Deer Resistant Perennials
As much as we might love Colorado wildlife, the very last thing most of us want to see is deer strolling through our yards and munching on our beloved flowers. And, as we all know all too well, deer in the garden is a problem we all face. One solution to this situation is to select deer-resistant plants for our landscaping. Planting deer-resistant plants does not guarantee that deer will not stop by your place for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, but it does reduce the likelihood. Brady’s West carries a huge selection of deer-resistant perennials, many of which have the added bonus of being drought tolerant, shade tolerant and attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies (or some combination of these). Because deer will often sample new plants that you introduce into your yard (that is, their territory), it is always a wise idea to apply a deer repellent to your freshly planted perennials as a deterrent to their nibbling-out-of-curiosity habit.
Achillea (Yarrow)
Height: 18”
Width: 24”
Bloom Color: Varies
Bloom Duration: Early to Late Summer
Water: Moderate Until Established
Sun: Full
Note: Drought Tolerant
Agastache (Hyssop)
Height: 18-24”
Width: 12-15”
Bloom Color: Varies
Bloom Duration: Summer
Water: Moderate Until Established
Sun: Full
Note: Drought Tolerant, Attracts Hummingbirds and Butterflies
Aquilegia (Columbine)
Height: 18”
Width: 15'“
Bloom Color: Blue and White and other colors
Bloom Duration: Late Spring-Early Summer
Water: Moderate
Sun: Partial to Full Sun
Note: Native (Colorado State flower), Shade Tolerant
Artemsia
Height: 3-6”
Width: 6-18”
Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Duration: Mid-Late Summer
Water: Moderate Until Established
Sun: Full
Note: Drought Tolerant
Asclepias (Butterfly Weed)
Height: 15-18”
Width: 15-18”
Bloom Color: Varies
Bloom Duration: Late Spring-Summer
Water: Moderate Until Established
Sun: Full
Note: Drought Tolerant, Attracts Hummingbirds and Butterflies
Catananche Caerulea (Cupid’s Dart)
Height: 1-3’
Width: 10-12”
Bloom Color: Blue
Bloom Duration: Summer
Water: Moderate, Until Established
Sun: Full
Note: Drought Tolerant
Centranthus (Jupiter’s Beard)
Height: 2-3’
Width: 30'“
Bloom Color: Varies
Bloom Duration: Late Spring-Early Summer
Water: Moderate
Sun: Full
Note: Attracts Butterflies
Cerastium (Snow-in-Summer)
Height: 4-6”
Width: 15-18”
Bloom Color: White
Bloom Duration: Late Spring
Water: Moderate Until Established
Sun: Full
Note: Drought Tolerant
Coreopsis (Tickseed)
Height: 12-18”
Width: 12-18”
Bloom Color: Varies
Bloom Duration: Early to Late Summer
Water: Moderate Until Established
Sun: Full
Note: Drought Tolerant, Attracts Butterflies
Crocosmia, Lucifer
Height: 3-4’
Width: 12-18”
Bloom Color: Scarlet Red
Bloom Duration: Summer
Water: Moderate Until Established
Sun: Partial to Full
Note: Attracts Hummingbirds, Attracts Butterflies, Shade Tolerant, Drought Tolerant
Delphinium
Height: 1-3’
Width: 2’
Bloom Color: Varies
Bloom Duration: Summer
Water: Moderate
Sun: Partial to Full
Note: Attracts Hummingbirds
Delosperma (Ice Plant)
Height: 1”
Width: 15-18”
Bloom Color: Varies
Bloom Duration: Early to Late Summer
Water: Moderate Until Established
Sun: Full
Note: Drought Tolerant
Dianthus
Height: 8”
Width: 15”
Bloom Color: Varies
Bloom Duration: Late Spring-Early Summer
Water: Moderate Until Established
Sun: Full
Note: Drought Tolerant, Attracts Hummingbirds and Butterflies
Dicentra (Bleeding Hearts)
Height: 2-3’
Width: 24-30”
Bloom Color: Varies
Bloom Duration: Late Spring-Early Summer
Water: Moderate
Sun: Partial
Note: Shade Tolerant
Echinacea (Cone Flower)
Height: 16-20”
Width: 16”
Bloom Color: Varies
Bloom Duration: Summer
Water: Moderate
Sun: Full
Note: Attracts Butterflies
Echinops (Globe Thistle)
Height: 4’
Width: 18”
Bloom Color: Blue
Bloom Duration: Mid to Late Summer
Water: Moderate Until Established
Sun: Full
Note: Drought Tolerant, Attracts Butterflies
Eutrochium (Joe Pye Weed)
Height: 5-7’
Width: 2-4’
Bloom Color: Dusty Rose
Bloom Duration: Mid to Late Summer
Water: Moderate Until Established
Sun: Partial to Full, but Prefers Full
Note: Drought Tolerant, Attracts Butterflies
Gaillardia
Height: 10”
Width: 1’
Bloom Color: Red-Orange, Yellow Borders
