Planting a Deer-Resistant Herb Garden

While no plant is 100-percent deer resistant, there are some plants, including herbs, that deer tend to avoid. Select plants that are for the most part off-putting to deer, such as plants with textures and scents that deer tend to avoid.
Some great additions to the deer-resistant herb garden include:

Bee balm Monarda didyma
• Great in teas
• Blooms red, July-August
• Crowded plants are susceptible to powdery mildew and rust
• Attracts bees and butterflies

Borage Borago officinalis 
• Leaves can be cooked or served in a salad
• Annual with blue flowers, June-August

Catnip Nepeta cataria
• Leaves are used in stews, soups and other dishes. Has a minty flavor.
• Reported to sooth an upset stomach, relieves anxiety and can be used as a sleep aid
• Grows 2-3 feet tall and wide, so give it room to spread
• White flowers with pale blue accents, blooms May-September
• Attracts butterflies
Photo: Wikkimedia, JLPC

Chives Alliums
• Bulb
• Flowers white or various shades of purple, April-May
• Easy to grow, can be fast spreading
• Available in many varieties

Germander Teucrium pyrenaicum
• Lavender and cream flowers, bloom May-June
• Likes gritty soil that is dry to medium moist and well-draining
• Easy to grow with few pests or disease issues
Photo wikimedia- H. Zell

Lavender Lavandula angustifolia

• Lavender oil is used to enhance relaxation and sleep
• Flowers are used in salads, drinks and ice-cream
• Blooms blue, June-August
• Susceptible to winter die-off if soil is not well-drained or if temperatures dip below freezing and the plant does not have a protective covering
Wikimedia-Silar