What are "deer resistant" plants?

No plants are deer-proof. The term “deer resistant” describe plants that tend to survive at least a medium level of deer pressure. “Survive” can mean that it is chewed on but the plant survives or that it is left alone. Some of the things that might make a plant deer resistant Texture: fuzzy/hairy leaves, ferns, and grasses are often left alone. Aroma: plants with a strong smell, including many plants in the mint family, are less enticing to deer. Toxicity: whenever possible, deer will avoid poisonous plants- like those in the milkweed family. Deer palates vary by deer, by herd, and by location - so the most useful info on deer resistance is usually from your neighborhood. So many caveats to this: deer palates are variable between different herds and geographic areas and can change over time. Starving deer will eat anything. Young deer will try everything. The best source of information on what deer leave alone is to watch what is doing well in your neighborhood. Some plants do not release toxins until they have been stressed (read: nibbled upon) or stop releasing the toxin once they have put out seeds. But, final caveat, deer don’t read lists and don’t really care what they are supposed to do.