Bloom Duration: Summer
Water: Moderate Until Established
Sun: Full
Note: Drought Tolerant, Attracts Butterflies
Helianthus (Sunflower)
Height: 5-6’
Width: 3-5’
Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Duration: Late Summer-Fall
Water: Moderate Until Established
Sun: Full
Note: Drought Tolerant
Heliopsis helianthoides ( False Sunflower)
Height: 3-4’
Width: 2-3’
Bloom Color: Red/Yellow
Bloom Duration: Spring-Fall
Water: Moderate Until Established
Sun: Full
Note: Drought Tolerant, Attracts Hummingbirds and Butterflies
Iris
Height: 18-36”
Width: 4-7”
Bloom Color: Varies
Bloom Duration: Early Spring
Water: Moderate
Sun: Full
Kniphofia (Red Hod Poker; Torch )
Height: 3’
Width: 3’
Bloom Color: Orange, Yellow
Bloom Duration: Summer
Water: Moderate Until Established
Sun: Full
Note: Drought Tolerant, Attracts Hummingbirds
Lamium (Dead Nettles)
Height: 4-6”
Width: 15-18”
Bloom Color: Varies
Bloom Duration: Late Spring-Early Summer
Water: Moderate
Sun: Partial
Note: Shade Tolerant
Lavandula (Lavander)
Height: 30-32”
Width: 24-32”
Bloom Color: Purple
Bloom Duration: Mid Summer-Early Fall
Water: Moderate Until Established
Sun: Full
Note: Drought Tolerant
Leucanthemum (Shasta Daisy)
Height: 3-4’
Width: 2-3’
Bloom Color: White
Bloom Duration: Mid Summer-Early Fall
Water: Moderate
Sun: Full
Note: Attracts Butterflies
Liatris (Gayfeather)
Height: 2-4’
Width: 8-24”
Bloom Color: Purple
Bloom Duration: Summer-Fall
Water: Moderate Until Established
Sun: Full
Note: Drought Tolerant, Attracts Hummingbirds
Linum (Blue Flax)
Height: 18”
Width: 18”
Bloom Color: Blue
Bloom Duration: Early to Mid Summer
Water: Moderate Until Established
Sun: Full
Note: Drought Tolerant
Lupinus (Lupine)
Height: 2-4’
Width: 12-18”
Bloom Color: Purple/White
Bloom Duration: Spring-Summer
Water: Moderate
Sun: Full
Note: Attracts Hummingbirds
Mirabilis (Four O’Clocks)
Height: 2-3’
Width: 2-3’
Bloom Color: Varies
Bloom Duration: Early Summer-Fall
Water: Moderate
Sun: Full
Nepeta (Catmint)
Height: 15”
Width: 15”
Bloom Color: Blue
Bloom Duration: Late Spring-Late Summer
Water: Moderate Until Established
Sun: Full
Note: Drought Tolerant, Attracts Hummingbirds and Butterflies
Oenothera (Primrose)
Height: 10”
Width: 18”
Bloom Color: Varies
Bloom Duration: Late Spring-Early Summer
Water: Moderate
Sun: Full
Note: Attracts Hummingbirds
Paeonia (Peonies)
Height: 2-3’
Width: 2-3’
Bloom Color: Varies
Bloom Duration: Late Spring-Early Summer
Water: Moderate
Sun: Full
Papaver (Poppies)
Height: 2-3’
Width: 2’
Bloom Color: Varies
Bloom Duration: Late Spring-Early Summer
Water: Moderate
Sun: Full
Note: Attracts Butterflies
Penstemon
Height: 24-30”
Width: 3’
Bloom Color: Purple
Bloom Duration: Mid to Late Spring
Water: Moderate Until Established
Sun: Full
Note: Drought Tolerant, Attracts Hummingbirds and Butterflies
Pulsatilla (Pasque Flower)
Height: 8-10”
Width: 8-10”
Bloom Color: Varies
Bloom Duration: Early to Mid Spring
Water: Moderate
Sun: Full
Ratibida (Cone Flower)
Height: 15-24”
Width: 18”
Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Duration: Late Spring-Early Fall
Water: Moderate
Sun: Full
Salvia
Height: 3’
Width: 18”
Bloom Color: Varies
Bloom Duration: Early Summer-Fall
Water: Moderate Until Established
Sun: Full
Note: Drought Tolerant, Attracts Hummingbirds
Solidago (Golden Rod)
Height: 2-3’
Width: 1-2’
Bloom Color: Golden Yellow
Bloom Duration: Late Summer-Early Fall
Water: Moderate Until Established
Sun: Light Shade to Full Sun
Note: Drought Tolerant, Attracts Hummigbirds and Attracts Butterflies
Stachy’s Lamb’s Ear
Height: 4-6”
Width: 18-30”
Bloom Color: Light Purple
Bloom Duration: Summer
Water: Moderate Until Established
Sun: Partial to Full
Note: Drought Tolerant, Shade Tolerant
Thymus (Thyme)
Height: 2”
Width: 18-30”
Bloom Color: Light Pink
Bloom Duration: Summer
Water: Moderate Until Established
Sun: Full
Note: Drought Tolerant
Veronica
Height: 2”
Width: 18”
Bloom Color: Blue
Bloom Duration: Early to Mid Spring
Water: Moderate Until Established
Sun: Full
Note: Drought Tolerant, Attracts Hummingbirds and Butterflies
Zaushneria (Hummingbird Trumpet)
Height: 4-8”
Width: 15-18”
Bloom Color: Orange
Bloom Duration: Mid to Late Summer
Water: Moderate
Sun: Partial to Full
Note: Shade Tolerant, Attracts Hummingbirds