find these in Washington, D.C.
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.