Do Deer Eat Verbena

How deer resistant is verbena?

Verbena earns a rating of “Occasionally Severely Damaged” from Rutgers Cooperative Extension — the leading source of deer resistance information for US gardeners. This places it in the middle tier: more resistant than hosta or tulips, but far less reliable than lavender, marigolds, or Russian sage.

In practical terms, verbena is not a safe choice for high-deer-pressure gardens without supporting protection. In areas where deer population density is low or forage is abundant, verbena typically grows undisturbed. In areas with heavy browse pressure, verbena may be stripped within weeks of planting.

This rating covers verbena broadly. Within the genus, there are meaningful differences between annual and perennial types.

Annual vs. perennial verbena: which is more deer resistant?

Annual hybrid verbena (Verbena x hybrida) is the most commonly browsed verbena type. These are the spreading, low-growing plants sold at US garden centers in spring — bright reds, pinks, purples, and whites. Their soft, low foliage is close to deer feeding height and less aromatic than perennial types.

Verbena bonariensis (purple verbena or tall verbena) performs noticeably better. It grows 3–5 feet tall, has wiry stems, small leaves with a rough texture, and a stronger scent than hybrid annuals. In my direct experience and in reports from US extension services, this species is browsed far less often than annual verbena.

Perennial verbena (Glandularia canadensis, also known as rose verbena) falls between these two. Native to much of the central and eastern US, it is hardy to Zone 5 and produces deep pink flowers on spreading mats. Deer occasionally browse it in the Southeast and Midwest but do not target it as aggressively as annual types.

When deer eat verbena most often

Two conditions dramatically raise the risk that deer will browse verbena: food scarcity and new plantings.

Drought and late-summer scarcity

Deer are opportunistic feeders. When natural browse is abundant in spring and early summer, they typically pass by moderately resistant plants like verbena. As summer heat dries out natural forage — typically August through October across the eastern and central US — deer expand their range and diet.

This is when verbena gets hit most often. The window of August through mid-September represents the highest-risk period for verbena in most US deer-pressure areas. Adding repellent spray in late July, before pressure peaks, reduces damage significantly.

New transplants

Deer are more likely to sample young, freshly planted verbena than established, dense plants. New transplants lack the full aromatic concentration of established specimens and are at ground level — easy pickings.

For the first 2–3 weeks after planting, use a physical barrier (chicken wire cylinder, 18 inches tall) or apply repellent spray every 5–7 days. Once the plant is established and densely branched, risk decreases.

High deer population density

The Rutgers “Occasionally Severely Damaged” rating assumes average deer pressure. In areas where deer density exceeds 20 per square mile — common in suburban New Jersey, Connecticut, Virginia, and Maryland — even moderately resistant plants like verbena get regularly browsed.

A reliable way to gauge your local pressure: note what gets eaten in your neighborhood. If hostas survive undamaged, deer pressure is low and verbena will likely be fine. If hostas and even ornamental grasses are browsed, verbena needs additional protection.

Protecting verbena from deer

A multi-layer approach beats single interventions. The most effective strategies combine scent-based repellents, companion planting, and — in very high-pressure areas — physical barriers.

Deer repellent sprays

Commercial repellents based on putrefied egg solids, hot pepper extract, or predator urine (coyote scent) are effective when applied before deer develop a browsing habit. Once deer have sampled a plant, scent repellents become less effective — they’ve learned it’s edible.

Key rules for repellent use:

• Apply before damage begins, not after
• Reapply every 2–3 weeks, and after heavy rain
• Rotate between two different product types each season to prevent habituation
• Focus applications in July through September when pressure peaks

Companion planting

Planting verbena near strongly deer-resistant plants creates a scent barrier that deters deer from approaching the area at all. The most effective companions for this purpose are plants with powerful, pervasive scents:

• Marigolds — among the most reliably deer-deterring annuals due to their pungent foliage. Our marigolds guide covers which types produce the strongest scent for deterrence.
• Lavender — the most reliably deer-resistant of all common garden plants in US studies. Planted near verbena, its scent envelope extends several feet. See our lavender guide.
• Russian sage — tall, aromatic perennial rated “Rarely Damaged” by Rutgers. An excellent structural companion for Verbena bonariensis at the back of a border. See our Russian sage guide.
• Salvia — both annual and perennial salvias are strongly deer-resistant. Pairing blue or purple salvia with verbena creates a complementary color scheme with improved deer resistance.

For a ranked comparison of deer resistance across dozens of common annuals, our deer-resistant annuals guide provides Rutgers ratings and notes on which perform best in the Mid-Atlantic, South, and Midwest.

Physical barriers

For beds where verbena is a key feature and deer pressure is severe, 7–8 foot deer fencing provides near-complete protection. This is expensive but eliminates deer as a variable entirely.

A less costly option: a low fence (30–36 inches) around individual beds combined with repellent sprays. Deer are more reluctant to jump over a barrier they can’t see through clearly, so a dense hedge or garden border on the outer edge of beds reduces jump attempts.

What deer eat before verbena

Understanding deer feeding preferences helps you assess actual risk at your location. Deer almost always prefer these plants over verbena:

• Hostas (rated “Frequently Severely Damaged”)
• Tulips
• Arborvitae
• Daylilies
• Yew
• Roses

If your garden includes any of these plants and they remain undamaged, deer pressure at your location is genuinely low and verbena will likely do fine without additional protection.

If any of these plants are regularly browsed at your location, verbena needs active protection. In deer corridors, our guide to keeping deer out of your garden covers fencing, repellent programs, and plant placement strategies that reduce browse across an entire garden.

Damage identification: deer vs. other pests

If you see damage on verbena, confirm that deer are the cause before treating. Other pests leave distinct signs:

Deer leave the most dramatic damage: whole stem sections removed with a clean cut. Rabbits tear rather than clip and stay low to the ground. If damage appears at ground level with ragged cuts, check for rabbit pressure rather than deer.

For rabbit problems, our keeping rabbits out of garden guide covers physical barriers and habitat modification that work specifically for small mammals.

Best deer-resistant verbena companions

Building a deer-resistant bed around verbena changes the risk profile of the entire planting. Deer avoid areas where multiple aromatic, unpalatable plants create a scent-dense environment.

For full sun beds (annual verbena):

• Marigolds — strong scent deters deer; bright orange and yellow complement purple verbena
• Lantana — heat-tolerant, highly deer resistant, blooms from summer through frost
• Dusty miller — silver foliage with strong scent; deer resistant and excellent contrast

For mixed borders (Verbena bonariensis):

• Russian sage — tall, structural, extremely deer resistant
• Lavender — one of the few plants that deters deer even in drought years
• Salvia nemorosa — perennial salvia, Zone 4–9, reliably deer resistant

The deer-resistant perennials guide covers 20+ hardy perennials with Rutgers ratings above verbena — useful for building a foundation of reliably resistant plants that protect more vulnerable species nearby.

The deer-resistant flowers guide covers both annuals and perennials across the main US growing regions, with specific notes on which plants perform best in the high-pressure Mid-Atlantic states where deer are densest.

For authoritative deer resistance ratings across hundreds of plants, Rutgers Cooperative Extension maintains the most comprehensive US database of landscape plant browsing records, updated regularly with reports from gardeners across the country.