Deer Resistant Ground Cover

Characteristics

• If a deer is starving, it will eat even the most unappealing vegetation, but deer generally avoid ground cover and other plants with unfavorable characteristics. Plants that have thorns, prickly leaves or stems, hairy leaves, bitter tastes and pungent odors or are poisonous or produce latex-like sap are generally avoided by deer.

Types

• Periwinkle, jasmine and juniper are types of ground cover that are rarely damaged by deer, according to the North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension. Other deer-resistant ground covers include bugleweed, partridgeberry and mondo grass.

Considerations

• Different types of ground cover grow best under different soil, light and moisture conditions, so talk to a local expert who can help you decide which deer-resistant ground cover is best suited to the conditions in your backyard.