As a group, ferns are generally deer resistant. However, if deer are starving, there are no ferns are completely deer proof. Looking through this chart of Rarely Damaged Ferns you will be pleased to find that there are many different species of ferns with a large variety of colors, sizes, and foliage types to choose from that are deer resistant. A deer proof property may not be totally possible, but this is chart of deer resistant ferns, combined with deer resistant annuals and deer resistant perennials will give you a well rounded deer resistant landscape.
BOTANICAL NAME | COMMON NAME | COMMENTS | ZONE OR STATE SOURCE |
Adiantum capillus-veneris | Southern Maidenhair | Evergreen | NC |
Asparagus springerii | Asparagus Fern | Deer resistant Fern | TX |
Athyrium 'Branford Beauty' | Branford Beauty Fern | Deer resistant Fern | MI |
Athyrium filix-femina | Lady Fern | Evergreen | NC |
| Athyrium filix-femina 'Frizelliae' | Frizelliae Lady Fern | Deer resistant Fern | MI |
| Athyrium nipponicum 'Burgundy Lace' | Burgundy Lace Painted Fern | FerDeer resistant Fernn | MI |
| Athyrium nipponicum 'Pictum' | Japanese Painted Fern | Evergreen | VT,NC,NJ, |
| Athyrium nipponicum 'Silver Falls' | Silver Falls Painted Fern | Deer resistant Fern | MI |
| Athyrium nipponicum pictum 'Ursula's Red' | Ursula's Red Painted Fern | Deer resistant Fern | MI |
Cyrtomium falcatum | Holly Fern | Deer resistant Fern | NC,NJ |
Dennstaedtia punctilobula | Hay-scented Fern | Deer resistant Fern | VT,NJ |
Dryopteris erythrosora | Autumn Fern | Deer resistant Fern | NC,MI, |
| Dryopteris erythrosora 'Brilliance' | Brilliance Autumn Fern | Deer resistant Fern | MI |
| Dryopteris filix-mas 'Parsley' | Parsley Fern | Deer resistant Fern | MI |
Dryopteris ludoviciana | Florida Shield Fern | Deer resistant Fern | NC |
Dryopteris marginalis | Wood Fern | Deer resistant
Fern | MD,VT,NJ, |
Matteuccia struthiopteris | Ostrich Fern | Deer resistant Fern | MD,VT,NJ |
Onoclea sensibilis | Sensitive Fern | Deer resistant Fern | MD,VT,NJ |
Osmunda cinnamomea | Osmunda, Cinnamon Fern | Evergreen | VT,NC,NJ,MI |
Osmunda claytonia | Interrupted Fern | Deer resistant Fern | VT |
Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis | Royal Fern, | Evergreen | MD,VT,NC,NJ |
Polystichum acrostichoides | Christmas Fern | Deer resistant Fern | VT,NC,NJ,MI |
Polystichum polyblepharum | Tassel Fern | Deer resistant Fern | NV |
Pteridium auilinum | Bracken Fern | Toxic | TX |
Thelypteris kunthii | Southern Shield Fern | Evergreen | NC |
Thelypteris noveboracensis | New York Fern | Deer resistant Fern | VT,NJ, |
Thelypteris palustris | Marsh Fern | Navtive to Marshes | MI |