Golden Alexanders
Zizia aurea
Deer tend to walk past tough, unpalatable leaves — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 1.5–2.5 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
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- Deer-resistant
New Hampshire · Zones 3–6
Deer-Resistant Native Plants in New Hampshire
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 New Hampshire and the wider flora of the Northeast and hardy through zones 3–6 — proven performers for New Hampshire's cool, humid continental climate across White Mountains & northern hardwoods, not a generic list. Local standouts include Golden Alexanders and Great Blue Lobelia. 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 New Hampshire
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 3–6 · see this collection in other states.
Great Blue Lobelia
Lobelia siphilitica
Browse-resistant thanks to tough, unpalatable leaves — a safe bet up to 2–3 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Aug–Sep
Foamflower
Tiarella cordifolia
Leaves deer find unappealing keep the deer off, 6–12 in tall and rarely touched.
- Part shade
- Average
- 6–12 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of coarse, bitter foliage.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
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 Bleeding Heart
Dicentra eximia
Browse-resistant thanks to leaves deer find unappealing — a safe bet up to 12–18 in tall.
- Part shade
- Average
- 12–18 in
- Blooms Apr–Aug
Foxglove Beardtongue
Penstemon digitalis
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of tough, unpalatable leaves.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
Deer tend to walk past its scented leaves — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 2–4 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Dense Blazing Star
Liatris spicata
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of tough, unpalatable leaves.
- Full sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–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
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
Culver's Root
Veronicastrum virginicum
Deer tend to walk past leaves deer find unappealing — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 3–5 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Short-Toothed Mountain Mint
Pycnanthemum muticum
Deer tend to walk past its scented leaves — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 2–3 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Showy Goldenrod
Solidago speciosa
Tough, unpalatable leaves keep the deer off, 2–4 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Sep–Oct
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
Anise Hyssop
Agastache foeniculum
Browse-resistant thanks to the strong-smelling foliage — a safe bet up to 2–4 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Wild Geranium
Geranium maculatum
Leaves deer find unappealing keep the deer off, 1.5–2 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Part shade
- Average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Wild Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
Deer tend to walk past leaves deer find unappealing — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 1–2.5 ft tall.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Lanceleaf Coreopsis
Coreopsis lanceolata
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of leaves deer find unappealing.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Spicebush
Lindera benzoin
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of the strong-smelling foliage.
- Part shade
- Average–wet
- 6–12 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Virginia Creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Deer tend to walk past leaves deer find unappealing — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 30–50 ft tall.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 30–50 ft
- Blooms Jun
Bearberry
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Browse-resistant thanks to tough, unpalatable leaves — a safe bet up to 4–8 in tall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Wild Lupine
Lupinus perennis
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of leaves deer find unappealing.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Fragrant Sumac
Rhus aromatica
Browse-resistant thanks to coarse, bitter foliage — a safe bet up to 2–6 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–6 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
12 more also qualify: New Jersey Tea, Ninebark, Wild Ginger, Creeping Phlox, Christmas Fern, Cinnamon Fern, Prairie Dropseed, Switchgrass, Little Bluestem, Indian Grass, Pennsylvania Sedge, Big Bluestem.
Sourcing
Where to find these in New Hampshire
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.