86 Deer Resistant Plants

Deer Resistant Plants

As gardeners we would envision our garden as the prettiest on the street, but nature sometimes intervenes with bugs and deer. Deer have been a major nuisance this year to gardeners and these creatures can destroy a plant or plants overnight. Unfortunately, there is not a plant that is 100 percent deer proof, because if the deer are hungry enough they will eat just about any plant. Deer do not like foliage that is rough in texture, pubescent foliage, lemony or scented foliage. The plants listed below has one or all of the foliage characteristics, and to combat the deer, I would like to suggest using the plants listed below in beds and borders, but also use a deer repellent on your property line. Some of the plants listed have a * image, that means some deer sometimes have a little nibble. Plants listed with a spp. ending represents all varieties in that genus.

Anemones, Windflowers - Anemone spp. Type: Perennial corms. Zones: 4–9. Height: 4–36 inches depending on variety. Spacing: 6–12 inches apart depending on variety. Light: Full to partial shade. Uses: Cut flowers, containers, beds and borders, fragrant flowers.

Anise Hyssop - Agastache spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 5-9. Height: 12-36 inches. Spacing: 12-24 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Beds and borders, fragrant flowers, 

Agastache foeniculum - Anise Hyssop

attract hummingbirds and butterflies to the garden.









Aster – Aster spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 4-9. Height: 2-5 feet. Spacing: 15 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Beds and borders, mass plantings, cut flowers, attract butterflies.
Avens, Grecian Rose - Geum spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 5-7. Height: 10-24 inches. Spacing: 10-12 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Beds and borders, fresh cut flowers.

Azalea - Rhododendron spp. Type: Shrub. Zones: 4-9. Height: Varies from 2-20 feet

Azalea - Rhododendron sp.

depending on variety and cultivar. Spacing: 3-5 feet apart. Light: Full sun to shade. Uses: Specimen shrub, hedge shrub, smaller varieties can be used in borders, nectar plant for butterflies.

Balloon Flower - Platycodon grandiflorus. Type: Perennial. Zones: 4-9. Height: 6-36 inches depending on 

Balloon Flower - Platycodon grandiflorus

cultivar. Spacing: 8-12 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Border, rock garden, cut flower, containers.






Basil – Ocimum basilicum. Type: Annual. Zones: 2-11. Height: 1-2 feet. Spacing: 12-24 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Leaves are used in cooking,

Basil - Ocimum basilicum

pesto sauces, Italian dishes, butterfly nectar plant, mosquito repellant plant.

Bear’s Breeches - Acanthus spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 6-11. Height: 3-4 feet. Spacing: 2-4 feet apart. Light: Partial shade to shade. Uses: Specimen plant, cut flowers, dramatic foliage.

Beardtongue – Penstemon spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 4-10. Height: 12-36 inches. Spacing: 18-24 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Mixed perennial garden, attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.

Bee Balm – Monarda didyma. Type: Perennial. Zones: 4-9. Height: 2-4 feet, but can reach to 6 feet. Spacing: 18-24 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Attract butterflies and hummingbirds.

Bee Balms - Monardia spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 4-9. Height: 1-4 feet, but can reach to 6 feet. Spacing: 18-24 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Attract butterflies and hummingbirds, containers, beds and borders, cut flowers.

Big-leaf Periwinkle - Vinca major. Type: Ground cover. Zones: 5-9. Height: 12-18 inches. Spacing: 18 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Excellent ground cover for retaining walls or hillsides.

Black-eyed Susan – Rudbeckia spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 3-10. Height: 18-30 

Rudbeckia fulgida - Black-Eyed Susan

inches. Spacing: 12-24 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Beds and borders, containers, attract birds and butterflies.













Blanket Flower - Gaillardia spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 5-10. Height: 18-24 inches. Spacing: 18 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Borders, containers, cut flowers, attracts butterflies.  

Blanket Flower - Gaillardia X grandiflora

Bleeding Heart – Dicentra spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 3-9. Height: 24-36 inches. Spacing: 18-24 inches apart. Light: Partial shade to shade. Uses: Borders, containers, cut flowers.

Blue Mist Shrub, Bluebeard - Caryopteris spp. Type: Deciduous shrub. Zones: 5-9. Height: 24-36 inches. Spacing: 18-24 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Attracts butterflies, borders, fragrant flowers.

Butterfly Bush - Buddleia davidii. Type: Deciduous shrub. Zones: 5-10. Height: From 3-6 feet depending on variety. Spacing: 3-5 feet apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Attracts

Buddleia davidii - Butterfly Bush

butterflies and hummingbirds, fragrant flowers, specimen shrub.

Butterfly Weed, Milkweed - Asclepias spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 5-11. Height: 24-36 inches. Spacing: 12-24 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Nectar and food plant for the Monarch butterfly, cut flowers, borders, wildflower gardens, containers.

Butterfly Weed - Asclepias tuberosa

Canna Lily – Canna X generalis. Type: Perennial. Zones: 7-11. Height: 4-6 feet.

Canna X generalis - Garden Canna

Spacing: 3-5 feet apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Plant in masses with bananas and gingers for a touch of the tropics, containers, cut flower, and wetlands or boggy areas.

Catmint – Nepeta X faassenii. Type: Perennial. Zones: 5-10. Height: 2-3 feet.

