I don’t like to play favorites, but sometimes you have to. Picking your favorite flowers is an important part of garden planning. Why go through all the effort of planting something you don’t love? When choosing your favorite flowers take into consideration if they are deer-resistant flowers. Deer have plenty of plants they enjoy eating. However, there are plenty of flower bulbs and perennials that deer stay away from, and hopefully, they can become some of your favorite flowers.
A balanced garden is filled with your favorites that will last because the deer stay away from them. It is also filled with flowers that bloom at various times in summer. Continue reading to learn more about some of the best deer-resistant flowers that bloom at varying times in summer.
Early Summer Deer Resistant Perennials
Rheinland Astilbe
Favorite Deer Resistant Flowers for Shade
For early summer blooms in the shade that the deer won’t eat plant early-blooming astilbe. Two notable varieties of astilbe that bloom early are Rheinland Astilbe and Visions Astilbe. Both types thrive in part shade to shade and require consistently moist soil.
Rheinland Astilbe blooms with bright pink blooms and grows 18-24″ tall with a similar spread. Visions Astilbe has berry-pink flowers and grows 12-18″ tall. It has a compact habit that creates a neat and clean look.
Enchanted Indigo Veronica
Favorite Deer Resistant Flowers for Sun
Two perennials come to mind for early summer blooms that deer stay away from. They are similar in appearance but have subtle differences. Salvia and Veronica are two deer resistant perennials that thrive in the sun. Both bloom with spikes of flowers in early summer in shades of blue, pink, white, and purple.
Enchanted Indigo Veronica is a stunning true blue veronica with a compact habit. It grows 16-18″ tall and 12-18″ wide. Combining this blue veronica with warm colors like the orange blooms of butterfly weed creates a bold deer-resistant combination.
Crystal Blue Salvia has pale blue flowers early in summer and grows 18-20″ tall. This variety of salvia would look good planted with the Enchanted Indigo Veronica as the light blue and bright blue flowers will contrast with one another.
Mid Summer Deer Resistant Perennials
Apricot and Scarlet Picotee Begonia
Favorite Deer Resistant Flowers for Shade
Begonias are a favorite for the shade. They are also deer resistant. Tuberous begonias grow best in pots and hanging baskets. Due to the portable nature of pots and hanging baskets the begonia planters can be moved to the shady parts of the garden to add color.
Apricot and Scarlet Picotee Begonia is a favorite for brightening up shaded garden areas. The yellow flowers are accented by a red ribbon on the edge of the petals. Growing 15-18″ tall with a similar spread, plant Apricot and Scarlet Begonias in pots in part to full shade areas that deer may frequent.
Mixed Gladiolus
Favorite Deer Resistant Flowers for Sun
The choices of flowers that bloom in mid-summer and are deer resistant are extensive. The amount of choice means there is most likely something for your garden that will bloom during this time frame. Gladiolus, canna lilies, and calla lilies are popular mid-summer blooming bulbs that are deer resistant. There are many warm-colored flowers to choose from among these categories and it is easy to find a favorite.
Perennials that bloom in mid-summer and are deer resistant are highly sought after. Soulmate Swamp Milkweed thrives in the sun, attracts pollinators, and is deer resistant. Growing 30-36″ tall, mix this perennial into a sunny garden bed or border.
Liatris is another perennial that thrives in the sun, attracts pollinators, and is deer resistant. It’s easy to grow and will return to the garden for several seasons.
Late Summer Deer Resistant Flowers
Chocoholic Snakeroot
Favorite Deer Resistant Flowers for Shade
Some of the best perennials that bloom in the shade happen to bloom in late summer. One of the most unique shade flower patterns is seen on the Blue Wonder Toadlily. The blue/purple flowers are speckled with white dots. Thriving in partial shade and soil that drains well, tuck these interesting perennial flowers into dappled shade areas.
Chocoholic Snakeroot blooms in part shade with unique foliage and showy spikes of light pink and white blooms. This deer-resistant perennial grows best in soil that is rich and moist. Growing 48″ tall or more, be sure to plant Chocoholic Snakeroot in an area where it has room to grow.
Black Eyed Susan
Favorite Deer Resistant Flowers for Sun
Black Eyed Susans are stars of the late summer landscape. Their glowing yellow petals are highlighted with dark brown centers. These easy-to-grow perennials have a long bloom time, thrive in full sun, and are deer resistant.
Dahlias are another great option for late summer flowers that deer won’t eat. There are so many to choose from it’s hard to pick a favorite. Some dahlias have larger-than-life blooms and grow 4′ tall or more. Other varieties of dahlias have dainty flowers and grow 2′ or less. Choosing your favorites will depend on the space and color choices you like best!
Have Your Flowers and Enjoy Them Too!
Gardening is about trial and error, and some things grow better than others. However, if we can set ourselves up for success by planting perennials and bulbs that deer don’t like we can enjoy the hard work we put in at planting.
Using deer repellents in the garden is another option if there are flowers that you want to plant but are not deer resistant. For more deer-resistant planting ideas check out our Top 12 Deer Resistant Summer Blooming Flowers.
