Wild Bleeding Heart
Dicentra eximia
Deer tend to walk past tough, unpalatable leaves — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 12–18 in tall.
- Part shade
- Average
- 12–18 in
- Blooms Apr–Aug
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- By state
- New Jersey
- Deer-resistant
New Jersey · Zones 6–7
Deer-Resistant Native Plants in New Jersey
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 Jersey and the wider flora of the Mid-Atlantic and hardy through zones 6–7 — proven performers for New Jersey's humid, four-season climate across Pine Barrens & Piedmont, not a generic list. Local standouts include Wild Bleeding Heart and American Beautyberry. 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 New Jersey
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 6–7 · see this collection in other states.
American Beautyberry
Callicarpa americana
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of coarse, bitter foliage.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 4–7 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Short-Toothed Mountain Mint
Pycnanthemum muticum
Aromatic foliage keeps the deer off, 2–3 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
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
Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa
Browse-resistant thanks to tough, unpalatable leaves — a safe bet up to 1.5–2.5 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Virginia Bluebells
Mertensia virginica
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of tough, unpalatable leaves.
- Part shade
- Average–wet
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms Mar–May
Great Blue Lobelia
Lobelia siphilitica
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of tough, unpalatable leaves.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Aug–Sep
Golden Alexanders
Zizia aurea
Coarse, bitter foliage keeps the deer off, 1.5–2.5 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
Browse-resistant thanks to tough, unpalatable leaves — a safe bet up to 2–4 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Wild Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of tough, unpalatable leaves.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
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
Anise Hyssop
Agastache foeniculum
Deer tend to walk past the strong-smelling foliage — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 2–4 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Wild Geranium
Geranium maculatum
Deer tend to walk past coarse, bitter foliage — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 1.5–2 ft tall.
- Part shade
- Average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
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
Aromatic Aster
Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
Deer tend to walk past leaves deer find unappealing — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 1.5–2.5 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Sep–Nov
Lanceleaf Coreopsis
Coreopsis lanceolata
Leaves deer find unappealing keep the deer off, 1.5–2 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
Coarse, bitter foliage keeps the deer off, 1.5–3 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Foxglove Beardtongue
Penstemon digitalis
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 May–Jun
Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
Leaves deer find unappealing keep the deer off, 1.5–3 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms May–Aug
Dense Blazing Star
Liatris spicata
Browse-resistant thanks to coarse, bitter foliage — a safe bet up to 2–4 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Culver's Root
Veronicastrum virginicum
Browse-resistant thanks to tough, unpalatable leaves — a safe bet up to 3–5 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Pink Muhly Grass
Muhlenbergia capillaris
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of coarse, bitter foliage.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Sep–Oct
Wild Lupine
Lupinus perennis
Coarse, bitter foliage keeps the deer off, 1–2 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Rattlesnake Master
Eryngium yuccifolium
Browse-resistant thanks to tough, unpalatable leaves — a safe bet up to 3–5 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
17 more also qualify: Bearberry, Creeping Phlox, Wild Ginger, Virginia Creeper, New Jersey Tea, Ninebark, Stiff Goldenrod, Fragrant Sumac, Spicebush, Prairie Dropseed, Little Bluestem, Big Bluestem, Pennsylvania Sedge, Switchgrass, Indian Grass, Cinnamon Fern, Christmas Fern.
Sourcing
Where to find these in New Jersey
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.