Deer and Rabbit Resistant Tea Herbs and Simple Barriers That Actually Work

Deer are notoriously destructive when it comes to gardens, but fortunately there are certain plants they simply won’t eat.

Scent-rich aromatic herbs and flowers such as lavender, sage, oregano, rosemary, thyme and French tarragon deter deer from approaching. Other simple barriers include juniper bushes and chives as effective barriers.

Sage

Sage is an essential ingredient in Thanksgiving stuffing and many savory recipes, boasting loads of essential vitamins and minerals.

Sage plants with their silvery-gray leaves and aromatic scent can deter deer by disorienting their sense of smell, keeping them away. Their flowers provide beautiful summer color in any garden while attracing pollinators to your flowers as well.

This hardy shrub makes an eye-catching addition to any shade or woodland garden, featuring dense evergreen foliage with tubular lavender-colored blooms on spikes in summer. Hardy in zones 4 through 8, this hardy perennial thrives!

Oregano

Origanum vulgare, more commonly known as common oregano, is an easy-to-grow perennial herb garden staple. Its tube-shaped flowers attract pollinators for an incredible show all summer long! Plus it thrives under most conditions while deer and rabbit proof.

Oregano, a member of the mint family, boasts strong essential oils like carvacrol and thymol. These strong essential oils make oregano one of the most effective plants for repelling deer from gardens, being easily grown either in ground beds or containers and even overwintered indoors during colder climates. Plus, oregano’s essential oils also act to repel cabbage butterflies and cucumber beetles – another win!

Lavender

As a rule, plants with strong scents, aromatic foliage or silvery-gray leaves tend to dissuade deer from browsing them. Lavender and similar plants–such as onion family herbs such as chives and garlic–fit this description perfectly.

Munstead lavender thrives in hardiness zones 5-9, easily withstanding cold winters and scorching summer temperatures alike. Perfect for cottage gardens or other informal landscapes, Munstead lavender adds color, fragrance, and beauty to the landscape.

Varieties such as Provence and Grosso varieties with long purple flower wands make them popular choices for drying or crafting projects, while lesser-known but equally useful varieties such as Otto Quest with its pineapple-shaped flowers and strong eucalyptus scent offer another source of inspiration.

Rosemary

Deer are notoriously destructive creatures that can do tremendous damage to even the hardiest plants, yet there are some herbs they simply won’t touch – betony (Stachys officinalis) in particular is deer and rabbit resistant as well as being frost-tolerant.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) combines ornamental beauty and culinary utility into one plant. This beloved herb grows as a woody shrub that can be kept tidy through pruning or cut into topiary forms for topiaries.

It produces flowers in summer that range in color from white, pink, purple or blue and can withstand temperatures down to zone 5. Its fragrant oil can be found in perfumes and cosmetics and provides essential vitamin A, C, B6, thiamin and magnesium supplements.

Creeping Thyme

Creeping Thyme provides a low, dense ground cover suitable for light foot traffic. Suitable for sandy and rocky soil, as well as benefitting from additional fertilization in spring.

Contrary to culinary thymes, this perennial variety is hardy in zone 4. Distinguished by thin leaves with fine textures and flower spikes of pink, purple and white flowers blooming from late spring through early summer, this variety can make an impressive landscape feature.

Sowing can be done directly, however for optimal results it’s better to start it indoors in order to produce larger plants due to the seed’s small size and seedling’s tiny stature. Start them in vermiculite tray or humidity dome until germination occurs – keep moist until seedlings appear!

Lemon Balm

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) makes an attractive addition to herb gardens and border fronts, providing low-growing cover in areas frequented by deer. When interplanted with herbs such as mints, thyme, rosemary, lavender French tarragon or parsley that deer tend not to like; lemon balm makes for excellent deer deterrence cover.

Lemon Balm, an attractive fast-growing plant that thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, can easily be kept under control with regular trimming and makes an attractive edging for beds. For year-round enjoyment of its lemony oils and healthy plants, freeze chopped leaves into ice cube trays before using in drinks, soups or stews. Insect-resistant lemon Balm also attracts bees!