7 Easy Full-Sun, Deer Resistant Perennials for Your Northwoods Garden

One of the biggest gripes of Northwoods gardening is having to share outdoor space with the local wildlife. Because while deer are beautiful from a distance, they can quickly turn your carefully planned garden into their personal buffet!

If you enjoyed my article on deer-resistant shade plants, you’ll be happy to know there are plenty of gorgeous plants for your sunny spots, too.

Sun-loving plants are a bit different than shade lovers. But with a little planning, you can have a lovely, low-maintenance garden that deer will pass right by.

This guide is perfect for busy homeowners who want simple fixes – people who love having a beautiful yard but don’t want to spend every weekend maintaining it or fighting off deer!

List of 7 Full-Sun, Deer-Resistant Perennials for Your Garden

Full-sun, deer resistant perennials are a secret weapon for Northwoods gardeners. These plants thrive in sunny spots but contain natural compounds that deer can’t stand.

Many have strong scents, fuzzy textures, or bitter tastes that send deer down the road for their next meal.

Best of all, these plants are simple to grow and super low-maintenance. If this sounds like your gardening style – keep reading!

1. Lavender

Is lavender deer resistant? You bet! This fragrant perennial is one of the most trusty deer-resistant plants you can add to your sunny garden. Deer hate its strong scent and will typically avoid it completely.

Lavender thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. (It’s susceptible to root rot, so good drainage is a must!) It’s a tender perennial, usually only hardy to Zone 5 or so.

For our Midwest climate, English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) varieties like ‘Phenomenal‘ and ‘Munstead’ are best, as they can handle our colder winters better than French or Spanish varieties. If you’re Zone 4 or higher, give them a try!

Once established, lavender is pretty hands off – just an annual pruning in early spring and occasional watering when it’s super dry.

The silvery-green foliage looks beautiful all season, and the purple blooms attract beneficial pollinators while repelling deer. Plus, it smells heavenly.

Cut stems for drying throughout the summer to bring that amazing scent indoors.

2. Bee Balm (Monarda)

Is bee balm deer resistant? Absolutely! This hearty native perennial is one that deer typically leave alone, thanks to its strong minty scent and slightly fuzzy leaves.

Bee balm (Monarda) is one of my favorite garden plants. (Matter of fact, I’m planning an all-Monarda garden right now!). In full bloom, it’s simply stunning with its unique, shaggy flowers that look like little fireworks frozen in time.

Bee balm colors are insanely vibrant. They come in reds, pinks, purples, and whites.
When the blooms appear in mid-summer, they’re absolute magnets for hummingbirds, butterflies, and (as the name suggests) bees!

What makes this plant perfect for busy gardeners is how adaptable it is. It can handle both moist and fairly dry soils once established. And while it prefers full sun, it’ll tolerate a bit of afternoon shade in our hot Midwest summers.

Most varieties grow 2-4 feet tall, giving a bright middle layer in the garden bed.

A couple of summers ago on our Northwoods property, I planted a batch of “Sugar Buzz Grape Gumball” (a gorgeous red variety) and “Marje Pink” (a sweet pink variety) in our upper sun/shade garden.

Not only have the deer completely ignored them, but those plants have bloomed their little hearts out. We get to enjoy hummingbirds visiting it all summer long. 🙂

The only maintenance to do is divide them every few years to keep them from spreading too enthusiastically – and that just means I get free plants to share!

3. Coneflowers (Echinacea)

Do deer eat coneflowers? While deer might nibble on young plants occasionally (and yes – this has happened in my garden), established coneflowers (Echinacea) are generally left alone thanks to their coarse, bristly texture.

Native to the Midwest, coneflowers are workhorses in the summer garden. They look similar to daisies and have a high center “cone.” Once they bloom, they keep going for weeks – attracting butterflies, birds and other pollinators.

You can find them in purple, white, yellow, orange, and red to match any garden scheme. I just added “Butterfly Rainbow Marcella” coneflowers to my garden, and the color is like creamy melon sherbet. Breathtaking!

Coneflowers thrive in full sun and average soil. Once they’re established, you can basically forget about them. They’re super drought-tough and will spread slowly over time, giving you more plants for free!

Leave the seed heads in place through winter to provide food for birds and winter interest in your garden.

I’ve grown coneflowers for years, and they’re among my most reliable performers.

4. Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia)

Is Black-eyed Susan deer resistant? Yes! These happy native flowers with their bright golden petals and dark centers are rarely bothered by deer – probably because of their slightly fuzzy leaves and stems.

Black-eyed Susan have always been special to me. My Grandpa Tom’s curious nickname for Grandma Ivy was “Susie.” I eventually learned it was because her dark brown eyes reminded him of Black-eye Susan. Isn’t that just sweet? I think it’s important to surround ourselves with meaningful things. Is there a plant that gives you warm fuzzies?

Rudbeckia is the sunshine of the summer garden, blooming like crazy from July through September. They’re perfect for adding bright splashes of color to hot, sunny spots where many other plants might struggle.

As a native Midwest plant, Black-eyed Susans are incredibly easy to grow in full sun and almost any soil type. (You’ve probably seen them growing along roadsides!)

They’re drought-tough once established and will self-seed, creating natural drifts over time. You can deadhead spent flowers for more blooms, but leaving some seed heads in place will attract goldfinches and other birds.

At our previous home near the Twin Cities, we had a Black-eyed Susan patch right next to our vegetable garden. The deer would regularly visit the area but always passed by Rudbeckia in favor of other treats. That’s when I learned how valuable deer-resistant plants could be!

