Culver's Root
Veronicastrum virginicum
Tough, unpalatable leaves keep the deer off, 3–5 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
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- Deer-resistant
North Dakota · Zones 3–4
Deer-Resistant Native Plants in North Dakota
Native plants deer tend to walk past — the aromatic, fuzzy, and bitter-leaved species that survive where browsing is heavy. North Dakota sits in a landscape of Northern mixedgrass prairie & Drift Prairie, and the natives that thrive here are the ones built for its cold, semi-arid character. The list below — led by Culver's Root and Black-Eyed Susan — is filtered to species genuinely native to North Dakota and the wider flora of the Great Plains and hardy through zones 3–4. 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
35 native species for North Dakota
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 3–4 · see this collection in other states.
Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of tough, unpalatable leaves.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms Jun–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
Golden Alexanders
Zizia aurea
Browse-resistant thanks to leaves deer find unappealing — a safe bet up to 1.5–2.5 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Dense Blazing Star
Liatris spicata
Deer tend to walk past leaves deer find unappealing — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 2–4 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Wild Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
Browse-resistant thanks to coarse, bitter foliage — a safe bet up to 1–2.5 ft tall.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Pasque Flower
Pulsatilla patens
Coarse, bitter foliage keeps the deer off, 6–12 in tall and rarely touched.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 6–12 in
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of the strong-smelling foliage.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Prairie Blazing Star
Liatris pycnostachya
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of tough, unpalatable leaves.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
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
Prairie Smoke
Geum triflorum
Deer tend to walk past tough, unpalatable leaves — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 6–16 in tall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 6–16 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Aromatic Aster
Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
Browse-resistant thanks to leaves deer find unappealing — a safe bet up to 1.5–2.5 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Sep–Nov
Blanketflower
Gaillardia aristata
Browse-resistant thanks to coarse, bitter foliage — a safe bet up to 1–2.5 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa
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 Jun–Aug
Chocolate Flower
Berlandiera lyrata
Its scented leaves keep the deer off, 1–2 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms May–Sep
Lanceleaf Coreopsis
Coreopsis lanceolata
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of tough, unpalatable leaves.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Foxglove Beardtongue
Penstemon digitalis
Deer tend to walk past tough, unpalatable leaves — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 2–4 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Great Blue Lobelia
Lobelia siphilitica
Browse-resistant thanks to coarse, bitter foliage — a safe bet up to 2–3 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Aug–Sep
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
Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
Deer tend to walk past coarse, bitter foliage — dependable where browsing is heavy, at 1.5–3 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms May–Aug
Compass Plant
Silphium laciniatum
Tough, unpalatable leaves keep the deer off, 5–9 ft tall and rarely touched.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 5–9 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
New Jersey Tea
Ceanothus americanus
One deer reliably leave alone, on the strength of coarse, bitter foliage.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–3.5 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Ninebark
Physocarpus opulifolius
Browse-resistant thanks to tough, unpalatable leaves — a safe bet up to 5–10 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry to wet
- 5–10 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Sideoats Grama
Bouteloua curtipendula
Browse-resistant thanks to leaves deer find unappealing — a safe bet up to 1.5–2.5 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
11 more also qualify: Blue Grama, Stiff Goldenrod, Virginia Creeper, Fragrant Sumac, Purple Prairie Clover, Rattlesnake Master, Little Bluestem, Switchgrass, Indian Grass, Prairie Dropseed, Big Bluestem.
Sourcing
Where to find these in North Dakota
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.