Learn what plants deer typically avoid in our comprehensive guide based on years of observation at the Arboretum.

Deer Resistant or Not

The Arboretum has a large deer population, and through the years we have a learned a little about what they eat and what they mostly avoid. The following lists have been compiled from several sources over the years including much of our own experience. As many gardeners know, there is no such thing as a deer resistant plant. Their taste for plants changes over time, and they often try new things causing a great deal of damage before deciding not to come back for seconds. Please use this list as a starting point, and contact us at cw3zt@virginia.edu with your questions and observations. We will continue to update this list as we observe more deer browse.

Invasive Species List

Blandy maintains a list of invasive plant species that are commonly sold in the nursery trade. We strongly discourage the sale, purchase, planting, or propagation of any of the plants on this list as they are known to escape into natural areas and cause significant ecological damage. These invasive species outcompete native plants for resources, reduce overall biodiversity in areas where they are introduced, choke out waterways, and provide little to no benefit for native pollinators and insects. Additionally, all plants on this list may not be sold at any events hosted by Blandy, including our annual garden fair.

Click here for the full list.