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Deer-Resistant Plants for Alaska

Alaska's short, cool season narrows the palette to the toughest cold-hardy plants; Sitka black-tailed deer browse coastal gardens. Alaska sits in USDA zones 3–6. Below are the 166 plants Rutgers rates A — rarely damaged that are also hardy here: 54 perennials, 28 shrubs, 27 ornamental grasses, 18 annuals. These are the gold-standard picks to start with; another 220 are rated B (seldom damaged) in the full finder.

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PlantBotanical nameType / zonesDeer rating
Ageratum 🦌Ageratum houstonianumAnnualsAnnualA Rarely damaged
Allegheny Spurge 🦌Pachysandra procumbensGroundcoversZ5–9A Rarely damaged
American Holly 🦌Ilex opacaTreesZ5–9A Rarely damaged
Angel's Trumpet 🦌Brugmansia sp. (Datura)AnnualsAnnualA Rarely damaged
Anise 🦌Pimpinalla anisumAnnualsAnnualA Rarely damaged
Anise Hyssop 🦌Agastache sp.PerennialsZ4–10A Rarely damaged
Annual Vinca 🦌Catharanthus roseaAnnualsAnnualA Rarely damaged
Arrowwood Viburnum 🦌Viburnum dentatumShrubsZ3–8A Rarely damaged
Autumn Crocus 🦌Colchicum sp.BulbsZ4–9A Rarely damaged
Barberry 🦌Berberis sp.ShrubsZ4–8A Rarely damaged
Barrenwort 🦌Epimedium sp.GroundcoversZ4–8A Rarely damaged
Basket of Gold 🦌Aurinia saxatilisPerennialsZ3–7A Rarely damaged
Bayberry 🦌Myrica pensylvanicaShrubsZ3–7A Rarely damaged
Bearberry 🦌Arctostaphylos uva-ursiGroundcoversZ2–6A Rarely damaged
Big Bluestem 🦌Andropogon sp.Ornamental GrassesZ3–9A Rarely damaged
Bigleaf Goldenray 🦌Ligularia dentataPerennialsZ4–8A Rarely damaged
Bishop's Weed 🦌Aegopodium podagariaGroundcoversZ3–9A Rarely damaged
Bleeding Heart 🦌Dicentra spectabilisPerennialsZ3–9A Rarely damaged
Blue Fescue 🦌Festuca glaucaOrnamental GrassesZ4–8A Rarely damaged
Blue Mist Shrub 🦌Caryopteris clandonensisShrubsZ5–9A Rarely damaged
Blue Oat Grass 🦌Helictotrichon sempervirensOrnamental GrassesZ4–8A Rarely damaged
Bluebell 🦌Endymion sp.BulbsZ4–9A Rarely damaged
Bottlebrush Buckeye 🦌Aesculus parvifloraTreesZ4–8A Rarely damaged
Broom 🦌Cytisus sp.ShrubsZ5–8A Rarely damaged
Bugleweed 🦌Ajuga reptansGroundcoversZ3–10A Rarely damaged
Bush Cinquefoil 🦌Potentilla fruticosaShrubsZ2–7A Rarely damaged
Butter & Eggs 🦌Linaria vulgarisPerennialsZ3–9A Rarely damaged
Buttercup 🦌Ranunculus sp.PerennialsZ4–8A Rarely damaged
Butterfly Bush 🦌Buddleia sp.ShrubsZ5–9A Rarely damaged
Cactus 🦌Cactaceae sp.PerennialsZ4–11A Rarely damaged
Catmint 🦌Nepeta sp.PerennialsZ3–8A Rarely damaged
Christmas Fern 🦌Polystichum arcostichoidesFernsZ3–9A Rarely damaged
Cinnamon Fern 🦌Osmunda cinnamomeaFernsZ3–9A Rarely damaged
Clump Bamboo 🦌Fargesia sp.Ornamental GrassesZ5–9A Rarely damaged
Common Boxwood 🦌Buxus sempervirensShrubsZ5–8A Rarely damaged
Common Foxglove 🦌Digitalis purpureaBiennialsZ4–8A Rarely damaged