5. Yarrow

Is yarrow deer resistant? Definitely! With its strong scent and feathery, fern-like foliage, Yarrow (Achillea) is a plant that deer consistently avoid.

Today’s yarrow varieties come in a huge range of colors including yellow, pink, red, salmon, and white. The flat-topped flower clusters bloom for weeks in summer and make excellent cut or dried flowers.

Yarrow is incredibly tough. It actually thrives in full sun and poor, dry soil. (Hey – this is my kinda plant!) In fact, it does better with minimal care, making it perfect for busy gardeners.

Plant yarrow in well-drained soil and give it room to spread, as it can form clumps up to 3 feet wide.

I’ve seen yarrow in several gardens over the years that’s never been touched by deer, even during drought periods when food is scarce.

Plus, the butterflies and beneficial insects absolutely adore the flowers, making it a win-win for your garden ecosystem.

6. Salvia

Is salvia deer resistant? Yes! Deer typically avoid salvias (also known as sages) because of their scented leaves and rather fuzzy texture.

Perennial salvias produce gorgeous spikes of deep purple-blue flowers in early summer, with repeat blooms later if deadheaded. Some popular varieties include ‘May Night‘ and ‘East Friesland,’ but really, they all look stunning. And their gray-green foliage looks nice all season, even when not in bloom.

Salvias do great in full sun and well-drained soil. They’re super drought-tough once established and rarely need dividing.

For the best performance, cut Salvia back by about one-third after the first flush of flowers fades.

When we first landscaped at our Northwoods home, I planted several ‘Violet Profusion’ salvia plants in our upper garden. Despite deer wandering daily through our yard (we’ve actually named them, they’re such regulars), they’ve never shown any interest in the salvias.

Meanwhile, the hummingbirds visit them hourly when they’re in bloom!

7. Butterfly Weed (Asclepias)

Do deer eat butterfly weed? Rarely! This native milkweed species (Asclepias tuberosa) produces a milky sap that deer find awful, making it a perfect choice for deer-prone gardens.

Butterfly weed stands out with its bright orange flowers blooming from mid- to late summer. It’s wildly attractive to bees and butterflies, especially monarchs, which depend on milkweed species for survival.

This plant prefers full sun and well-drained soil. Its deep taproot makes it drought-resistant – BUT also means it doesn’t transplant easily. So choose its location carefully!

Once established, it’s basically care-free and will return reliably for years.

We have native Butterfly weed growing at our Northwoods property, and it’s become one of my favorites. Not only do the deer leave it completely alone, but the butterflies it attracts are just beautiful.

Sun vs. Shade: Combining Your Deer-Resistant Garden Strategy

Creating a pulled-together, deer-resistant garden means addressing both sunny and shady areas. While the plants I’ve shared above work great in full sun, you’ll want different plants for those shadier spots.

In my previous article on deer-resistant shade plants, I shared winners like Astilbe, Bleeding Heart, and Ferns. By combining those shade-lovers with these sun-lovers, you can create a complete garden that deters deer throughout your property.

For those tricky transitional areas that get part sun and part shade, think of plants like Coral Bells (Heuchera) or Columbine. They can handle a range of sunlight and are unappealing to deer.

Also, consider using deer-resistant shrubs like Boxwood or Spirea to bridge the gap between sunny and shady garden areas.

The key is creating a nice, pulled-together look while keeping that deer-resistant quality.

When Deer Still Find Your Garden

Even with the best plant picks, stubborn deer might still sometimes nibble your garden, especially during drought or in early spring when food is scarce.

If this happens, consider trying some of these deterrent ideas:

• Repellent sprays – My favorite is still Deer Stopper, which I mentioned in my shade plant article. It works equally well on sun-loving plants.
• Motion-activated sprinklers – These are especially effective in open, sunny garden areas where deer might feel more exposed.
• Barrier methods – Sometimes a simple fishing line fence (invisible to us but confusing to deer) around your sunniest garden beds can make a big difference.

For more easy fixes to persistent deer problems, watch for my upcoming article on DIY deer deterrents!

Final Thoughts: Creating Your Deer-Free Garden Oasis

Creating a beautiful, low-maintenance garden that deer won’t destroy is absolutely doable. By picking the right full-sun deer resistant perennials, you can enjoy gorgeous blooms without the frustration of finding your plants eaten overnight.

Remember that deer resistance isn’t an all-or-nothing thing. Plants have varying degrees of deer resistance, and during times of scarcity, deer might eat plants they’d normally avoid.

That’s why combining resistant plant choices with occasional deterrents gives you the best protection.

The seven plants I’ve shared today—Lavender, Bee Balm, Coneflowers, Black-Eyed Susan, Yarrow, Salvia, and Butterfly Weed—offer a beautiful mix of colors and textures that will thrive in your sunny garden spots, while naturally deterring deer.

Best of all, they need minimal fussing, giving you more time to actually enjoy your outdoor space!

What to Do Now

Ready to start your deer-resistant sun garden? Here’s what to do next:

• Take inventory of your sunniest garden areas – Look for spots that get at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily.
• Choose your favorites from this list – Think about bloom times, colors, and heights to create a garden that looks great all season long.
• Prep your soil – Most of these plants prefer well-drained soil, which might mean adding compost, sand or creating raised beds in areas with heavy clay.
• Check out my related article on deer-resistant shade plants to complete your garden plan.
• Sign up for my newsletter below for bi-weekly tips on easy work-from-home living and updates on new articles!

Remember, creating a beautiful garden and working from home don’t have to be at odds with each other. With the right plant choices, you can have a gorgeous, deer-resistant landscape without spending all your free time maintaining it!