Pasque Flower
Pulsatilla patens
Browse-resistant thanks to coarse, bitter foliage — a safe bet up to 6–12 in tall.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 6–12 in
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Idaho · Zones 4–6
Deer-Resistant Native Plants in Idaho
Native plants deer tend to walk past — the aromatic, fuzzy, and bitter-leaved species that survive where browsing is heavy. For Idaho, the right natives are shaped by Columbia Plateau & Northern Rockies and a semi-arid to montane climate. Every species below, from Pasque Flower and Blanketflower to the rest of the list, is genuinely native to Idaho and the wider flora of the Mountain West and hardy through zones 4–6. 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
18 native species for Idaho
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 4–6 · see this collection in other states.
Blanketflower
Gaillardia aristata
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of coarse, bitter foliage.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
Deer tend to walk past tough, unpalatable leaves — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 1.5–3 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms May–Aug
Red-Flowering Currant
Ribes sanguineum
Deer tend to walk past tough, unpalatable leaves — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 5–9 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 5–9 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Western Columbine
Aquilegia formosa
Browse-resistant thanks to leaves deer find unappealing — a safe bet up to 1.5–3 ft tall.
- Part shade
- Average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jul
Anise Hyssop
Agastache foeniculum
Browse-resistant thanks to the strong-smelling foliage — a safe bet up to 2–4 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Firecracker Penstemon
Penstemon eatonii
Leaves deer find unappealing keep the deer off, 1.5–3 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms Mar–May
Apache Plume
Fallugia paradoxa
Browse-resistant thanks to coarse, bitter foliage — a safe bet up to 3–6 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 3–6 ft
- Blooms Apr–Sep
Rocky Mountain Penstemon
Penstemon strictus
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of leaves deer find unappealing.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Prairie Smoke
Geum triflorum
Coarse, bitter foliage keeps the deer off, 6–16 in tall and rarely touched.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 6–16 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
Deer tend to walk past its scented leaves — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 2–4 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Purple Prairie Clover
Dalea purpurea
Deer tend to walk past tough, unpalatable leaves — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 1–3 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1–3 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Sideoats Grama
Bouteloua curtipendula
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 Jun–Jul
Oregon Grape
Berberis aquifolium
Browse-resistant thanks to leaves deer find unappealing — a safe bet up to 3–6 ft tall.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 3–6 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Fragrant Sumac
Rhus aromatica
Browse-resistant thanks to tough, unpalatable leaves — a safe bet up to 2–6 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–6 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Bearberry
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Tough, unpalatable leaves keep the deer off, 4–8 in tall and rarely touched.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Blue Grama
Bouteloua gracilis
Deer tend to walk past leaves deer find unappealing — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 8–20 in tall.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 8–20 in
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
Leaves deer find unappealing keep the deer off, 2–4 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Fall color
Sourcing
Where to find these in Idaho
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.