Western Columbine
Aquilegia formosa
Coarse, bitter foliage keeps the deer off, 1.5–3 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Part shade
- Average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jul
- Home
- By state
- Washington
- Deer-resistant
Washington · Zones 4–8
Deer-Resistant Native Plants in Washington
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 and the wider flora of the Pacific Northwest and hardy through zones 4–8 — proven performers for Washington's wet maritime west, dry east climate across Puget lowland, Cascades & Columbia Plateau, not a generic list. Local standouts include Western Columbine and California Lilac. 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
14 native species for Washington
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 4–8 · see this collection in other states.
California Lilac
Ceanothus thyrsiflorus
Tough, unpalatable leaves keep the deer off, 6–20 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 6–20 ft
- Blooms Mar–May
Red-Flowering Currant
Ribes sanguineum
Browse-resistant thanks to leaves deer find unappealing — a safe bet up to 5–9 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 5–9 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
Leaves deer find unappealing keep the deer off, 1.5–3 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms May–Aug
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
Apache Plume
Fallugia paradoxa
Deer tend to walk past coarse, bitter foliage — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 3–6 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 3–6 ft
- Blooms Apr–Sep
Rocky Mountain Penstemon
Penstemon strictus
Leaves deer find unappealing keep the deer off, 1.5–2.5 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Pasque Flower
Pulsatilla patens
Deer tend to walk past leaves deer find unappealing — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 6–12 in tall.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 6–12 in
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Firecracker Penstemon
Penstemon eatonii
Deer tend to walk past tough, unpalatable leaves — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 1.5–3 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms Mar–May
Blanketflower
Gaillardia aristata
Tough, unpalatable leaves keep the deer off, 1–2.5 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Oregon Grape
Berberis aquifolium
Leaves deer find unappealing keep the deer off, 3–6 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 3–6 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Blue Grama
Bouteloua gracilis
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of leaves deer find unappealing.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 8–20 in
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Bearberry
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Deer tend to walk past coarse, bitter foliage — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 4–8 in tall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Hairy Manzanita
Arctostaphylos columbiana
Browse-resistant thanks to coarse, bitter foliage — a safe bet up to 3–9 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 3–9 ft
- Blooms Mar–May
Sourcing
Where to find these in Washington
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.