Common Tansy 🦌Tanacetum vulgarePerennialsZ3–9A Rarely damaged
Corydalis 🦌Corydalis sp.PerennialsZ5–8A Rarely damaged
Crown Imperial, Fritilia 🦌Fritilaria imperialisBulbsZ5–8A Rarely damaged
Daffodil 🦌Narcissus sp.BulbsZ3–9A Rarely damaged
Dame's Rocket 🦌Hesperis matronalisPerennialsZ3–8A Rarely damaged
Daphne 🦌Daphne sp.ShrubsZ4–8A Rarely damaged
Devil's Walking Stick 🦌Aralia spinosaShrubsZ4–9A Rarely damaged
Drooping Leucothoe 🦌Leucothoe fontanesianaShrubsZ5–8A Rarely damaged
Dusty Miller 🦌Centaurea cinerariaAnnualsAnnualA Rarely damaged
Dwarf Alberta Spruce 🦌Picea glauca 'Conica'TreesZ2–8A Rarely damaged
European Ginger 🦌Asarum europaeumPerennialsZ4–8A Rarely damaged
False Camomile 🦌Matricaria sp.AnnualsAnnualA Rarely damaged
False Indigo 🦌Baptisia australisPerennialsZ3–9A Rarely damaged
Feather Reed Grass 🦌Calamagrostis sp.Ornamental GrassesZ4–9A Rarely damaged
Flowering Tobacco 🦌Nicotiana sp.AnnualsAnnualA Rarely damaged
Forget-Me-Not 🦌Myosotis sp.PerennialsZ3–8A Rarely damaged
Forget-Me-Not 🦌Myosotis sylvaticaAnnualsAnnualA Rarely damaged
Fountain Grass 🦌Pennisetum alopecuroidesOrnamental GrassesZ5–9A Rarely damaged
Fragrant Sumac 🦌Rhus aromaticaShrubsZ3–9A Rarely damaged
Fringed Bleeding Heart 🦌Dicentra eximiaPerennialsZ3–9A Rarely damaged
Garden Sage 🦌Salvia officinalisPerennialsZ4–8A Rarely damaged
Germander 🦌Teucrium chamaedrysPerennialsZ5–9A Rarely damaged
Giant Japanese Silver Grass 🦌Miscanthus floridulisOrnamental GrassesZ4–9A Rarely damaged
Giant Reed 🦌Arundo donaxOrnamental GrassesZ6–10A Rarely damaged
Golden Bamboo 🦌Phyllostachys aureaOrnamental GrassesZ6–10A Rarely damaged
Greek Jerusalem Sage 🦌Phlomis sp.PerennialsZ5–9A Rarely damaged
Hakonechloa 🦌Hakonechloa macraOrnamental GrassesZ5–9A Rarely damaged
Hard Rush 🦌Juncus effususOrnamental GrassesZ4–9A Rarely damaged
Hayscented Fern 🦌Dennstaedtia punctilobulaFernsZ3–8A Rarely damaged
Heath 🦌Erica sp.ShrubsZ5–7A Rarely damaged
Heather 🦌Calliuna sp.ShrubsZ4–7A Rarely damaged
Heliotrope 🦌Heliotropium arborescensAnnualsAnnualA Rarely damaged
Holly Fern 🦌Cyrtomium falcatumFernsZ6–11A Rarely damaged
Horehound 🦌Marrubium vulgarePerennialsZ3–9A Rarely damaged
Horseradish 🦌Armoracia rusticanaPerennialsZ3–9A Rarely damaged
Hyssop 🦌Hyssopus officinalisPerennialsZ3–9A Rarely damaged
Indian Grass 🦌Sorghastrum nutansOrnamental GrassesZ4–9A Rarely damaged
Iris 🦌Iris sp.PerennialsZ3–9A Rarely damaged
Jack-in-the-pulpit 🦌Arisaema triphylumPerennialsZ4–9A Rarely damaged
Japanese Black Pine 🦌Pinus thunbergianaTreesZ5–8A Rarely damaged
Japanese Blood Grass 🦌Imperata cylindricaOrnamental GrassesZ5–9A Rarely damaged
Japanese Painted Fern 🦌Athyrium goeringianum (nipponicum)FernsZ4–9A Rarely damaged
Japanese Pieris, Andromeda 🦌Pieris japonicaShrubsZ5–8A Rarely damaged
