This list is compiled from cross-referencing other lists and based on my years of experience and observations. No plant is deer-proof. Read more about how to deal with deer in my page: How to Deal with Deer
Trees
California Laurel: Umbellularia californica
Cedars: Deodar Cedar (Cedrus deodara), Atlas Cedar (C. atlantica)
Chaste Tree: Vitex agnus-castus
Chinese Pistache: Pistacia chinensis
Coast Redwood: Sequoia sempervirens
Desert Willow: Chilopsis linaearis
Douglas Fir: Pseudotsuga menziesii
European Bay Laurel: Laurus nobilis
Firs: Abies
Giant Sequoia: Sequoiadendron giganteum Incense Cedar: Calocedrus decurrens
Japanese Cryptomeria: Cryptomeria japonica, different varieties
Lemon Bottlebrush: Callistemon citrinus, warmer areas
Maples, Acer species: Japanese Maple, Red Maples, Sugar Maples: usually
Lemon Bottlebrush: Callistemon citrinus, warmer areas
Maples, Acer species: Japanese Maple, Red Maples, Sugar Maples: usually
Oaks: Blue Oak, Black oak, Scrub oak, etc.
Olive: Olea Europa, warmer areas
Pacific Wax Myrtle: Myrica californica
Pines: Ponderosa Pine, Mugo Pine, etc.
Podocarpus : P.macrophyllus, P. gracillior
Silk Tree: Albizzia julibrissin
Spruces: Picea: Dwarf Alberta Spruce,Colorado Blue Spruce, ‘Pendula’, Fat Albert, etc.
Western Redbud: Cercis occidentalis
Some trees that are deer resistant but that I don’t recommend due to fire risk: Leyland Cypress: Cupressocyparis x leylandii, Italian Cypress Cupressus sempervirens, (and pines, really)
Shrubs
Abelia: Abelia X grandiflora
Barberry
Boxwood
Breath of Heaven: Coleonema pulcrum
Butterfly Bush : Buddlea
Caryopteris: Blue Mist
Ceanothus: species, (small-leafed ones) Note: Ceanothus likes low water, but when it gets more water it is less deer resistant and is shorter lived.
Coffeeberry: Rhamnus/Frangula, all species
Cotoneaster: all
Camellias
Chaenomeles : Flowering quince
Bush Poppy: Dendromecon
Daphne: all
Buckwheat: Eriogonum Native
Fremontia/Flannel bush: Fremontodendron
Germander: Teucrium, most species
Grevillea: G noellii, G. ‘Canberra Gem’ z 8,9
Heath : Erica X darleyensis
Mahonia species: M. repens, M. aquifolium
Heather: Calluna vulgaris
Japanese Rose : Kierra japonica
Lavender, all
Lilacs: Syringa
Loropetalum: Chinese Fringe Flower
Mahonia species: M. repens, M. aquifolium
Manzanitas: Arctostaphylos species: ‘Howard McMinn’, ‘Emerald Carpet’, ‘Pt. Reyes’
Heavenly Bamboo: Nandina. domestica, and all the varieties (these are not bamboos)
Oleander
Phlomis
Pieris
Pineapple Guava: Feijoa sellowiana
Pomegranate
Pyracantha
Qunice, flowering
Rhododendrons, but not all Azaleas
Ribes
Rockrose: Cistus species
Rosemary
Salvias, all
Silverberry: Elaeaganus pungens
Snowberry: Symphiocarpus species
Spicebush: Calycanthus occidentalis
Spirea: usually
St. John’s Wort shrub: Hypericum androsaemum to 3 ft. tall, this is the shrub, not the ground cover
Sweetbox: Sarcococca ruscifolia, S. hookeriana humilis
Toyon: Heteromeles arbutifolia
I don’t recommend Bamboo due to high fire risk
Perennials
Agastache species
Armeria
Artemisia species
Asters
Autumn crocus
Baptisia
Bee Balm: Monarda species
Begonia, Tuberous
Black-eyed Susans: Rudbeckia fulgida, R. hirta—flowers can get eaten for this sp.
Blanket Flower: Gaillardia grandiflora
Bleeding Heart: Dicentra species
Brunnera macrophyla
Calamintha
California Fuschia: Zauschneria species
California Poppy: Eschsolzia californica
Calla Lilies
Candytuft: Iberis
Catmint: Nepeta
Red Valerian: (Jupiter’s Beard) Centranthus ruber
Centaurea species
Columbine: Aquilegia
Coreopsis
Cranesbill: Erodium
Cranesbill: Geranium
Dahlias: usually
Daylily
Delphinium
Echinacea purpurea: Purple Coneflower: a variety of colored flowers
Erysimum: Wall Flower
Fennel
Fortnight Liliy: Dietes
Foxglove: Digitalis
Hellebore
Impatiens
Lady’s Mantle: Alchemilla
Kniphofia: Red Hot Poker
Lamb’s Ears
Limonium: Statice
Liriope: Lily turf
Lithodora diffusa
Lupine
Matilija Poppy: Romney coulteri
Milkweeds: Asclepias species
Monkey Flower: Mimulus, native
Monkshood: Actonitum
Papaver: Oriental poppies, and others
Penstemon: usually
Peonies
Phlomis
Phormium
Russian Sage: Perovskia atriplicifolia
Salvias: all
Santa Barbara Daisy: Erigeron karvinskianus, and others
Santolina
Sedges: Carex species
Violet, Sweet: Viola odorata
Thyme: all species
Veronica species
Yarrow
Herbs
Agastaches/Anise Hyssop
Bee Balm
Chives
Germander
Hyssop
Lavender
Lemon Grass (warmer areas)
Lemon Verbena
Mints
Oreganos
Rosemary
Santolina
Summer Savory (annual)
Thyme
Winter Savory Yerba Buena: Satureja douglasii, native herb
Ground Covers
Ajuga
African Daisies: Osteospermum
Coyote Mint (Monardella villosa)
Dwarf Plumbago: Ceratostigma plumbaginoides
Gazanias
Lamium: Dead Nettle
Liriope: lily turf
Pachysandra
Sweet Woodruff: Gallium odorata
Vinca minor
Yerba Buena
Vines
Carolina Jessamine: Gelsemium sempervirens
Star Jasmine: Trachelospermum jasminoides
Jasmines: Jasminium polyanthemum, some others
Wisteria
Bulbs
Crocosmia
Narcissus: Daffodils et. al.
Iris: all
Ixia
Autumn Crocus
Snowdrops
Amaryllis belladonna: Naked Lady
Cyclamen
Grasses & Ferns
All grasses and ferns tend to be safe from deer!