Catmint - Nepeta faassenii

Spacing: 12-18 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Butterfly nectar plant, front borders, your cat will love it.











Catmints/Catnips - Nepeta spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 5-10. Height: 12-36 inches. Spacing: 12-18  

Catnip - Nepeta cataria

inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Butterfly nectar plant, front borders, your cat will love it.

Clematis – Clematis spp. Type: Perennial vine. Zones: 4-9. Height: 6-10 feet. Spacing: 3-5 feet apart. Light: Full sun and keep the roots in the shade. Uses: Trellises, arbors, mailboxes.

Columbine – Aquilegia spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 3-9. Height: 12-36 inches. Spacing: 12-18 inches apart.

Columbine - Aquilegia cv. Cardinal

Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Woodland gardens, cut flowers, beds and borders, containers, butterfly and hummingbird attractants.

Common Periwinkle, Dwarf Periwinkle - Vinca minor. Type: Evergreen ground cover. Zones: 4-9. Height: 4-6 inches. Spacing: 8-12 inches apart. Light: Full sun to 

Dwarf Periwinkle - Vinca minor

shade. Uses: Ground cover for erosion control, hillsides, retaining walls, slopes.

Coneflower – Echinacea spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 2-10. Height: 24-36 inches. Spacing: 15-20 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Borders, 

Echinacea purpurea - Purple Coneflower

containers, cut flowers, attracts birds, butterflies and hummingbirds.

Coppertip, Falling Stars - Crocosmia spp. Type: Perennial bulb. Zones: 6-10. Height: 2-3 feet. Spacing: 12-18 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Cut flowers, borders, attracts hummingbirds.

Coralbells – Heuchera spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 3-9. Height: up to 36 inches. Spacing: 12-18 inches apart. Light: Full sun to shade. Uses: Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds, containers, borders, drought and heat tolerant.

Daffodils – Narcissus spp. Type: Perennial bulb. Zones: 4-9. Height: 4-24 inches. 

Narcissus sp. - Daffodil

Spacing: 4-6 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: borders, naturalizing, forcing, cut flowers.





Dahlias – Dahlia spp. Type: Perennial

Dahlia - Dahlia hortensis

tubers. Zones: 7-10. Height: up to 6 feet. Spacing: 24 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Cut flowers, containers, mass plantings.

Daylily – Hemerocallis spp. Type: Deciduous perennial. 

Day Lily - Hemerocallis cv. Stella de Oro

Zones: 2-10. Height: To 36 inches. Spacing: 15-18 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Borders, erosion control, slopes, mass palntings.

Dianthus cv. Floral Lace Violet - Pinks

Dianthus, Pinks – Dianthus spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 4-10. Height: 14-18 inches. Spacing: 10-12 inches apart. Light: Full sun. 

Dianthus X allwoodii cv. Old Spice - 

Old Spice Dianthus

Uses: Attracts butterflies, cut flowers, borders, edgers, fragrant flowers.

Dill - Anethum graveolens. Type: Annual. Zones: All. Height: 18 – 36 inches. Space: 12 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Yellow blossoms in summer, seed heads can be harvested. The seeds can be crushed and used in cooking. The leaves can be used fresh in potato, tuna, and chicken salads; fresh chicken and fish dishes. Uses: Attracts butterflies and a larval food plant for butterflies. (Plant enough for you and the butterflies!).

Eucalyptus - Eucalyptus spp. Cadaga Tree - Eucalyptus torelliana. Type: Tree. Zones: 9-11. Height: To 80 feet. Spacing: 20-30 feet apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Attracts wildlife to the garden. Mindanao Gum Tree - Eucalyptus deglupta. Type: Tree. Zones: 9-11, has been reported to withstand temperatures in the low 20’s. Height: To 225 feet. Spacing: 30 feet apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Attracts wildlife to the garden. Red-Flowering Gum Tree - Eucalyptus ficifolia.  

Eucalyptus ficifolia - Red-Flowering Gum

Type: Tree. Zones: 8-10. Height: 25-30 feet. Spacing: 20-25 feet apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: After establishment in the landscape the tree is very drought tolerant, the leaves are fragrant, attracts wildlife to the garden, very showy red flowers in spring and summer. Silver Dollar Tree - Eucalyptus cinerea. Type: Tree. Zones: 8-11. Height: To 20 feet. Spacing: 25 feet apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Attracts wildlife to the garden, the foliage is used in fresh cut flower arrangements as greens, and dried floral arrangements.

Evening Primrose – Oenothera spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 3-9. Height: To 4 feet, depending on species. Spacing: 12-24 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Ground cover, flowers open in the evening.

False Indigo, Wild Indigo, Baptisia - Baptisia spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 4-9. Height: To 5 feet, depending on species. Spacing: 12-36 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Borders, cut flower, dried flower, drought tolerant, attracts butterflies.

False Spirea – Astilbe spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 3-9. Height: 18-24 inches. Spacing: 12-18 inches apart. Light: Partial shade to shade. Uses: Edger, foreground plant, cut flower, dried flower, attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.

Floss Flower, Ageratum* - Ageratum houstonianum. Type: Annual. Zones: All except very cold areas.  Height: 6-12 inches. Spacing: 6-8 inches apart. Light: Full sun to 

Floss Flower - Ageratum houstonianum

partial shade. Uses: Butterfly nectar plant.










