Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
Browse-resistant thanks to leaves deer find unappealing — a safe bet up to 1.5–3 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms May–Aug
Colorado · Zones 3–6
Deer-Resistant Native Plants in Colorado
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 Colorado and the wider flora of the Mountain West and hardy through zones 3–6 — proven performers for Colorado's semi-arid, cold winters, high sun climate across Southern Rockies & High Plains, not a generic list. Local standouts include Common Yarrow and Butterfly Weed. 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
41 native species for Colorado
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 3–6 · see this collection in other states.
Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa
Browse-resistant thanks to coarse, bitter foliage — a safe bet up to 1.5–2.5 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Wild Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of coarse, bitter foliage.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Golden Alexanders
Zizia aurea
Browse-resistant thanks to tough, unpalatable leaves — a safe bet up to 1.5–2.5 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
Browse-resistant thanks to its scented leaves — a safe bet up to 2–4 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Western Columbine
Aquilegia formosa
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of coarse, bitter foliage.
- Part shade
- Average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jul
Prairie Smoke
Geum triflorum
Browse-resistant thanks to leaves deer find unappealing — a safe bet up to 6–16 in tall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 6–16 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Anise Hyssop
Agastache foeniculum
The strong-smelling foliage keeps the deer off, 2–4 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Apache Plume
Fallugia paradoxa
Leaves deer find unappealing keep the deer off, 3–6 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 3–6 ft
- Blooms Apr–Sep
Dense Blazing Star
Liatris spicata
Deer tend to walk past coarse, bitter foliage — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 2–4 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Chocolate Flower
Berlandiera lyrata
Browse-resistant thanks to the strong-smelling foliage — a safe bet up to 1–2 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms May–Sep
Lanceleaf Coreopsis
Coreopsis lanceolata
Deer tend to walk past coarse, bitter foliage — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 1.5–2 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
Deer tend to walk past coarse, bitter foliage — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 1.5–3 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Aromatic Aster
Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
Coarse, bitter foliage keeps the deer off, 1.5–2.5 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Sep–Nov
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
Firecracker Penstemon
Penstemon eatonii
Coarse, bitter foliage keeps the deer off, 1.5–3 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms Mar–May
Pasque Flower
Pulsatilla patens
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of leaves deer find unappealing.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 6–12 in
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Foxglove Beardtongue
Penstemon digitalis
Deer tend to walk past coarse, bitter foliage — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 2–4 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Prairie Blazing Star
Liatris pycnostachya
Leaves deer find unappealing keep the deer off, 3–5 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Culver's Root
Veronicastrum virginicum
Leaves deer find unappealing keep the deer off, 3–5 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of leaves deer find unappealing.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Great Blue Lobelia
Lobelia siphilitica
Deer tend to walk past tough, unpalatable leaves — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 2–3 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Aug–Sep
Showy Goldenrod
Solidago speciosa
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of tough, unpalatable leaves.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Sep–Oct
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
17 more also qualify: Rattlesnake Master, Oregon Grape, Virginia Creeper, Bearberry, Ninebark, Sideoats Grama, Stiff Goldenrod, Purple Prairie Clover, New Jersey Tea, Blue Grama, Fragrant Sumac, Compass Plant, Prairie Dropseed, Little Bluestem, Big Bluestem, Indian Grass, Switchgrass.
Sourcing
Where to find these in Colorado
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.