Fall in New York brings stunning colors but also hungry deer looking for garden snacks. Chrysanthemums (mums) can add vibrant autumn colors to your landscape, but many become deer dinner.
Fortunately, some mum varieties naturally repel these four-legged visitors while still providing gorgeous fall blooms.
1. Ruby Mound Chrysanthemum
Bursting with deep crimson blooms, Ruby Mound mums add rich color when autumn leaves start falling. The strong scent deer hate comes from oils in the foliage that humans find pleasantly aromatic.
Ruby Mound thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, typically blooming from September through October. Hardy to zone 5, these mums can survive New York winters with proper mulching, returning year after year with minimal care.
2. Clara Curtis Pink Daisy Mum
Soft pink petals surround sunny yellow centers on these daisy-like blooms that deer typically avoid. Clara Curtis starts flowering in late summer and continues well into fall, providing weeks of color. What makes these mums special is their ability to naturalize in meadow-like settings.
Unlike fussy garden varieties, they spread gradually to form beautiful drifts. Their bitter taste keeps deer at bay while butterflies flock to their simple, open flowers.
3. Bronze Elegance Decorative Mum
Looking for something different? Bronze Elegance delivers with copper-toned blooms that perfectly complement autumn’s palette. The fuzzy, textured foliage deters deer who prefer smoother leaves for munching.
Plant these standouts where afternoon sun hits them, bringing out their metallic sheen. Bronze Elegance holds up well in arrangements too – cut stems last over a week indoors. Their strong fragrance works as a natural deer repellent throughout the garden.
4. Mammoth Lavender Cushion Mum
Enormous plants reaching three feet tall and wide, Mammoth Lavender mums create instant impact. Their bitter taste and strong scent naturally discourage deer browsing even when other plants get eaten. Unlike typical mums that need replacing yearly, Mammoth varieties are truly perennial in New York.
The soft lavender blooms arrive in mid-fall and continue until hard frost. Plant them where they’ll have room to spread – these giants need space!
5. Matchsticks Spoon Mum
Quirky and conversation-starting, Matchsticks mums feature unusual petals that are tubular with spoon-shaped tips. The orange-red tubes end in bright yellow spoons – resembling little matchsticks! Deer avoid these oddities, perhaps confused by their strange shape and bitter taste.
Hardy to zone 5, they’ll survive most New York winters with good drainage and mulch. Their unique form makes them perfect focal points in fall containers or border edges.
6. Sheffield Pink Mum
Beloved by gardeners for decades, Sheffield Pink (also called ‘Single Apricot Korean’) produces masses of peachy-pink daisy flowers that glow in autumn light. Deer consistently pass these by thanks to their strongly aromatic foliage.
Late-blooming Sheffield Pink extends the garden season when most plants are fading. The single-petal form attracts late-season pollinators desperate for nectar sources. These tough plants shrug off early frosts, often blooming into November in milder New York areas.
7. Will’s Wonderful Chrysanthemum
A garden gem with an interesting history, Will’s Wonderful was discovered in an abandoned New York nursery and saved by plant collectors. Its rich purple blooms open from nearly black buds, creating dramatic garden contrast.
Deer steer clear of its intensely bitter foliage. Extremely cold-hardy, this variety survives zone 4 winters with minimal protection. The deep color holds without fading even in full sun, making it perfect for New York gardens where autumn can bring unpredictable weather.