Deer Resistant Plants
Here you will find deer resistant plants for the St Louis Missouri area.
Bambi sure is cute but so destructive. But don’t give up, you still can have a garden by selecting plants that deer will leave alone. Deer dislike plants with strong scents and taste, and with textures that are hairy or not smooth such as Beebalm. Deer resistant plants include ones with thorns and some grasses with thin leaf blades.
Below is a list of deer resistant Missouri native plants — but remember, no plant is “fool proof,” and what works for you might not work for a neighbor. We also recommend a variety of products, including Plantskydd, Bobbex, and Repellex.
All plants listed here are offered in the nursery, subject to availability. Some of these plants may be ordered online for curbside pickup.
We do not ship plants.
Nepeta Cat’s Pajamas Catmint
A purr-fect perennial it brings loads of dark indigo blue flowers.
Offered in-house and online.
Coreopsis lanceolata Lance Leaf Coreopsis
Named 2021 Missouri Native Plant Of The Year for its outstanding qualities.
Offered in-house and online.
Agastache Crazy Fortune Hummingbird Mint
Its variegated foliage makes it different from all the rest.
Offered in-house.
Agastache Kudos Red Hummingbird Mint
Intense carmine blossoms all season.
Offered in-house and online.
Agastache Rosie Posie, Hummingbird Mint
Hummingbirds find it irresistible.
Offered in-house.
Agastache Sunrise Sky Blue Hummingbird Mint
Extremely long blooming selection.
Offered in-house.
Ajuga Cordial Canary Bugleweed
World’s first-ever gold leafed version of favorite Ajuga Chocolate Chip.
Offered in-house.
Ajuga Parrot Paradise
Flamboyant leaves feature three colors.
Offered in-house.
Amelanchier arborea, Serviceberry
Award-winning Missouri native tree. Showy multi-seasonal interest.
Offered in-house.
Amsonia tabermontana, Blue Star
Popular plant with starry blue flowers.
Offered in-house.
Anemone Crispa Parsley Leaf Windflower
Its wavy, ruffly foliage looks similar to curly parsley. Rare.
Offered in-house.
Anemone Snow Angel Windflower
A vigorous bloomer with multitudes of pure white blossoms.
Offered in-house and online.
Antennaria plantaginifolia Pussytoes
Fun flowers in the shape of a cat's paw.
Offered in-house.
Aquilegia canadensis Columbine
Charming, dangling blossoms of red and yellow.
Offered in-house.
Aruncus dioicus Goat’s Beard
Missouri native perennial for shade.
Offered in-house and online.
Asclepias incarnata Cinderella Swamp Milkweed
A beautiful selection of our Missouri native.
Offered in-house and online.
Asclepias incarnata, Swamp Milkweed
Missouri native with clouds of pink blossoms.
Offered in-house and online.
Asclepias purpurascens, Purple Milkweed
Highly coveted, difficult to find, limited availability.
Offered in-house.
Asclepias sullivantii Prairie Milkweed
Important food source for butterflies, bees, and other pollinators.
Offered in-house.
Asclepias syrica, Common Milkweed
Essential host plant for Monarch caterpillars.
Offered in-house.
Asclepias tuberosa Butterfly Milkweed
#1 best selling Missouri native perennial.
Offered in-house and online.
Asclepias verticillata, Whorled Milkweed
Important food source for Monarch butterflies.
Offered in-house.
Asclepias virdis, Green Milkweed
Missouri native perennial.
Offered in-house.
Asimina triloba, Pawpaw
Missouri native with edible fruits.
Offered in-house.
Aster cordifolius, Blue Wood Aster
Missouri native with clouds of rich blue flower.
Offered in-house and online.
Astilbe Fanal, False Spirea
Long-time favorite red.
Offered in-house and online.
Astilbe Lowlands Ruby False Spirea
One of the very best red Astilbe.
Offered in-house and online.
Astilbe Mighty Pip False Spirea
Excellent performer, staff favorite, highly recommended.
Offered in-house and online.
Astilbe Pumila False Spirea
Makes a fantastic ground cover for shade.
Offered in-house and online.
Buddleia Grand Cascade, Butterfly Bush
Ginormous flowers panicles slightly weep.
Offered in-house.
Buddleia Pugster Blue, Butterfly Bush
Plump full-sized flowers on dwarf shrubs.
Offered in-house.
Buddleia Pugster Periwinkle, Butterfly Bush
Showy pinky-purple flowers on dwarf shrubs.
Offered in-house.
Buddleia Pugster Pink, Butterfly Bush
Large pink flowers on dwarf shrubs.
Offered in-house.
Buddleia Pugster White, Butterfly Bush
Large white flowers on dwarf shrubs.
Offered in-house.
Buddleia Ruby Chip Butterfly Bush
Ruby pink flowers on petite sized shrubs. Adored by butterflies.
Offered in-house.
Buxus Green Velvet Boxwood
Award winning evergreen shrub. Perfect for foundations and hedges.
Offered in-house and online.
Calycanthus floridus, Carolina Allspice
Award winning Missouri native shrub with highly scented flowers.
Offered in-house.
Caryopteris Beyond Midnight, Bluebeard
Caryopteris Dark Knight Bluebeard
Showy blue flowers are pollinator magnets.
Offered in-house.
Cephalanthus Sugar Shack, Buttonbush
Dwarf variety of Missouri Native. Show flowers beloved by native wildlife.
Offered in-house.
Chelone glabra, Turtle Head
Chelone lyonii Hot Lips Turtle Head
Clethra Ruby Spice Crystalina, Summersweet
Award-winning fragrant pink flowers.
Offered in-house.
Clethra Sugartina Crystalina, Summersweet
White fragrant flowers attract pollinators.
Offered in-house.
Coreopsis pubescens, Star Tickseed
Coreopsis tripteris Star Tickseed
Choice Missouri native for butterflies.
Offered in-house.
Delphinium exaltatum, Larkspur
Dianthus Oscar Salmon Carnation
Diervilla Honeybee Dwarf Bush Honeysuckle
Fantastic color for your toughest spots even dry shade.
Offered in-house and online.
Diervilla Kodiak Black Dwarf Bush Honeysuckle
Showy foliage that thrives just about anywhere - even dry shade!
Offered in-house.
Echinacea angustifolia Narrow-Leaf Coneflower
Echinacea pallida Pale Purple Coneflower
Missouri Botanical Gardens Plant of Merit Winner.
Offered in-house and online.
Echinacea paradoxa Ozark Coneflower
A rare Missouri native perennial. Offered in-house.
Echinacea purpurea Purple Coneflower
Missouri native perennial for natural and formal settings.
Offered in-house and online.