Japanese Plum Yew 🦌Cephalotaxus harringtoniaShrubsZ6–9A Rarely damaged
Japanese Sedge 🦌Carex sp.Ornamental GrassesZ5–9A Rarely damaged
Japanese Silver Grass 🦌Miscanthus sinensisOrnamental GrassesZ4–9A Rarely damaged
Japanese Skimmia 🦌Skimmia japonicaShrubsZ6–8A Rarely damaged
Japanese Sweet Flag 🦌Acorus sp.Ornamental GrassesZ5–9A Rarely damaged
John T. Morris Holly 🦌Ilex x 'John T. Morris'ShrubsZ6–9A Rarely damaged
Katsura Tree 🦌Cercidiphyllum japonicumTreesZ4–8A Rarely damaged
Lamb's Ear 🦌Stachys byzantinaPerennialsZ4–8A Rarely damaged
Large Blue June Grass 🦌Koeleria glaucaOrnamental GrassesZ4–9A Rarely damaged
Larkspur 🦌Consolida ambiguaAnnualsAnnualA Rarely damaged
Lavendar 🦌Lavandula sp.PerennialsZ5–9A Rarely damaged
Lavender-Cotton 🦌Santolina chamaecyparissusPerennialsZ6–9A Rarely damaged
Leatherleaf Mahonia 🦌Mahonia bealeiShrubsZ6–9A Rarely damaged
Lemon Balm 🦌Melissa officinalisPerennialsZ3–7A Rarely damaged
Lenten or Christmas Rose 🦌Helleborus sp.PerennialsZ4–9A Rarely damaged
Lily of the Valley 🦌Convallaria majalisGroundcoversZ2–7A Rarely damaged
Little Bluestem 🦌Schizachyrium scopariumOrnamental GrassesZ3–9A Rarely damaged
Lungwort 🦌Pulmonaria sp.PerennialsZ3–8A Rarely damaged
Lydia Morris Holly 🦌Ilex x 'Lydia Morris'ShrubsZ6–9A Rarely damaged
Lyme Grass 🦌Leymus arenarius glaucousOrnamental GrassesZ4–9A Rarely damaged
May Apple 🦌PodophyllumPerennialsZ3–9A Rarely damaged
Meadow Rue 🦌Thalictrum sp.PerennialsZ4–8A Rarely damaged
Mimosa 🦌Albizia julibrissinTreesZ6–9A Rarely damaged
Mint 🦌Mentha sp.PerennialsZ3–9A Rarely damaged
Monkshood 🦌Aconitum sp.PerennialsZ3–7A Rarely damaged
Moonglow Juniper 🦌Juniperus scopulorum 'Moonglow'ShrubsZ3–7A Rarely damaged
Mountain Pieris 🦌Pieris floribundaShrubsZ4–6A Rarely damaged
New York Fern 🦌Thelyptens noveboracensisFernsZ4–8A Rarely damaged
Northern Sea Oats 🦌Chasmanthium latifoliumOrnamental GrassesZ3–8A Rarely damaged
Oregano 🦌Origanum sp.PerennialsZ4–9A Rarely damaged
Oregon Grape Holly 🦌Mahonia aquifoliumShrubsZ5–8A Rarely damaged
Oriental Fountain Grass 🦌Pennisetum orientaleOrnamental GrassesZ5–9A Rarely damaged
Ornamental Onion 🦌Allium sp.PerennialsZ3–9A Rarely damaged
Ornamental Onion 🦌Allium sp.BulbsZ3–9A Rarely damaged
Ostrich Fern 🦌Matteuccia struthiopterisFernsZ3–7A Rarely damaged
Pachysandra 🦌Pachysandra terminalisGroundcoversZ4–8A Rarely damaged
Paper Birch 🦌Betula papyriferaTreesZ2–7A Rarely damaged
Pawpaw 🦌Asimina trilobaTreesZ5–9A Rarely damaged
Peony 🦌Paeonia sp.PerennialsZ3–8A Rarely damaged
Pitch Pine 🦌Pinus rigidaTreesZ4–7A Rarely damaged
Poppy 🦌Papaver sp.AnnualsAnnualA Rarely damaged
Pot Marigold 🦌Calendula sp.AnnualsAnnualA Rarely damaged
Potentilla, Cinquefoil 🦌Potentilla sp.PerennialsZ3–8A Rarely damaged
Prince of Wales Juniper 🦌Juniperus horizontalis 'Prince of Wales'ShrubsZ3–9A Rarely damaged
