Native plants and deer resistance (workshop handout)

There is no relationship between native or nonnative status and relative appeal to deer. 

In general, deer will avoid plants that are significantly toxic (enough to cause immediate discomfort), are aromatic or acrid in smell or taste, or that have unpleasant mouth-feel (fuzzy or tough/leathery leaves).  Plant preferences are learned, not instinctive- so individual deer, particularly young ones, may browse almost anything.  Hunger and food availability may also affect browsing choices.

Deer can be counted upon to eat anything in the rose family or the Mallows. They like grasses, not surprisingly, but not sedges and rushes.

In general, deer will avoid most plants in the heather family, particularly Rhododendron, which is toxic.  They will rarely eat members of the Barberry family, and avoid most members of Asteraceae (with several exceptions).  They will avoid most members of the Buttercup family, as these are nearly always at least somewhat toxic, though they may nibble flowers.  Oddly, many members of the Legume family are also toxic and avoided, but sweet peas, vetch and alfalfa are eaten. Among the Saxifrages, flowers are nibbled, but leaves are rarely munched.  Ferns are rarely eaten, but deer fern and sword fern may be browsed.  Dogwoods are eaten with gusto, as is Ceanothus.  Most conifers and maples are avoided, but Western Red Cedar and Douglas-Fir may be browsed.  Deer will nibble flowers, fruit or new leaves on plants whose older leaves are avoided.

Probably/possibly maybekindasorta deer resistant natives, by family:

Ranunculaceae- Anemone, Thalictrum, Caltha, Trollius, Aquilegia, Actaea, Cimicifuga, Coptis, Delphinium

Asteraceae- Wyethia, Aster spp, Symphyotrichum, Achillea, Artemisia (usually), Echinacea, Helenium, Arnica, Bidens, Solidago

Liliaceae- Veratrum (very toxic); Allium

Berberidaceae- Achlys, Mahonia spp (usually), Vancouveria

Ericaceae- Rhododendron, Arctostaphylos, Gaultheria, Andromeda, Arbutus, Kalmia, Ledum, Vaccinium ovatum

Fabaceae- Lupine, Thermopsis, Astragalus

Apiaceae- many toxic or acrid, probably not eaten

Cyperaceae, Juncaceae, (sedges, rushes)

Polypodiaceae (ferns- usually) 
Lamiaceae- Stachys