What To Plant Around Shrubs For Colorado Deer Resistance

Colorado gardeners face a unique set of challenges when trying to protect shrubs from deer. Wide elevation ranges, low humidity, cold winters and periods of drought combine with a population of hungry deer that will browse ornamental and native plants when food is scarce. The most successful approach is not to rely on a single solution but to build a planting palette and layout that makes shrubs less attractive, less accessible, and less nutritious to deer. This guide explains why certain plants work, provides a practical list of reliable deer-resistant species for Colorado conditions, and gives step-by-step design and maintenance tips you can implement this season.

How deer choose what to eat (and how to use that knowledge)

Deer are selective browsers. They use the senses of smell, taste and touch to decide whether to eat a plant. Several rules of thumb are useful when designing plantings around shrubs:

• Deer avoid strongly aromatic plants that are high in volatile oils (lavender, rosemary, and many sages).
• Fuzzy or heavily textured leaves (lambs ear, some artemisias) feel unpleasant in their mouths.
• Tough, prickly or spiny plants create a physical barrier and are generally ignored.
• Deer prefer tender, succulent shoots and will eat newly planted shrubs or perennials first.
• When food is scarce (winter, deep snow, urban encroachment), deer become less picky and will sample plants they otherwise avoid.

Use these behavioral tendencies to choose companion plants that create sensory and physical deterrents around vulnerable shrubs.

Principles for planting around shrubs for deer resistance

Design decisions matter as much as plant choice. Follow these principles:

• Create a layered defense: combine aromatic perennials, low hedges, and physical deterrents like thorny or stiff-leaved plants in bands around the shrub.
• Plantings should be dense enough to obscure and make access difficult. Sparse layouts allow deer to reach tender stems.
• Prioritize protection for the first three growing seasons. Young shrubs are the most vulnerable until they develop woodier growth.
• Match plants to site conditions. Colorado includes sun-drenched, dry Front Range sites and cooler, wetter mountain microclimates. Use drought-tolerant species for xeric sites.
• Favor natives and adapted ornamentals; they survive with less irrigation and are generally healthier and less attractive to deer in seasonally lean times.

Deer-resistant plants well suited to Colorado

Below are reliable choices grouped by condition. Resistance is given as “high” or “moderate” because no plant is completely deer-proof under all circumstances.

Sun and dry (low water) sites — high plains and Front Range foothills

• Lavender (Lavandula spp.) — high resistance; aromatic, long-lived in well-drained soil.
• Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) — high; airy, aromatic foliage and tall spikes that act as a visual and scent barrier.
• Catmint (Nepeta spp.) — high; spreads as a low, aromatic groundcover around bases.
• Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) — moderate to high; flat flower clusters and aromatic foliage tolerate drought.
• Ornamental grasses (Panicum virgatum, Calamagrostis, Festuca) — moderate; dense clumps create a structural barrier and texture deer avoid.
• Yucca (Yucca spp.) — high; sharp stiff leaves deter browsing and trampling.
• Juniper (Juniperus spp.) — high; evergreen structure and aromatic foliage; choose non-invasive cultivars.
• Rockrose (Cistus spp.) and Russian sage relatives — moderate; heat and drought tolerant with aromatic foliage.

Part shade to shade — mountain gardens and protected north sides

• Hellebore (Helleborus spp.) — high; evergreen leaves and early blooms; deer mostly ignore.
• Epimedium (Epimedium spp.) — moderate; tough foliage, good as a groundcover beneath shrubs.
• Bergenia (Bergenia cordifolia) — moderate; leathery leaves, often avoided.
• Oregon grape (Mahonia spp.) — moderate to high; spiny leaves give protection but pick species suited to local elevation.

Herb and aromatic groundcover layer

• Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) — high where winters are mild or protected; evergreen and fragrant.
• Thyme (Thymus spp.) — high; compact mat-forming groundcover with strong scent.
• Culinary sage (Salvia officinalis) — high; aromatic, gray foliage.
• Lambs ear (Stachys byzantina) — moderate to high; soft felted leaves are unappealing.