Flowering Onions - Allium spp. Type: Perennial bulb. Zones: 3-9. Height: 1-4 feet, depending on variety. Spacing: 2-5 inches apart, depending on variety.

Allium schoenoprasum - Chives

Light: Full sun. Uses: Accent, mixed border, drought tolerant, nectar plant for butterflies.

Fountain Grasses – Pennisetum spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 6-11. Height: 1-5 feet, depending on variety. Spacing: 2-4 feet apart. Light: Full sun to partial  

Fountain Grass - Pennisetum setaceum

shade. Uses: Borders, edgers, specimen, containers.







Foxglove – Digitalis spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 4-8. Height: 36-48 inches. Spacing: 12-24 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Flowering perennial in back of the landscape bed.  

Yellow Foxglove - Digitalis grandiflora

Fritillaria – Fritillaria spp. Type: Bulb. Zones: 3-9. Height: 8-40 inches, depending on variety. Spacing: 10-12 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Mid spring bloomer for perennial gardens.

Geranium or Scented Geranium – Pelargonium spp. Type: Annual, perennial in zone 9 and 10. Zones: All. Height: 24-36 inches. Spacing: 12-24 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Teas, sachets, jellies, potpourris, vinegars, and desserts. 

Heartleaf Brunnera – Brunnera macrophylla. Type: Perennial. Zones: 3-8. Height: 12-18 inches. Spacing: 12-18 inches apart. Light: Partial shade to shade. Uses: Beds, borders, ground cover, containers.

Holly Fern, Shield Fern, Sword Fern – Polystichum spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 3-10. Height: 12-36 inches, depending on variety. Spacing: 9-12 inches apart. Light: Partial shade to shade. Uses: Borders, erosion control, slopes.

Iris* - Iris spp. Type: Perennial bulb or rhizome, depending on variety. Zones: 3-9. Height: 18-48 inches, depending on variety. Spacing: 8-10 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Perennial beds and borders, cut flowers.

Joe Pye Weed – Eupatorium spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 3-10. Height: 4-6 feet. Spacing: 2-4 feet apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Containers, privacy, beds and borders, butterfly attractant, drought tolerant.

Lamb’s Ear - Stachys byzantine. Type: Perennial. Zones: 3-9. Height: 12-18 inches. Spacing: 10-18 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Borders, edger, containers, drought

Lamb's Ear - Stachys byzantina 

cv. Silver Carpet

tolerant, rock garden.

Lantana – Lantana camara, L. montevidensis. Lantana - Lantana camara 'Miss Huff'. Type: Perennial. Zones: 7-11. Height: 4 – 5’. Spacing: 3 – 5’ apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Butterfly attractant, heat and drought tolerant. Trailing Lantana - Lantana montevidensis. Type: Perennial. Zones: 8-10. Height: 18 – 24”. Spacing: 3 – 4’ apart, can spread to 5’. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Butterfly attractant, heat and drought tolerant.

Lantana - Lantana camara cv. Miss Huff

Larkspur – Consolida spp. (A), Delphinium spp. (P). Type: Annual or perennial. Zones: All. Height: 12-36 inches. Spacing: 10-12 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Wild flower gardens, bed and borders, fresh cut flowers, dried flowers.   

Chinese Delphinium - Delphinium grandiflorum 

cv. Dwarf Blue Butterfly

Lavender – Lavandula spp. Lavandula angustifolia. Type: Perennial. Zones: 5-10. Height: 18-24”. Spacing: 12-18” apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Nectar plant for butterflies and hummingbirds, flowers can be dried or fresh cut, in potpourris, and sachets, in containers.

Lemon Balm – Melissa officinalis. Type: Perennial. Zones: 4-11. Height: 2-3 feet. Spacing: 12-18” apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: All leaves can be used in potpourris, flavor hot and iced teas, and used as a substitute for lemon peel in cooking. As a mosquito repellent toss a few stems on the grill to get rid of mosquitoes in the area.

Lenten Rose, Christmas Rose, Hellebore - Helleborus spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 4-9. Height: 14-24 inches. Spacing: 12-22 inches apart. Light: Partial shade to shade. Uses: Beds, cut flowers, companion plants with ferns, hostas, heucheras in mixed bed.

Lungwort - Pulmonaria spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 4-9. Height: 12-18 inches. Spacing: 12-18 inches apart. Light: Partial shade to shade. Uses: Beds and borders, ground cover, drought tolerant, companion plants with ferns, bleeding hearts, hostas.

Marigolds – Tagetes spp. Mexican Marigold Mint - Tagetes lucida. Type: Perennial. Zones: 8-10. Height: 24-30”. Spacing: 12-18” apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade.

Mexican Marigold Mint - 

Tagetes lucida

Uses: Butterfly nectar and larval food plant, Mosquito repellent plant, fresh flowers are used in salads; leaves are used as a substitute for French tarragon.

Mints – Mentha spp. Pennyroyal – Mentha pulegium. Type: Perennial. Zones: 3-10. Height: 6 – 12 inches. Spacing: 12 – 24 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Purple flowers in late summer through fall. Uses: A groundcover, nectar plant for butterflies, the leaves are used in the flavoring for fish dishes, and grows well in a hanging basket.

