There's no such thing as a DEER-PROOF or RABBIT-PROOF plant, but these native plants tend to send browsing mammals into a tailspin thanks to their natural defenses. The three rules of herbivore resistance are 1. Spiky, 2. Stinky, and 3. Sickening. These plants use thorns, strong scents, and toxic secondary metabolites like alkaloids, terpenes, and tannins to protect themselves from being eaten. Balance is key! We want to feed local fauna, but your garden is not an open buffet. Strategically place these plants in high traffic areas while creating browsing zones on the edges of your garden.