Anise Hyssop
Agastache foeniculum
Its scented leaves keep the deer off, 2–4 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
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- Deer-resistant
Massachusetts · Zones 5–7
Deer-Resistant Native Plants in Massachusetts
Native plants deer tend to walk past — the aromatic, fuzzy, and bitter-leaved species that survive where browsing is heavy. For Massachusetts, the right natives are shaped by Northeastern Coastal Forest & Cape and a cool, humid continental climate. Every species below, from Anise Hyssop and Foxglove Beardtongue to the rest of the list, is genuinely native to Massachusetts and the wider flora of the Northeast and hardy through zones 5–7. 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
36 native species for Massachusetts
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 5–7 · see this collection in other states.
Foxglove Beardtongue
Penstemon digitalis
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of coarse, bitter foliage.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
Deer tend to walk past leaves deer find unappealing — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 2–4 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Dense Blazing Star
Liatris spicata
Browse-resistant thanks to tough, unpalatable leaves — a safe bet up to 2–4 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Great Blue Lobelia
Lobelia siphilitica
Coarse, bitter foliage keeps the deer off, 2–3 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Aug–Sep
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 Geranium
Geranium maculatum
Tough, unpalatable leaves keep the deer off, 1.5–2 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Part shade
- Average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Short-Toothed Mountain Mint
Pycnanthemum muticum
Its scented leaves keep the deer off, 2–3 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
Tough, unpalatable leaves keep the deer off, 1.5–3 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms May–Aug
Wild Bleeding Heart
Dicentra eximia
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of coarse, bitter foliage.
- Part shade
- Average
- 12–18 in
- Blooms Apr–Aug
Culver's Root
Veronicastrum virginicum
Browse-resistant thanks to leaves deer find unappealing — a safe bet up to 3–5 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
Browse-resistant thanks to coarse, bitter foliage — a safe bet up to 1.5–3 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
Browse-resistant thanks to aromatic foliage — a safe bet up to 2–4 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Foamflower
Tiarella cordifolia
Coarse, bitter foliage keeps the deer off, 6–12 in tall and rarely touched.
- Part shade
- Average
- 6–12 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Showy Goldenrod
Solidago speciosa
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 Sep–Oct
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
Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa
Deer tend to walk past tough, unpalatable leaves — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 1.5–2.5 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Virginia Bluebells
Mertensia virginica
Tough, unpalatable leaves keep the deer off, 1–2 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Part shade
- Average–wet
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms Mar–May
Lanceleaf Coreopsis
Coreopsis lanceolata
Tough, unpalatable leaves keep the deer off, 1.5–2 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Bearberry
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Coarse, bitter foliage keeps the deer off, 4–8 in tall and rarely touched.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Ninebark
Physocarpus opulifolius
Deer tend to walk past tough, unpalatable leaves — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 5–10 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry to wet
- 5–10 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Creeping Phlox
Phlox subulata
Deer tend to walk past leaves deer find unappealing — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 4–8 in tall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Wild Ginger
Asarum canadense
Leaves deer find unappealing keep the deer off, 4–8 in tall and rarely touched.
- Part shade
- Average
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
New Jersey Tea
Ceanothus americanus
Deer tend to walk past leaves deer find unappealing — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 2–3.5 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–3.5 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
12 more also qualify: Wild Lupine, Virginia Creeper, Spicebush, Fragrant Sumac, Little Bluestem, Christmas Fern, Pennsylvania Sedge, Big Bluestem, Switchgrass, Cinnamon Fern, Indian Grass, Prairie Dropseed.
Sourcing
Where to find these in Massachusetts
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.