Peppermint - Mentha piperita. Type: Perennial. Zones: 3-10. Height: 24-36”. Spacing: 12-18” apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Leaves are used fresh in hot and iced teas, butterfly nectar and larval food plant. Spearmint – Mentha spicata. Type: Perennial. Zones: 3-10. Height: 24-36”. Spacing: 36-48 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Leaves are used fresh in hot and iced teas, Butterfly Nectar and Larval Food Plant.

Miscanthus Grasses – Miscanthus spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 4-10. Height: 5-6 feet. Spacing: 3-5 feet apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Shrub, privacy hedge, specimen plant, cut or dried flowers.

Muhly Grasses - Muhlenbergia spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 6-9. Height: 3 feet. Spacing: 3 feet apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Bed and borders, containers.

Mums - Chrysanthemum spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 5-9. Height: 12-36 inches. Spacing: 12-18 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Containers, mass plantings, cut flowers.

Oregano – Origanum spp. Greek Oregano - Origanum vulgare subsp. Hirtum. Type: Perennial. Zones: 4-11. Height: 24 inches. Spacing: 12 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Leaves are used in Italian dishes, pizza, shellfish, egg dishes, beef, pork, and poultry dishes. Italian Oregano – Origanum vulgare. Type: Perennial. Zones: 4-11. Height: 24 inches. Spacing: 8 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Leaves are used in Italian dishes, pizza, shellfish, egg dishes, beef, pork, and poultry dishes. Sweet Marjoram - Origanum majorana. Type: Perennial. Zones: 9-11, treated as an annual outside zone 9. Height: 12 to 18 inches. Spacing: 9 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Leaves are used in eggs, meats, rice, pastas, soups, vegetables.

Peony – Paeonia spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 3-7. Height: 12-36 inches, depending on variety. Spacing: 18-36 inches apart. Light: Partial shade to shade. Uses: Back of the border bed, cut flowers.   

Paeonia sp. - Peony

Petunia – Petunia X hybrid 'Purple Wave'. Type: Annual. Zones: All except very cold areas.  Height: 4 – 6”. Spacing: For a thick coverage, 12 – 15” apart, 3’

Petunia - Petunia cv. Purple Wave

apart for regular coverage, plants will spread 3 – 5’. Light: Full sun. Uses: Butterfly attractant, heat and drought tolerant, border, edger, or in hanging baskets.










Phlox – Phlox spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 3-9. Height: 2-36 inches, depending on variety. Spacing: 12-18 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: bed and borders, ground cover, attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.  

Phlox sp. - Creeping Phlox

Poppies – Papaver spp. Type: Annual. Zones: 2-11. Height: 1-4 feet. Spacing: 6-

Field Poppy - Papaver rhoeas

12 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Beds and borders, containers.



Prostrate Rosemary - Salvia rosmarinus 'Prostratus’. Type: Perennial shrub or groundcover. Height: 12-18”. Spacing: 2 feet 

Prostrate Rosemary - Salvia rosmarinus cv. Prostratus

apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Additional Uses: The leaves are used in lamb and fish dishes, butterfly nectar plant, mosquito repellent plant, and drought tolerant plant.








Rosemary – Salvia rosmarinus. Type: Perennial shrub. Zones: 8-11. Height: 4 feet. Spacing: 3-5 feet apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: The leaves

Rosemary - Salvia rosmarinus

are used in lamb and fish dishes, drought tolerant plant, and butterfly nectar plant.



Russian Sage - Perovskia atriplicifolia. Type: Perennial. Zones: 4-9. Height: 3-5 feet. Spacing: 24-36

Russian Sage - Perovskia atriplicifolia

inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Containers, bed and borders, cut flowers, butterfly attractant.










Salvia and Sages - Salvia spp. Autumn Sage - Salvia greggii 'Maraschino'. Type: Perennial. Zones: 7-10.  Height: 3’ – 4’. Spacing: 18” – 24” apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Butterfly and hummingbird attractant, accent, cut flower, herb and perennial garden.

Salvia greggii - Autumn Sage

Mexican Sage - Salvia leucantha. Type: Perennial. Zones: 8-10. Height: 2 – 4’. Spacing: 3 – 5’ apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Butterfly attractant, and drought tolerant. Pineapple Sage – Salvia elegans. Type: Perennial. Zones: 8-11.  Height: 3 - 4 feet. Spacing: 3 – 4 feet apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Blooms red flowers in spring, summer, and fall. The leaves when crushed smell and taste like fresh pineapple. Uses: The fresh leaves can be used in drinks and salads. The leaves can be used in hot or cold drinks, and the flowers and leaves are used chopped in salads. Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds to the garden. Sage - Salvia officinalis. Type: Perennial. Zones: 5-10. Height: 3 feet. Spacing: 12-24 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Leaves are used in stuffing, meat dishes, egg dishes, salads, soups, stews, and vegetables, accent in borders.

Sedge - Carex spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 4-9. Height: 6-36 inches, depending on variety. Spacing: 12-36 inches apart, depending on variety. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Beds and borders, containers.

Siberian Iris - Iris sibirica. Type: Perennial. Zones: 3-9. Height: 12-36 inches. 

Siberian Iris - Iris sibirica

Spacing: 12-18 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Ponds, streams, or boggy areas, cut flowers.




Snapdragons - Antirrhinum majus. Type: Annual.