Native penstemons and pollinator-friendly perennials

• Penstemon species (Penstemon strictus, P. barbatus) — moderate to high; adapted to Colorado and generally not preferred by deer.
• Columbine (Aquilegia spp.) — moderate; attractive to bees and hummingbirds, less to deer.

Plants to avoid near shrubs if deer pressure is moderate to high

Deer favorites will undermine the best defenses. Avoid these near young or valuable shrubs:

• Hostas (Bulbous and leafy; a top deer snack)
• Tulips and other tender spring bulbs (tulips are eaten as bulbs and shoots)
• Peonies (often browsed)
• Rhubarb and tender leafy annuals

Designing a deer-resistant bed: a practical layout

Design a layered planting bed that creates sensory and physical deterrents. Example layout for a sun-exposed shrub bed (front-range example):

• Center: target shrub (e.g., spring-flowering shrubs like spirea or dwarf lilac).
• Inner ring (1-3 feet around shrub): low aromatic groundcovers such as thyme or catmint to make immediate access unappealing.
• Middle ring (3-6 feet): clumps of ornamental grasses and yarrow to create density and texture.
• Outer ring (6-10 feet): taller visually aromatic perennials like Russian sage, lavender and penstemon to block approach paths.
• Interplant thorny or stiff plants (yucca clumps or native barberry only where not invasive) at focal access points.

This layered approach both camouflages the shrub and forces deer to overcome multiple deterrents before reaching tender shoots.

Planting and maintenance tips for the first three years

• Plant in the appropriate season. In Colorado, late spring planting after last frost or early fall planting 6-8 weeks before first frost gives roots time to establish.
• Mulch 2-3 inches to conserve moisture but keep mulch away from shrub crowns to prevent rot.
• Water deeply and infrequently to promote deep roots; shallow watering produces succulent growth deer love.
• Prune shrubs to develop woody branches quickly; avoid excessive fertilization which causes soft growth.
• Replace any palatable volunteers with more resistant species. If deer sample a plant without consequence they will return.
• Use temporary physical barriers around new shrubs for the first one to three winters — chicken wire cages 3-4 feet tall can protect young shrubs from repeated browsing.

Non-plant tactics to combine with planting

Plants alone will not stop deer when populations are high. Combine plant strategies with practical non-plant tactics:

• Visual deterrents: reflective tape and motion-activated lights can help in small yards.
• Repellents: commercially available taste or scent repellents can reduce browsing but must be reapplied frequently (after rain) and rotated to prevent habituation.
• Strategic lighting: deer avoid bright, open areas at night; well-lit yards can reduce visits.
• Fencing: the most reliable option is a fence 7 to 8 feet high or an angled double fence. Electrified top wires or a three-sided fencing approach that forces deer to leap and turn can be effective.

Troubleshooting common problems

• If deer eat only the outer growth of a shrub: increase the density of the outer rings with more aromatic and prickly plants.
• If deer jump over fencing: consider increasing height or using angled extensions rather than relying on a single low fence.
• If new plants are repeatedly browsed: protect them with individual cages until established, move them closer to the house, or replace with less palatable species.
• If snow makes plants vulnerable: build temporary physical barriers or use taller evergreen screens to reduce access during deep snow periods.

Practical takeaways

• No plant is totally deer-proof, but combining aromatic, fuzzy, spiny and dense plants around shrubs reduces browsing pressure significantly.
• Prioritize rosemary, lavender, Russian sage, catmint, lambs ear, penstemon and ornamental grasses for most Colorado yards, and match species to your elevation and exposure.
• Use a layered planting design: low groundcover, dense mid-layer, taller aromatic perennials on the outside.
• Protect new shrubs for the first three seasons with cages, dense companion plants, or temporary fencing.
• Combine plant choices with repellents, lighting, or fences for sites with high deer pressure.

Creating a deer-resistant planting around your shrubs in Colorado is an exercise in planning, plant selection and patience. With the right palette and layout you can protect young growth, reduce damage over time, and still enjoy a landscape full of flowering perennials and healthy shrubs that thrive in Colorado conditions.