Black-eyed Susan, Rudbeckia hirta, grows in full to partial sun. It spreads a bit more each year. There are other species of Rudbeckia equally attractive to pollinators that also produce tasty seeds for the songbirds. Deer rarely touch a leaf, unless there is a severe drought and they need moisture.
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So many of us want to attract birds, bees, butterflies and other pollinators to our gardens. We want beautiful flowers and glowing, healthy foliage; but we don’t want to attract deer to feast in our yards.
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Monarda fistulosa loves full sun and spreads on many types of soil. Flower color varies from lavender to white. Any species of Monarda, which is a perennial herb, feeds pollinators and is distasteful to deer. Purple coneflower, Echinacea, is another native plant that blooms for much of the summer to attract butterflies, and delights goldfinches once it sets seed. Once established, both are very drought tolerant.
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As I chat with fellow gardeners, I hear the same concerns over and again. We want to be good stewards and support wildlife. But we want to plant things the deer will leave alone! No one wants to use expensive sprays and granules to protect their plants, and neither do we want to come out to admire it all and find it munched!
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Hellebores keep right on blooming through winter storms and freezing nights from January until May. Every part of the plant is poisonous and grazers never touch them. Pollinators find much needed pollen and nectar when little else is in bloom.
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As undeveloped lands shrink, all of the animals that once lived there look for new places to live and raise their young. And that means that they learn to live among us in our neighborhoods and in the few remaining ‘wild’ places behind and between the developed parcels.
We have the added challenge in our neighborhood of backing up against protected wetlands and a National Park. The deer and other wild things move freely from park to neighborhood, looking for a safe place to live where their needs can be met.
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Yellow flag Iris spreads in full to partial sun in moist soil. It produces a lot of nectar, though it blooms for only a few weeks each spring. All Iris support pollinators and are distasteful to grazers. Plant a variety of different types of Iris to support pollinators over a longer period of time.
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I sometimes feel conflicted planting to attract some wildlife, while trying to exclude other species. But as we all eventually learn, deer don’t share; they consume. Deer will eat a plant to the point of killing it, then go looking for more.
I’ve spent many years searching for those particular bird and pollinator friendly plants that deer and other grazers won’t eat. These are some of my favorites in our Zone 7b garden. This isn’t an exhaustive list, just a few good picks that come to mind.
In general, deer avoid herbs because of their essential oils, and avoid plants with tough, leathery leaves that feel unpleasant in their mouths. Plants with poisonous leaves are a sure bet; and there are plenty that may be poisonous to eat, but perfectly safe for us to handle.
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A Silver Spotted Skipper enjoys Verbena bonariensis in our garden. There are many species of perennial Verbena, all of which attract pollinators and all of which are ignored by grazers.
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These plants are easy to grow and easy to find, relatively inexpensive to buy, and forgiving of novice gardeners. I hope they offer a bit of hope to those gardening, as we do, where the deer roam free and generations of rabbits raise their young in the side yard.
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Agastache, anise hyssop, is an herb related to mint. Like other herbs, it has essential oils that make it distasteful to grazers. Agastache often attracts even more pollinators than Lantana, which is saying a lot! Its seeds feed birds once the flowers fade.
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Woodland Gnome 2019
Many thanks to the wonderful ‘Six on Saturday’ meme sponsored by The Propagator.
Forest Garden 
How come so many of us who want to attract pollinating insects also want to attract birds . . . who eat the pollinating insects. hmmmm.
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The web of life, Tony…. it’s the way of things. Personally, I’m grateful to the birds for at least 90% of the buzzies they eat around here!
Oh, I like them for that too. Your post just make me consider how compatible that is with the current fad of attracting pollinators.
That’s a good question, Tony . It is the same principle as putting out a feeder and birdhouses when you know snakes living in your garden . (We have snakes around , and no longer hang out feeders , which also attracted squirrels.) I am grateful for every bird when the Japanese beetles turn up!
As the deer population increases, it becomes necessary to use plants that they don’t like. Even with all our wild land, they are beginning to browse in the yard. Yarrow, sage, lavender and such become our go-to plants!
Proof of their intelligence, Eliza ❤ ❤ ❤ It is a very good thing that herbs are also beautiful plants to grow. I would still want to grow them even if they didn't fit the 'deer deterrent' profile. Thanks for adding more good choices to the list. Happy Mother's Day to you and yours.
Thank you!