Snapdragon - Antirrhinum majus

Zones: All. Height: 6-36 inches depending on variety. Spacing: 8-12 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Cut flowers, beds and borders.









Solomon’s Seal – Polygonatum spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 3-9. Height: 24-48 inches. Spacing: 18-24 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Shady gardens.

Spider Flower - Cleome hassleriana. Type: Annual. Zones: 2-11. Height: 3-6 feet. Spacing: 12-24 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Beds, borders, large containers, attracts butterflies, hummingbirds, and birds to the garden.

Spirea* - Spiraea spp. Type: Deciduous shrub. Zones: 4-9. Height: 12-36 inches. Spacing: 3-5 feet apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Foundation planting, attracts butterflies, hummingbirds, and birds.

St. John’s Wort - Hypericum spp. Type: Ground cover. Zones: 5-11. Height: 12-24 inches. Spacing: 24-36 inches apart. Light: Partial shade. Uses: Ground cover, mass plantings, edgers, borders.

Swamp Sunflower, Narrow-Leaf Sunflower - Helianthus angustifolius. Type: Perennial. Zones: 6-9. Height: To 6 feet. Spacing: 18-24 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Wildflower gardens, attracts native butterflies, mixed perennial beds.

Tansy - Tanacetum vulgare. Type: Perennial. Zones: 3-9. Height: 3-4 feet. Spacing: 

Tansy - Tanacetum vulgare

12-18” apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Nectar food plant for butterflies, dried flower.


Thyme – Thymus spp. Lemon Thyme – Thymus x citriodorus. Type: Perennial. Height: 12 inches. Spacing: 12 inches apart. Light Requirements: Full sun. Light purple flowers in summer. Wonderful Lemon scent when leaves are crushed or walked upon. Uses: All leaves have a distinct lemon flavor that can be used in cooking, attracts Butterflies and Hummingbirds to the garden. 
Summer Thyme – Thymus vulgaris. Type: Perennial. Height: 6 – 12 inches. Spacing: 6 – 12 inches apart.

Silver Thyme - Thymus vulgaris cv. Argenteus

Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Blooms lilac to purple flowers in summer. Uses: All leaves are used in cooking. Attracts butterflies to the garden. All thyme plants can be used as an alternative ground cover.




Tickseed - Coreopsis spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 4-10. Height: From 6 to 36 inches 

Coreopsis - Coreopsis grandiflora

depending on variety. Spacing: 9-14 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Dwarf variety can be used as borders or ground covers, beds and borders, attracts butterflies, cut flower.

Verbena – Glandularia canadensis ‘Homestead’ – Homestead Purple Verbena. Type: Perennial. Zones: 5-10. Height: 12 inches. Spacing: 3-4 feet apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Ground cover for hills, slopes, retaining walls, rock gardens, attracts butterflies.

Homestead Purple Verbena

Veronica, Speedwell – Veronica spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 4-9. Height: 4-12 inches. Spacing: 8-12 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Ground cover, borders, attracts butterflies and hummingbirds, drought tolerant.







Vinca, Periwinkle - Catharanthus roseus. Type: Perennial/annual. Zones: 9-11, perennial, outside zone 9 treated as annual. Height: 24 inches. Spacing: 10-12

Periwinkle - Catharanthus roseus

inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Containers, bed, borders, butterfly attractant.

Whirling Butterflies - Gaura lindheimeri. Type: Perennial. Zones: 5-10. Height: 36 inches. Spacing: 18-20 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Containers, beds and borders, attracts butterflies, drought tolerant.






Wormwood – Artemisia spp. Roman Wormwood -

Wormwood - Artemisia pontica

Artemisia pontica. Type: Perennial. Zones: 4-10. Height: 18-24 inches. Spacing: 12 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Nectar and larval food plant for butterflies, drought tolerant plant, floral arranging, bed and borders. 

Wormwood - Artemisia pontica

Wormwood - Artemisia absinthium. Type: Perennial. Zones: 4-9. Height: 2-3 feet. Spacing: 18-24 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Nectar and larval food plant for butterflies, drought tolerant plant. Wormwood - Artemisia 'Powis Castle'. Type: Perennial. Zones: 9-11. Height: 2-3 feet. Spacing: 3 feet apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Nectar and larval food plant for butterflies, drought tolerant plant, foliage used in fresh or dried arrangements.

Yarrow – Achillea millefolium, A. filipendulina. Type: Perennial. Zones: 3-9. Height:

Common Yarrow - Achillea millefolium

15-36 inches. Spacing: 12-15 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Cut or dried flowers, butterfly attractant, bed, borders.

Zinnias* - Zinnia spp. Type: Annual. Zones: All. Height: 12-18 inches. Spacing: 12-18 inches apart. 

Zinnia elegans - Zinnia

Light: Full sun. Uses: Beds, borders, cut flower, containers, butterfly attractant.

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Photography and digital images are ©Cheryl Ann Meola 2013. All Rights Reserved. All photographs and digital images displayed in this article are for viewing purposes only and cannot be duplicated. ©Cheryl Ann Meola 2013. Texas Certified Nursery Professional #1282.