Purple Moor Grass 🦌Molinia caeruleaOrnamental GrassesZ4–9A Rarely damaged
Purple Rock-Cress 🦌Aubretia deltoideaPerennialsZ4–8A Rarely damaged
Ravenna Grass 🦌Erianthus ravennaeOrnamental GrassesZ6–9A Rarely damaged
Red Elderberry 🦌Sambucus racemosaShrubsZ3–7A Rarely damaged
Red Pine 🦌Pinus resinosaTreesZ2–5A Rarely damaged
River Birch 🦌Betula nigraTreesZ4–9A Rarely damaged
Rock-Cress 🦌Arabis caucasicaPerennialsZ4–7A Rarely damaged
Rocket Ligularia 🦌Ligularia 'The Rocket'PerennialsZ4–8A Rarely damaged
Rodgers Flower 🦌Rodgersia sp.PerennialsZ4–7A Rarely damaged
Rose Campion 🦌Lychnis coronariaPerennialsZ4–8A Rarely damaged
Rosemary 🦌Rosmarinus officinalisAnnualsAnnualA Rarely damaged
Royal Fern 🦌Osmunda regalisFernsZ3–9A Rarely damaged
Rue 🦌Ruta sp.PerennialsZ4–9A Rarely damaged
Russian Cypress 🦌Microbiota decussataShrubsZ3–7A Rarely damaged
Russian Olive 🦌Elaeagnus angustifoliaShrubsZ2–7A Rarely damaged
Russian Sage 🦌Perovskio atriplicifoliaPerennialsZ4–9A Rarely damaged
Sensitive Fern 🦌Onoclea sensibilisFernsZ4–9A Rarely damaged
Siberian Bugloss 🦌Bruneria macrophylla (Brunnera)PerennialsZ3–8A Rarely damaged
Siberian Squill 🦌Scilla sibericaBulbsZ2–8A Rarely damaged
Silver Mound 🦌Artemisia sp.PerennialsZ3–8A Rarely damaged
Small Globe Thistle 🦌Echinops ritroPerennialsZ3–9A Rarely damaged
Snapdragon 🦌Antirrhinum majusAnnualsAnnualA Rarely damaged
Snow-on-the-Mountain 🦌Euphorbia marginataAnnualsAnnualA Rarely damaged
Snowdrops 🦌Galanthus nivalisBulbsZ3–7A Rarely damaged
Spider Flower 🦌Cleome sp.AnnualsAnnualA Rarely damaged
Spotted Deadnettle 🦌Lamium sp.GroundcoversZ3–8A Rarely damaged
Spurge 🦌Euphorbia sp. (except 'Chameleon')PerennialsZ4–9A Rarely damaged
Statice 🦌Limonium latifoliumPerennialsZ4–9A Rarely damaged
Strawflower 🦌HelichrysumAnnualsAnnualA Rarely damaged
Sweet Alyssum 🦌Lobularia maritimaAnnualsAnnualA Rarely damaged
Sweet Box 🦌Sarcoccoca hookerianaShrubsZ6–9A Rarely damaged
Sweet Woodruff 🦌Galium odoratum (Asperula odorata)GroundcoversZ4–8A Rarely damaged
Switch Grass 🦌Panicum virgatumOrnamental GrassesZ4–9A Rarely damaged
Tarragon 🦌Artemisia dracunculusPerennialsZ4–8A Rarely damaged
Threadleaf Coreopsis 🦌Coreopsis verticillataPerennialsZ3–9A Rarely damaged
Thyme 🦌Thymus sp.PerennialsZ4–9A Rarely damaged
Variegated Purple Moor Grass 🦌Molinia caerulea 'Variegata'Ornamental GrassesZ4–9A Rarely damaged
Varigated Oat Grass 🦌Arrhenatherum elatiusOrnamental GrassesZ4–9A Rarely damaged
Weeping Love Grass 🦌Eragrostus curvulaOrnamental GrassesZ5–9A Rarely damaged
Wild Ginger 🦌Asarum canadensePerennialsZ3–8A Rarely damaged
Winter Aconite 🦌Eranthus hyemalisBulbsZ3–7A Rarely damaged
Wood Fern 🦌Dryopteris marginalisFernsZ3–8A Rarely damaged
Yucca 🦌Yucca filimentosaPerennialsZ4–11A Rarely damaged

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