42 Drought Tolerant Perennials

42 Drought Tolerant Perennials

Why use drought tolerant perennials? There are several reasons why to incorporate them in the garden. To mention a few: plants considered drought tolerant have key characteristics that help them survive moderate to severe drought; planning a drought tolerant garden will conserve one of our most valuable resources – water; and believe it or not you will have a garden jammed pack with lots of color and action. Several of the plants listed serve more than one purpose in the garden than just being drought tolerant. For example: some plants will deter deer and rabbits; attract hummingbirds and butterflies to the garden; herbs for cooking; and lastly used in fresh-cut or dried floral arrangements. And, when you started planning this project of drought tolerant perennials you were thinking dull, drab garden. Right?

Introducing drought tolerant gardening that will have lots of color and action. When planning your garden for drought consider a few things such as light, drainage, soil conditions, and watering. Full sun is the best for all the perennials listed below. The general rule of thumb is an area is considered full sun when the area receives 5 or more hours a day of sunlight. Drainage is essential; when planning the garden do not plant in an area where water collects after rainy weather because the plants will not tolerate wet feet or soggy conditions. Drought tolerant plants do better in soils that are not rich in compost. Save these areas for the plants that liked to be pampered. Even though the plant is considered to have drought tolerance the plant needs to be established in the ground and this usually takes a few months to several months for a plant to be established. Below are a few of the plants listed as drought tolerant perennials. I chose these varieties because the plants are more than drought tolerant; the plants will provide color, attract wildlife and will serve as more than one purpose in the garden.

Achillea millefolium - Common Yarrow

Achillea millefolium – Yarrow: has lacy, fern-like foliage with flat, round blossoms in a range of colors, white, yellow, red, peach, and pink that bloom from summer to fall. Zones: 3-9. Height from 18-36 inches. Spacing: 10-12 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Yarrows tolerate poor soil and can be used in borders, mass plantings, and rock gardens. The flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds to the garden and can be used in fresh or dried arrangements. Periodically deadhead faded flowers.

Agastache spp. – Hummingbird Mint: is a relative of the mints and blooms summer through fall. Zones: 3-9. Height: 24 to 36 inches. Spacing: 18-24 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds to the garden. The scented, mint like foliage is used in cooking and potpourri.

Agastache foeniculum - Anise Hyssop

Allium spp. – Flowering Onion: blooms from early spring through the fall. Foliage has a mild onion scent that keeps deer and rabbits away from the garden. Zones: 3-9. Height: 12-36 inches. Spacing: 4-6 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Borders, mass plantings, rock gardens.

Amsonia ciliata – Amsonia: Sky blue flowers in late spring. Beautiful shades of gold fall foliage. Plant in groupings for the best show. Zones: 4-9. Height: 18-24 inches. Spacing: 16-18 inches. Deer resistant plant. Attracts butterflies and bees to the garden. Uses: rock gardens, borders, and containers.

Anthemis tinctoria – Marguerite Daisy: provides several weeks of daisy-like flowers in the summer. Deer and rabbit resistant plant. Zones: 3-8. Height: 24-30 inches. Spacing: 24 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Beds, borders, and cut flowers.

Artemisia ‘Powis Castle’ – Silver Sage: Fragrant, lacy, silver foliage provides contrast to ornamental grasses, flowers, and foliage. The foliage is used in fresh or dried arrangements, fresh herbal wreaths, and drying for potpourris. Deer and rabbit resistant plant. Zones: 5-9. Height: 2-3 feet. Spacing: 3-4 feet apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Beds and borders.

Asclepias tuberosa – Butterfly Milkweed: Deer resistant plant. Attract butterflies to your garden. This plant is a nectar and larval food plant to the Monarch butterfly.

Asclepias tuberosa - Butterfly Weed

Zones: 3-9. Height: 18-24 inches. Spacing: 1-2 feet apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Butterfly gardens and borders.
Baptisia spp. - False Indigo, Wild Indigo, Baptisia: Zones: 4-9. Height: 26-36 inches, but some species can reach to 4 feet. Spacing: 12-36 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Borders, cut flower, dried flower, drought tolerant, attracts butterflies.

Callirhoe involucrata – Poppy Mallow, Wine Cups: Attractive lacy foliage with purple flowers with a white eye that makes an excellent ground cover for large areas. Zones: 4-9. Height: 12 inches. Spacing 24-36 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Ground cover, border fronts, cascading over retaining walls, spiller for containers.

Centranthus ruber – Jupiter’s Beard: Excellent fresh cut flower with fragrant foliage. Butterfly attractant, deer and rabbit resistant plant. Companion plant to other perennials in the garden: Lamb’s ear, Artemisia, and Baptisia. Trim spent flower heads to extend blooming. Zones: 4-9. Height: 24-30 inches. Spacing: 24-30 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Specimen, borders, small group plantings.

Coreopsis spp. – Tickseed: Single or double flowers are excellent for fresh cut

Coreopsis grandiflora cv. Baby Sun - Coreopsis

arrangements. Attract numerous butterflies to the garden. Trim spent flower heads to extend blooming. Zones: 3-9. Height: 3 feet or shorter. Spacing: From 1-3 feet apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Borders, edger, or as a ground cover.

Dianthus X allwoodii cv. Old Spice - 

Old Spice Dianthus

Dianthus spp. - Dianthus, Pinks: Zones: 3-10. Height: From groundcovers under 4 inches to varieties up to 30 inches. Spacing: 8-15 inches apart. Light: Full sun to semi shade. Uses: Attracts butterflies, deer resistant plant, cut flowers, borders or edgers, groundcovers, fragrant flowers.

Echinacea purpurea – Coneflower: There are many varieties of coneflower available. They come in a variety of heights, colors, single or double flowers. Any variety you  

Echinacea purpurea cv. Magnus - Purple Coneflower

choose will be drought tolerant. Single or double flowers are excellent for fresh cut arrangements. Attract numerous butterflies to the garden. Trim spent flower heads to extend blooming. Zones: 4-9. Height: 28-36 inches. Spacing: 18-24 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds to the garden, perennial, wildflower, mixed or cottage gardens, mass plantings, companion plant to Rudbeckia – Black-eyed Susan.

Echinops spp. – Globe Thistle: One of the underused drought tolerant plants and the flowers are good to use in fresh or dried floral arrangements. Trim spent flower heads to extend blooming. The flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies to the garden. Rabbit and deer are repelled by this plant in the garden, which is another plus to using this plant. Zones: 3-10. Height: 42-46 inches. Spacing: 18-24 inches. Light: Full sun. Uses: Borders, mixed flower gardens, companion plant to grasses.

Euphorbia epithymoides – Cushion Spurge: Bright yellow flowers in the spring and bronze foliage in the fall. Zones: 3-8. Height: 24 inches. Spacing: 18-24 inches. Light: Full sun to part-sun. Uses: Borders, container gardens, rock gardens, deters rabbit and deer away from the garden.

Gaillardia grandiflora – Blanket Flower: The flowers are good to use in fresh floral arrangements. Trim spent flower heads to extend blooming. The flowers attract 

Gaillardia X grandiflora cv. Goblin - Blanket Flower

butterflies to the garden. Rabbit and deer are repelled by this plant in the garden, which is another plus to using this plant. Zones: 3-10. Height: 2-3 feet. Spacing: 1-2 feet. Light: Full sun. Uses: Borders, cottage gardens, cutting gardens.

Gaura lindheimeri – Whirling Butterflies: The airy flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds to the garden. Trim spent flower heads to extend blooming. Zones: 5-9. Height: 24-36 inches. Spacing: 24-36 inches. Light: Full sun. Uses: Borders, cutting and perennial gardens.

Geum triflorum – Prairie Smoke: Red to light pink flowers, but the real attraction to this plant is the airy, feathery seed heads. Zones: 3-8. Height: 12-15 inches. Spacing: 6-8 inches. Light: Full sun. Uses: Deer resistant, border, ground cover, or rock gardens.

Helianthus maximiliana – Maximilian’s Sunflower: Bright yellow flowers on tall stems will attract butterflies to the garden. Zones: 3-9. Height: 3-10 feet. Spacing: 36 inches. Light: Full sun. Uses: Show stopper to any garden. Place in the back of the garden. Accent, specimen, fresh cut flower gardens, wildlife gardens, and cottage gardens.

Heliosis helianthoides – Perennial Sunflower, False Sunflower: Bright yellow flowers that attract pollinators to the garden. Zones: 3-9. Height: 24-36 inches. Light: Full sun to semi-shade. Uses: Attracts butterflies and bees, borders, cut flowers, and deer resistant plant.

Hemerocallis spp. – Daylily: Daylilies are available in every color except blue. Zones: 3-10. Height: 12 inches to 4 feet depending on variety. Spacing: 6 to 48 inches

Hemerocallis cv. Stella de Ora - Day Lily

depending on variety. Light: Full sun. Uses: Beds, borders, and groundcover. Deadhead to achieve re-bloom.

Hymenoxys acaulis – Sundancer Daisy: Bright yellow 1-inch flowers. Zones: 4-9. Height: 12 inches. Spacing: 12-24 inches. Light: Full sun. Uses: Edger or borders. Flowers attract butterflies.

Lamium maculatum – Dead Nettle: Excellent ground cover with lovely blossoms starting late spring through summer. The silvery foliage combines nicely with the white or lavender flowers. Zones: 3-9. Height: 6-8 inches. Spacing: 12-18 inches. Light: Semi-shade to shade. Uses: Ground cover and combinations outdoor planters. The plant is excellent trailing down the side of containers when planted around the rim of the pot. Flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Deer and rabbit resistant plant.

Lantana camara – Lantana: Lantana plants come in a variety of heights, which can be used as groundcovers to shrubs. The plants provide non-stop color from spring to first frost.  Zones: 7-11, outside zone 7 the plant is treated as an annual. Height: 1-5 feet, depending on cultivar. Spacing: 24-48 inches, depending on cultivar. Light: Full sun. 

Lantana camara cv. Miss Huff - Lantana

Uses: Profuse bloomer until first frost. The low growing varieties can be used as seasonal color or evergreen groundcover, annual, flowering shrub, containers, hanging baskets, beach plantings. The bright flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds.

Lavandula angustifolia – English Lavender: Wonderful fragrant lavender flowers and silver foliage. Zones: 5-9. Height: 18-36 inches. Spacing: 12-18 inches. Light: Full sun. Uses: Deer and rabbit resistant, attracts butterflies and hummingbirds, fragrant flowers and foliage, flowers can be used fresh or dried, containers, border fronts, rock gardens, herb gardens, scented gardens. Deadhead after flowering.

Linum perenne – Blue Flax: Bright blue flowers cover the plant from late spring to fall. Zones: 3-9. Height: 18-30 inches. Spacing: 10-12 inches. Light: Full sun. Uses: Very showy flowers for beds and borders. Deer and rabbit resistant.

Monarda didyma – Bee Balm: Fragrant foliage and flowers will attract butterflies and hummingbirds to your garden. The flower color are in shades of pink, red, lavender, and white. Zones: 3-9. Height: 18-36 inches. Spacing: 24-36 inches. Light: Full sun. Uses: Beds, borders, cut or dried flowers.

Monarda fistulosa – Wild Bergamot: Fragrant foliage and flowers will attract butterflies and hummingbirds to your garden. The flower color are in shades of pink/lavender. Zones: 3-9. Height: 18-36 inches. Spacing: 24-36 inches. Light: Full sun. Uses: Beds, borders, cut or dried flowers.

Nepeta racemosa – Catmint: Fragrant flowers and foliage will attract butterflies to your garden. Zones: 4-9. Height: 18-36 inches depending on variety. Spacing: 18-24 inches depending on variety. Light: Full sun. Uses: Deer and rabbit resistant. Beds and borders. Groundcover.

Nepeta x faassenii – Catmint: Fragrant flowers and foliage will attract butterflies to

Nepeta faassenii - Catmint

your garden. Zones: 4-9. Height: 12-24 inches. Spacing: 12-24 inches. Light: Full sun. Uses: Deer and rabbit resistant. Beds and borders. Groundcover.

Oenothera spp. – Evening Primrose: Masses of flowers that open in the evening and close in the morning. A good groundcover to plant around outdoor entertainment areas, especially nighttime activities. Zones: 4-9. Height: 15 inches. Spacing: 18-24 inches. Light: Full sun. Uses: Groundcover for sunny areas.

Penstemon spp. – Beardtongue: Zones: 4-10. Height: 12-36 inches. Spacing: 18-24 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Mixed perennial garden, attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.


Perovskia atriplicifolia – Russian Sage: Zones: 4-9. Height: 3-5 feet. Spacing: 24-36 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Containers, bed 

Perovskia atriplicifolia - Russian Sage

and borders, cut flowers, butterfly attractant.






Platycodon grandiflorus - Balloon Flower: Zones: 4-9. Height: 6-36 inches depending on cultivar. Spacing: 8-12 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Border, rock garden, cut flower, containers.

Platycodon grandiflorus - Balloon Flower

Rudbeckia fulgida – Black Eyed Susan: Zones: 3-10. Height: 18-30 inches. Spacing: 12-24 inches. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Beds and borders, containers, attract birds and butterflies.    

Rudbeckia fulgida - Black-Eyed Susan

Salvia spp. – Sages: Autumn Sage - Salvia greggii 'Maraschino'. Zones: 7-10.  Height: 3’ – 4’. Spacing: 18” – 24” apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses:

Salvia greggii cv. Maraschino - Autumn Sage

Butterfly and hummingbird attractant, accent, cut flower, herb and perennial garden.  Sage - Salvia officinalis. Height: 3 feet. Spacing: 12 inches apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Leaves are used in stuffing and meat dishes.









Salvia rosmarinus – Rosemary: Zones: 6-10. Height: 4 feet. Spacing: 3-5 feet apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: The leaves are 

Salvia rosmarinus - Rosemary

used in lamb and fish dishes, butterfly nectar plant, and containers.







Salvia rosmarinus 'Prostrates' - Prostrate Rosemary. Type: Perennial shrub or groundcover. Height: 12-18”. Spacing: 2 feet apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: The leaves are used in lamb and fish dishes, butterfly nectar plant, trailing down retaining walls, and containers.  

Rosmarinus officinalis cv. Prostratus -  Prostrate Rosemary

Sedum spp.: Sedums, Stonecrops: Zones: 3-11. Height: 2-24 inches. Spacing: 4-18 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Containers, slopes, rock gardens, cracks and crevices, butterfly attractant.   

Sedum spectabile cv. Autumn Joy - Stonecrop

Stachys byzantine – Lamb’s Ear: Zones: 3-9. Height: 12-18 inches. Spacing: 10-18 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Borders, edger, containers, rock garden.

Stachys byzantina cv. Silver Carpet - Lamb's Ear

Thymus spp. – Thymes: Lemon Thyme – Thymus vulgaris cv. Argenteus. Height: 12 inches. Spacing: 12 inches apart. Light Requirements: Full sun. Light purple flowers in summer. Wonderful Lemon scent when leaves are crushed or walked upon. Additional 

Thymus vulgaris cv. Argenteus - Silver Thyme

Uses: All leaves have a distinct lemon flavor that can be used in cooking. Attracts Butterflies and Hummingbirds to the garden. Summer Thyme – Thymus vulgaris. Height: 6 – 12 inches. Spacing: 6 – 12 inches apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Blooms lilac to purple flowers in summer. Additional Uses: All leaves are used in cooking. Attracts butterflies to the garden. All thyme plants can be used as an alternative ground cover.

Veronica spp. – Speedwell or Veronica: Zones: 4-9. Height: 4-12 inches. Spacing: 8-12 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Ground cover, borders, attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.

All photographs and digital images are ©Cheryl Ann Meola Photography 2020. All Rights Reserved. All photographs and digital images displayed in this article are for viewing purposes only and cannot be duplicated.